NCDOT Release September 22, 2017
RALEIGH – Something special is coming to Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Oct. 19 for the public to experience – four genuine, still-flying World War II aircraft.
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation and the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority are proud to announce that the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour will be making a stop at the airport for a one-of-a-kind chance to see living aviation history.
The tour features four living WWII aircraft – a B-17 Flying Fortress, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell bomber and a P-51 Mustang – as well as educational displays and activities from NCDOT, RDU International Airport, the N.C. Museum of History, the National D-Day Memorial, Civil Air Patrol, SAS’ Data on the Fly STEM project, Wings of Carolina, and more.
This is a rare opportunity to visit, explore and learn more about these unique and rare treasures of aviation history. Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out – $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12 is requested for access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft, with discounted rates for school groups and veterans. Visitors may also experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft.
According to Collings Foundation spokesperson Hunter Chaney, “These aircraft travel the nation as a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew them, the ground crews who maintained them, the workers who built them, the soldiers, sailors and airmen they helped protect; and the citizens and families that share the freedom that they helped preserve.”
The Wings of Freedom Tour will be on display at the NCDOT’s Division of Aviation Office and Hangar at RDU Airport, located at 1050 Meridian Drive in Morrisville. The aircraft will arrive on Thursday, Oct. 19 and will be on display through Sunday, Oct. 22, with Friday being an educational day for students.
For more information, or to reserve a flight in one of the aircraft, please call the Collings Foundation at 800-568-8924 or visit collingsfoundation.org.