WWII planes, pilots honored
March 23, 2012, 07:43 am
Valair Aviation will be hosting an aircraft on display for the Collings Foundation's Wing of Freedom Tour at Wiley Post Airport this April.
The exhibit will provide guests with an opportunity to fly aboard the B-17 or B-24 bombers used during World War II, or take a seat in the dual control P-51C Mustang Fighter. The Collings Foundation is encouraging aviation enthusiasts to tour the planes, speak with veterans on site and participate in a flight experience.
"This is a very exciting event for the community and we are proud to host this showcase of American aviation history at our facility," stated Jeff Snyder, president of Valair. "We look forward to see people of all ages take advantage of this opportunity to see several of the most famous aircraft of the WWII era."
The goals of the Wings of Freedom Tour are to honor the soldiers that fought in WWII as well as educate visitors on the national history and aviation innovations of the time. In the past 22 years, the tour has made more than 2,600 visits to airports across the country, sharing history with about 4 million people.
WWII veterans will also be honored at the Thunder Over Utah Air Show in St. George. The Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum will set up booths and events displaying antique planes and artifacts from the war, the Spectrum reported.
Rich Grinnell, museum operations manager, told the Spectrum that the museum will have several booths open at the air show to sell merchandise and display planes used in the war. These planes also appear at other air shows throughout the year. WWII veterans who flew the planes or similar ones during the war will also be present to share their experience and answer any questions.
The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Center in East Kirby, U.K., is also showcasing famous planes from WWII and keynote speakers from the era. The museum is hosting a special access photography event where emerging artists can create atmospheric shots that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world, Louth Leader reported.
"This is our first year with this event and it is an attempt to enable all those of you who are amateur, professional or budding photographers to get a lot of photos at the center that you have tried to get but someone has always got in the way," said a spokesperson. "We will bring out some of our collection for daytime, dusk and even photograph opportunities, and if we get enough visitors buying the pre-event tickets we may even give you an evening run of the Lancaster."
Another way to celebrate the freedom WWII veterans fought for is by purchasing pilot insurance to keep the skies safe.
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