Unique Experiences

Item Description

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride on a WWII bomber plane.

The Collings Foundation acquires and maintains a number of World War II airplanes. the foundation is dedicated to educating the public on what it was like for WW II vets and to “remember those left.”  Flying these planes today is a tribute to the crews who once flew them in combat and serves as a living history.  

You are free to walk about the plane freely. Visit the bombardier's position, each of the gunner positions and stand behind the pilots as they fly the plane.

Each year the planes embark on the Wings of Freedom tour which takes them across the country. Sometime in April the tour will land at the Marana Regional airport bringing along their B-24 and B-17 bombers.

You may choose one of two flights:

 1. Between the El Paso area (Santa Teresa airport* about 17 miles northwest of El Paso) and Marana Airport where you will arrive with the rest of the tour
  - or -
 2. Between Marana airport and the Phoenix area as the tour moves North. (Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler airport*) 
 
* These specific airports are not yet decided but Marana is definite. 

The flight from the El Paso area to Marana is about 250 miles and will take about 1 1/2 hours.  The flight will take place on a Friday morning. The view will be mostly of mountains, desert, dry lakes and the occasional highway. Depending on the exact route taken you may be able to see Willcox, Cochise, Summerhaven, Mount Lemmon and Biosphere 2. Towards the end of the flight Tucson will be visible out the left side of the airplane.

The flight from Marana to the Phoenix area is about 90 miles and will take about 1/2 hour. The flight will depart Marana on a Monday morning. Again, depending on the exact route taken you will see Picacho Peak, Casa Grande, Eloy, Coolidge, Chandler and the outskirts of Phoenix. The terrain will be mostly flat with mountains to the right.

http://www.collingsfoundation.org

Item Special Note

You only need to obtain your own transportation to and from the Marana airport. All other transportation will be provided (flight to El Paso to catch the bomber flight or a flight back to Marana from the Phoenix area after the bomber flight).

Depending on the availability of seats you may be able to choose which plane to fly on.

For the WWII bomber flight there are no height and weight restrictions.  However, there is height and weight restrictions for the flight to get you to El Paso or to pick you up from the Phoenix area (limits: height up to 6 foot 6 inches, weight up to 250 lbs).

The exact dates and locations for the April tour stop in Marana will be known sometime in January.

Other restrictions may apply.