Vintage warbirds plan flyover of Washington, DC, later this month

On Sept. 26, some 70 vintage aircraft will take to the skies over Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Arsenal of Democracy Flyover will feature historically sequenced formations representing the war’s major battles – from the Battle of Britain through the final air assault on Japan.

More than 20 different types of vintage military aircraft are scheduled to fly in formations beginning over the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The airshow is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. EDT with planes flying in two-minute intervals over the skies of the nation’s capital. The commemoration is expected to last approximately 70 minutes.

As a principle organizer of this historic event, the Commemorative Air Force – the world’s largest flying museum – will send 18 warbirds from 13 units across seven states to participate:

• B-29 Superfortress FIFI: One of only two B-29 Heavy Bombers still flying.
• C-47 That’s All, Brother: Led the formation of 800 aircraft from which 13,000 U.S. paratroopers jumped during the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
• P-51 Mustang Tuskegee Airmen: Long range fighter-bomber made famous by the inspirational stories of the African-American pilots who flew them.
• B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey: Flew bombing missions over Europe throughout the war. One of only five B-17s around the world still actively flying.
• T-6 Texan Nella: Flown by the Women Airforce Service Pilots – America’s first female military aviators and the “spiritual grandmothers” to today’s female pilots.