SEATTLE, June 7, 2017-The steady rumble of World War II airplanes will resonate at The Museum of Flight June 23-25, while a group of four rare and historic aircraft is based here for public rides and tours. Ground tours and flights will be available in the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24J Liberator and B-25 Mitchell bombers, and a dual-control TP-51D Mustang fighter aircraft. The planes are on the national "Wings of Freedom Tour" sponsored by the non-profit Collings Foundation, and even casual visitors to the Museum will be able to experience sights and sounds connecting them to aviation of 70 years ago.

Ground tours are free for World War II veterans.

The aircraft will be stationed on the Museum's tarmac at Boeing Field. Tours and rides are available Friday, June 23, from 2 to 5 p.m., and June 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flights are available on each airplane. For information on flight reservations and costs, call 978-562-9182 or visit http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_flightexperie...

Why These Planes Are Special
The Collings' two-seat, dual-control Mustang is one of three original TF-51Ds remaining in the world. After four years of restoration ending last year, the fighter is painted in its original markings as a West Virginia Air Guard, 167th Fighter Squadron P-51 called "Toulouse Nuts." The Mustang was also awarded Grand Champion at the 2016 Oshkosh AirVenture. The Foundation's B-24J is the only one of its kind still flying. The Boeing B-17 is one of only about a dozen still flying.

MEDIA ALERT -
On Friday, June 23 at about 1 p.m. there will be media flight in either the B-17 or B-24 bomber (to be determined that day). Please contact Ted Huetter at The Museum of Flight, or Hunter Cheney at the Collings Foundation (800-568-8924; hchaney@collingsfoundation.org
for reservations. Participants are requested to be at the Museum tarmac by about 12:30 p.m.

Images: Airplane Formation - (bottom to top) TF-51D, B-24J, B-17 and B-25 of the Collings Foundation.
Single Airplane - Collings Foundation TF-51D Mustang. All photos courtesy Collings Foundation.



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About The Museum of Flight:
Founded in 1965, the independent, nonprofit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving more than 560,000 visitors annually. The Museum's collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft, from the first fighter plane (1914) to today's 787 Dreamliner. Attractions at the 20-acre, 5-building Seattle campus include the original Boeing Company factory, and the only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. With a foundation of aviation history, the Museum is also a hub of news and dialogue with leaders in the emerging field of private spaceflight ventures. The Museum's aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum's onsite and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field halfway between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum admission for adults is $23.00 on-site and $21.00 online. Youth 5 through 17 are $14.00 on-site and $13 online, youth 4 and under are free. Seniors 65 and over $19 on-site and $18 online. Groups of ten or more: $21.00 per adult, $13.00 per youth, Thanks to Wells Fargo, on the first Thursday of every month, admission is free from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. And parking is always free. There is a full lunch menu café in the Museum and a limited menu café in the Aviation Pavilion, both operated by McCormick & Schmick's. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org

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