History in flight
Thursday, June 14, 2012
World photo/Don Seabrook
The Wings of Freedom Tour brings a Consolidated B-24J Liberator bomber, used during World War II, above, to the skies of Wenatchee this week.
A family takes snapshots during a tour of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator at the Tri-Cities Airport.
Along with the B-24J are a B-17, at top, and a P-51 Mustang. Free tours are available for World War II veterans. Cost for adults is $12. Children under 12 get to tour planes for $6. Air time for any of the three planes is available before and after tours until 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
The display is put on by the Collings Foundation.
Riding in the B-24J above are from left, crewman Nancy Ginesi, Chelan County Port Commissioner Craig Larsen, and crewman Steve Arnold. The three look out an open gunner window as the plane takes off from the Tri-Cities Airport on its way to East Wenatchee Wednesday.
During the flight, views of the surrounding farmland could be seen from small, plexiglass windows, open gunner windows, turrets, and like this scene, from gaps in bays, turrets and doors. The loud ride was smooth even in fairly stiff wind.
Volunteers rotate propellers of the B-24 bomber to remove oil and gas from the engine’s lower cylinders before leaving Tri-Cities Airport for Wenatchee.
A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress plane lands at Pangborn Memorial Airport.
Volunteer crewman Steve Arnold from the Seattle area loads cones used for tours into the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomb bay as they stow away tables, rope, shelters, and anything else they need for the display of three vintage WWII planes.
Airplane fans watch from near the Consolidated B-24J Liberator bomber, used in WWII, as a P-51 Mustang gets ready to take off for a tour Wednesday at the Tri-Cities Airport. The cost for a 30-minute flight in the P-51 is $2,200, an hour flight costs $3,200.
» 2 comments on this story
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, May 24
BNI Wenatchee Valley Friday
Smitty's Pancake House, 7 a.m.
Monday, May 27
Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking - Toastmasters Meeting
First United Methodist Church, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 28
Toastmasters
Chelan County PUD Auditorium, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., 7 a.m.
Tuesday, May 28
Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group
Lake Chelan Community Hospital, 1:30 p.m.
Comments
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stephmat 11 months, 1 week ago
Where can we get more information about the times and dates for viewing the planes? Hopefully, we can go up in the evening and view the planes?
seabrook 11 months, 1 week ago
The tour times are listed in the story: "...tours until 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday."
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