Ventura County residents will witness a rare sight Monday, March 18, when the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) famous Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, FIFI -- the only remaining flying example of the aircraft in the world – flies into Camarillo Airport at noon and will be on display at the CAF SoCal Hangar and Museum thru Wednesday, March 20th.
FIFI will be accompanied by a Submarine Spitfire, Japanese Zero, P-51 Mustang and other historical World War II military airplanes. The aircraft, all part of the CAF AirPower History Tour, will be on display at the CAF Southern California Wing hangar and museum Monday through Wednesday for cockpit tours and rides.
The event is open to the public and will allow attendees to get up close to these famous military aircraft. Gates are open from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday and 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Admission at the museum for the special event is $15 per person and $25 for mom, dad and kids under age 18. Children 5 and under are free. B-29 cockpit tours are included with admission price and are available when the airplane is not in motion.
Attending aircraft: B-29 Superfortress, P-51 Mustang, British Spitfire, Japanese Zero, Grumman Bearcat, Grumman Hellcat, PBY (B-25), T-6 Texan, C-45 Expeditor, PT-19 Cornell, Grumman F6F Hellcat; F8F Bearcat; a C-45 Expeditor, Bucket of Bolts; C-46, China Doll; as well as several others.
The B-29 will fly on Wednesday morning at 9 am, 10:30 am and noon. Other aircrafts giving rides will fly on demand throughout the event. Children over the age of 12 may ride, but we require a special notarized hold harmless document. (Available on line when the ride is booked or email pardonB29@gmail.com)
The B-29 will fly on Wednesday morning at 9 am, 10:30 am and noon. Other aircrafts giving rides will fly on demand throughout the event. Children over the age of 12 may ride, but we require a special notarized hold harmless document. (Available on line when the ride is booked or email pardonB29@gmail.com)
FIFI is part of the Air Power History Tour which includes aircraft, pilots and crews from over 70 CAF units that tour the country to create the AirPower Squadron – an ever changing assortment of military aircraft touring together to bring the sights, smells and sounds of World War II aviation history to audiences across the United States. The airplanes will be on the ramp at the CAF SoCal Hangar, 455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, California.
FIFI will be accompanied by a Submarine Spitfire, Japanese Zero, P-51 Mustang and other historical World War II military airplanes. The aircraft, all part of the CAF AirPower History Tour, will be on display at the CAF Southern California Wing hangar and museum Monday through Wednesday for cockpit tours and rides.
The event is open to the public and will allow attendees to get up close to these famous military aircraft. Gates are open from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday and 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Admission at the museum for the special event is $15 per person and $25 for mom, dad and kids under age 18. Children 5 and under are free. B-29 cockpit tours are included with admission price and are available when the airplane is not in motion.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress, first flown in 1942, began active service in 1944 and is perhaps best known as the aircraft whose missions over Japan helped bring about the end of World War II. It was designed as a replacement for the older B-17s and B-24s, with longer range and greater bomb loads. The B-29 was also used in the Korean War in the early 1950s and was a staple of the U.S. Air Force until the late 1950s.
There are opportunities for attendees to purchase a ride in the airplanes. Visit www.AirPowerTour.org for more information about the tour schedule and to make ride reservations. The cost for airplane rides ranges from $65 to $1595. There is a discount if you purchase your seats online.
The mission of the Commemorative Air Force is to honor the men and women who built, maintained and flew in these airplanes during World War II. The organization believes that mission is best accomplished by maintaining the airplanes in flying condition; taking the airplanes to the people allowing them to experience the sight and sound of the aircraft in flight.
More information is available at www.AirPowerTour.org
