Yakima community members will have a rare opportunity to visit, explore, and learn more about several unique and rare treasures that are part of U.S. aviation history from June 26th through June 28th when the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour visits the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field.
Included in the Wings of Freedom Tour are a World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, and a P-51 Mustang fighter. The aircraft that are part of the Wings of Freedom Tour will be located at the McCormick Air Center (3210 West Washington Avenue) during their stay in Yakima.
“These are truly some of the most unique examples of vintage aircraft, and they are all still in flying condition,” said Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field Director Rob Peterson. “The Wings of Freedom Tour offers an extraordinary opportunity to get an up close and personal look at these historic aircraft. What’s even more exciting is that people actually have the chance to fly in these wonderful examples of U.S. aviation technology,” said Peterson.
From noon to 5:00 pm on June 26th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on June 27th, and 9:00 am to noon on June 28th, everyone is invited to come to the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field and tour the vintage aircraft. Tours cost $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids. Discounted rates are also available for school tours.
A 30-minute flight aboard the B-17 and B-24 costs $450. Flight training in the P-51 costs $2,200 for a half hour and $3,200 for a full hour. B-25 flights are $400 per person. Flight experiences in the vintage aircraft are usually scheduled to take place before or after the ground tour times listed above.
The Collings Foundation, which is responsible for the Wings of Freedom Tour, is a non-profit organization devoted to organizing “living history” events across the nation. The tour, now in its 28th year, travels the nation as a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew the vintage aircraft, the ground crews who maintained them, the workers who built them, the soldiers, sailors, and airmen they helped protect, and the people of the United States whose freedom they helped preserve.
For more information about the June 26th through June 28th visit to Yakima by the Wings of Freedom Tour, contact Collings Foundation Director of Marketing Hunter Chaney by phone (800-568-8924) or by e-mail (hchaney@collingsfoundation.org).