Vintage planes land in DuPage

The Wings of Freedom Tour of the World War II Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, North American B-25 Mitchell and North American P-51 Mustang will be at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago 6from Friday through Monday.

Residents will have the opportunity to visit, explore, and learn more about these pieces of aviation history. The B-17 is one of only nine in flying condition in the United States; the B-24J and Dual Control P-51C Mustang are the sole remaining examples of their type flying in the world; and the B-25 is one of only a handful in flying condition.

Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out. A $12 donation for adults and $6 donation for children under 12 is requested for access to viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft.

Visitors may also take a 30-minute flight one of the aircraft. Flight experiences are a tax-deductible donation and range from $325 to $2,200.

For reservations and information on flight experiences call 1-800-568-8924.

The Wings of Freedom Tour will arrive at DuPage Airport at 2 p.m. Friday and will be on display at the DuPage Flight Center at DuPage Airport until the aircraft depart at noon Monday. Hours of ground tours and display are: 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. to noon Monday. The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times.

Find out more by visiting www.collingsfoundation.org or e-mail Hunter Chaney at hchaney@collingsfoundation.org.