Submitted photo The Sentimental Journey, a World War II-era B-17G Flying Fortress, will be at the Carson City Airport this weekend. It's expected to arrive Saturday and be available for paid daylight flights and tours through Sunday afternoon. The airport open house is Saturday.
Wings Over Carson, the open house for the Carson City Airport, will provide residents an opportunity to learn about the airport and aviation in general.
The open house is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and will feature food, displays and other attractions, according to airport management.
"It's a public airport, we want residents to know what we do here," said Yvon Weaver, manager of the facility.
The Sentimental Journey, a World War II B-17G Flying Fortress, will be at the airport Saturday and Sunday. The model carried 10-man crews during the war.
This particular aircraft was built in November 1944. It was used in the Pacific for photomapping, then for atomic bomb tests in the Bikini Islands. It was one of the last B-17s to be retired from the Air Force. It was later used as a civilian firefighting plane, according to the Commemorative Air Force.
People can arrange for a flight in the Sentimental Journey. Cost to go up is $425 for each person. Organizers require groups of six for trips to be feasible. It's expected to be available for flights while the sun is bright, through Sunday afternoon, said Rick Senffner, public information officer for the Arizona wing of the nonprofit, all-volunteer museum based in Mesa, Ariz.
It costs about $3,000 per one hour flight for the organization, Commemorative Air Force, Arizona wing, to keep the aircraft flight-ready, Senffner said.
The public may tour inside the plane for a $5 donation and commemorative merchandise also will be on sale. Both also help the group keep up the aircraft.
Only adults can go on the flights but ground tours are open to all, Senffner said.
Other aircraft will be on display, including a different B-17 and two B-25s, during the open house on Saturday. The Experimental Aircraft Association will host a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., and there also will be a barbecue and snacks. There will be static demonstrations and flying demonstrations of radio-controlled model airplanes.
For those with an eye out for the future of the airport, there will be maps and other documents on hand. Those with their eyes pointed at the clouds can watch a skydiver early Saturday, Weaver said.
In addition, there will be a climbing wall, a hand car from the Nevada State Railroad Museum and live music, among other attractions.
Organizers also are collecting nonperishable foods to distribute to organizations that help those in need across the region.
• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.
For your
information
Contact the Carson City Airport at 887-1234 or visit carsoncity-airport.com for information about Saturday's open house.
Call (602) 448-9415 or visit www.arizonawingcaf.com for reservations or other information about the Sentimental Journey.