The Commemerative Air Force (CAF) AirPower History Tour is at the Tri City Airport in Blountville until Sunday (May 30th). If you hurry, you can experience the sights, smells and sounds of historic World War II aircraft. Get up close & touch the aircraft, tour the cockpits, talk to the crews and see the planes actually fly. It's a great opportunity to teach younger generations about the marvels of WW2 aviation technology.
The last day for the CAF at the TRI is Sunday - May 30, 2021. They'll be open from 9 am - 12 pm at the
Sunday, May 30, 2021 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- B-29 flies at 9:00 a.m.
- P-51, PT-13, & T-6 available for rides until 11 a.m.
B-29
“FIFI,” is one of only two airworthy B-29s out of nearly 4,000 manufactured. She was rescued in 1971 and restored to airworthy status after several years. The plane was used as the X-1 launch aircraft in "The Right Stuff" (where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in an X-1).
The B-29 was the most technologically advanced aircraft of World War II.
Trainers will also be on hand. The PT-13 and T-6 were two of the training aircraft used by thousands of wartime Army Air Force, Navy and Marine pilots to master and their wings.
Admission
Admission to the display area is $20 per adult, $10 for children 11-17 and free for children 10 and younger. More information can be found at the CAF website: https://www.airpowersquadron.org/tricities-tn.
History
You can see the aircaft flying around the vicinity of the Tri-City Airport this weekend. You will be amazed at the size of these aircraft - especially the B-29, which is nearly 80 years old.
The crews will let you get up close and personal, and answer all of your questions to the best of their ability.
About the CAF AirPower History Tour
The B-29/B-24 Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force brings together the aircraft, pilots and crews from over 70 CAF units across the country to create the AirPower Squadron – an ever changing assortment of military aircraft touring together to bring the sights, sounds and smells of World War II aviation history to audiences across the United States.
The AirPower Squadron always includes at least one of the two rarest World War II bombers in the world – FIFI, the most famous, flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress and Diamond Lil, an equally rare B-24 Liberator. Aircraft accompanying the B-29 or B-24 will include other World War II aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang, the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-25 Mitchell, along with an assortment of fighters, trainers and liaison aircraft.
See their website for even more information.