Classic World War II planes will be on display and take to the sky this Fourth of July weekend in East Texas.
The Vintage Warbird Expo runs through Sunday and features seven aircraft from the Commemorative Air Force on display at the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum in Tyler.
Among the planes on view will be the B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders.
“The U.S. built 12,731 B-17’s and only nine are actively flying today. Texas Raiders is one of the most accurately restored B-17’s, bristling with machine guns and featuring period-specific equipment,” according to a news release.
Six other warbirds will also be on display: the twin-engine B-25 Mitchell bomber Devil Dog, the T-6 Texan Ace in the Hole, the N3N bi-plane Yellow Peril, the A26 Invader Night Mission, and the five-passenger Navy transport, Little Raider.
“The pilots that crew these aircraft are today’s heroes for keeping alive our history and maintaining and flying these aircraft — to bring it to the public and make (them) aware of the history of the United States, especially World War II,” Historic Aviation Memorial Museum President Louis Thomas said.
The planes are part of American aviation history and provide a chance to keep alive the memories of those who flew and served during World War II, he said.
“All the aircraft are notable for their historic importance and level of restoration, and all will be open for cockpit tours and are offering public flights,” according to a news release.
Located at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, the museum is hosting the expo noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Attendees can tour the aircraft and meet the crews.
Reservations can also be made to be a passenger on a limited number of 25-minute flights on the various aircraft.
Tour admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under and can be purchased online at ccveteransfoundation.org. Flights range from $100 to $850 and can be reserved at 1-855-FLY-A-B17 or B17TexasRaiders.org.
All seven planes will take flight Saturday evening at the Thunder Over Cedar Creek Airshow, held over the waters of Cedar Creek Lake, about 50 miles west of Tyler.
Visit tocclairshow.com for more information.