Special to Iredell Free News
The B-29 Doc History Restored Tour will visit Statesville Regional Airport on April 30 through May 2.
B-29 Doc, one of 1,644 B-29 Superfortress aircraft built by the Boeing Company in Wichita, Kan., during World War II, will be available for ground and cockpit tours, as well as B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides during the tour stop in Statesville.
“When you can climb inside a historic aircraft and experience real-life history in person, it’s inspiring,” said Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson. “We are thrilled to be able to host B-29 Doc and give people a chance to see this incredibly rare warbird.”
B-29 Doc Flight Experience tickets are on sale at www.b29doc.com/rides. Ground and cockpit tour tickets will be available for purchase on the days of the event at the gate. While the aircraft is on the ground, visitors will be able to climb inside the cockpit through the forward bomb bay to get a look inside one of only two B-29 Superfortresses still airworthy and flying today.
“The legacy of our nation’s airpower during World War II was built on aircraft like the B-29 Superfortress,” said Josh Wells, B-29 Doc executive director. “Being able to showcase and honor the legacies of the men and women who designed, built, flew and maintained B-29s and other warbirds provides a unique and up-close experience to learn about our nation’s history.”
The tour stop in Statesville will be in the middle of a six-week tour for Doc, which will launch out of its home base in Wichita in mid-April for tour stops in seven states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio and Indiana. More information about the B-29 Doc tour schedule is available at www.b29doc.com/events.
Event Details
B-29 Doc will arrive at Statesville Regional Airport Monday, April 29, and will be available for ground and cockpit tours, Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides will be available April 30 and May 1 at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. both days. Ride flight tickets are on sale now via www.b29doc.com/rides. Admission for ground and cockpit tours will be $10 per person or $20 per family. Tickets for ground tours will be available at the gate. Public entrance for the event will be at Statesville Regional Airport, located at 238 Airport Road, Statesville.