Three iconic planes from the World War II era will fly into Leesburg International Airport Feb. 15-17 for a unique opportunity to experience aviation history. The fully-restored aircraft - part of the Collings Foundation’s 23^rd annual Wings of Freedom Tour - will be on display along the Bravo taxiway on the airport’s east side near Echo Drive. Free parking will be available next to the taxiway.

The collection includes a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” – one of the most widely recognized types of aircraft during W.W. II. The heavy bomber is powered by four 1,200-horsepower engines with a wingspan of more than 103 feet.

 

The Consolidated B-24J Liberator “Witchcraft” – a four-engine bomber measuring 67 feet long - is the only plane of its kind flying today, according to the Collings Foundation. It required five years and 97,000 hours of labor to completely restore it to flight readiness.

 

The North American TP-51C Mustang is among the world’s most recognizable historic warplanes, which was used for bomber escorts and fighting over Europe during W.W. II.

 

The planes will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 16 and 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 17.

 

Visitors are invited to explore the planes and look inside. Donations are $12 for adults, $6 for children younger than 12 years old. Thirty-minute flights aboard the B-17 and B-24 aircraft are available for $425 per person. TP-51C flights are $2,200 for 30 minutes and $3,200 for an hour.

 

The Collings Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation based in Stow, Mass. For more information, call 1-800-568-8924 or visit www.collingsfoundation.org.