Replica of WWII B-17 flies over RVA this weekend

Up in the sky it’s a bird…it’s a plane…no, it’s definitely a plane.

September 10, 2013; 7:21 AM • by Nathan Cushing

If you see a mammoth plane flying over the city this Saturday, don’t panic: it’s just the replica of a famous WWII B-17. No big deal.

A replica of the Memphis Belle, a “flying fortress” bomber that flew her last mission 70 years ago,1 will be available for ground tours and day flights for just one day, Saturday, September 14th at Hanover County Municipal Airport in Ashland. The visit is part of the Liberty Foundation’s 2013 Salute to Veterans Tour. The foundation describes the Memphis Belle and its history as a rare “living museum.”

The original Memphis Belle downed eight enemy fighters, dropped over 60 tons of bombs over Germany, France, and Belgium in 1942-1943 and flew over 20,000 miles.

Saturday’s flights are roughly 30 minutes and cost $450. Ground tours will also be available. To schedule a flight or tour, call 918.340.0243 or visit the Liberty Foundation website.

photo courtesy of the Liberty Foundation

— ∮∮∮ —

Footnotes

  1. And the subject of the 1990 film Memphis Belle. ↩
  • error

    Report an error

Nathan Cushing

Nathan Cushing is a writer, journalist, and RVANews Editor.

September 10, 2013 7:21 AM 0

There are no reader comments. Add yours.