Facebook
By ERICA SHEN
Special to The Press-Enterprise
Two heavy bombers and a fighter airplane from World War II will be on display from Wednesday to Friday at French Valley Airport in Murrieta.
For 21 years, the Wings of Freedom Tour has traveled the nation to preserve WWII history. The tour visits an average of 110 cities in more than 35 states annually, according to a press release for the event.
“The tour gives people a better sense of what it must have been like during World War II and more appreciation for those who served in the air force,” said Hunter Chaney, director of marketing for the Collings Foundation, which organizes the event.
Three aircraft: the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” heavy bomber; the Consolidated B-24 Liberator “Witchcraft” heavy bomber and the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang “Betty Jane” fighter will be on display.
The B-24 is the only one of its type still flying in the world, Chaney said.
Visitors can tour through the inside of the aircrafts, as well as fly aboard them.
Story continues below
Special to The Press-Enterprise
The North American P-51 Mustang along with other vintage aircraft will be on display from Wednesday to Friday at French Valley Airport as a part of the Wings of Freedom Tour sponsored by the Collings Foundation.
The event will not only appeal to veterans and plane buffs, it can also spark students’ interest in history.
“If you read or listen to history, you may only remember pieces of it, but if you have a tactile experience with history you tend to not forget it,” Chaney said.
Story continues below
Guests can set up appointments to fly in the North American P-51 Mustang that will be making an appearance at the French Valley Airport from Wednesday to Friday.
The Collings Foundation is a nonprofit group that helps people learn more about their heritage and history through events such as the tour.
The event is set from 2 to 5 p.m. May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 and 9 a.m. to noon May 7 at French Valley Airport, 37552 Winchester Road.
Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12 to tour inside the aircraft. The tour is free for veterans.
It costs $425 for a 30 minute flight on the B-17 or the B-24 and $2,200 for 30 minutes and $3,200 for an hour on the P-51. Cost for the flights go directly to aircraft maintenance and are tax-deductible.
To schedule a flight and for more information, call 1-800-568-8924, or visit www.collingsfoundation.org
Reach Erica Shen at erica_shen@hotmail.com
Wings of Freedom Tour
When : Wednesday to Friday
Times: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday.
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday
9 a.m. to noon, Friday.
Where: French Valley Airport, 37552 Winchester Road
Cost: $12 for adults; $6 for children under 12 to tour inside the aircrafts. The tour is free for veterans.
Take a flight : Cost is $425 for 30 minutes on the B-17 and B-24, $2,200 for 30 minutes, $3,200 for an hour on the P-51.
To schedule a flight and for more information: 1-800-568-8924 ort www.collingsfoundation.org