Hawthorne Global Aviation Services, the preferred FBO at the Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, will host a fly-in on June 1-2 featuring the Texas Raiders, an authentically restored WWII B-17 Bomber owned and operated by the Commemorative Air Force.

 

“The two-day event is open to the public for walk-through tours and rides and all are invited to join us as a special ‘fly-in’ guest and enjoy this vintage aircraft along with a cook-out on Saturday afternoon and the excitement and fun of New Orleans,” said Jay Taffet, General Manger of the Hawthorne Lakefront FBO.

 

This special B-17 warbird will be available for tour beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 1st through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 2nd. For the fly-in, there is afternoon cook-out and for a great weekend, stay downtown on Saturday evening before flying out on Sunday. Specially discounted hotel rates as well as VIP town car rides downtown for half the normal rate, are also available.

 

Texas Raiders tours are $5.00 for adults (free for WWII veterans), $3.00 for children (free for children under five), and rides are $625 for a seat in the nose and $425 for all other seats. For B-17 ride reservations, contact b17rides@gulfcoastwing.org or 817-304-0393.

 

Taffet added, “It’s a special treat to host such an important piece of aviation history, and we’re looking forward to an exciting weekend of hosting the public and our fellow aviation enthusiasts who come out to see the B-17. “Being the grandson of a B-17 bombardier, this is also a special, personal opportunity for me to see what aviation was like for my grandfather and how he served in WWII.”

 

The Texas Raiders B-17 was fully restored in 2009 and has performed in air shows, sporting event fly-overs and public tours all over the country. The aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945 and flew its last flying mission prior to its restoration in 2001 when it marked the grand opening of the New Orleans National D-Day Museum with a fly-over. More information is available at www.commemorativeairforce.org or www.b17texasraiders.org.

 

“We hope everyone will join us for a very unique experience. Watching and hearing this very rare aircraft take to the skies gives the younger generations a chance to relive the history of WWII. Texas Raiders is the most authentic B-17 flying today and has been beautifully restored by hundreds of dedicated volunteers. The members of the CAF, Gulf Coast Wing, are proud to present our B17 Flying Fortress to the folks of New Orleans,” says Commemorative Air Force Tour Planner Colonel Vicki Thomas.

 

The Commemorative Air Force, a non-profit educational association, is dedicated to honoring American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance with a flying museum of classic military aircraft. It has over 9,000 members and a fleet of 160 airplanes representing more than 60 different types.

 

Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is a premier, full-service private air terminal located at the Lakefront Airport in New Orleans. Fully renovated in 2012, the terminal features a two-story, atrium-style lobby, more than 50,000 square feet of jet hangar capacity, the best in hospitality and concierge services and the quickest access to downtown New Orleans.

 

 

(2013, May 15) Hawthorne Global hosts "fly-in" on June 1-2: features Commemorative Air Force WWII B-17 bomber. Avinode Daily. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from www.avinode.com