AVOCA BOROUGH, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — At the Wilkes Barre Scranton airport, crowds came out to see some 20th century aviation history up close.
“Everybody that comes wants to be here and wants to see the planes, talk about it, learn about it.,” said tour leader Steve Thompson. “It’s a great experience for everybody.”
The Air Power History Tour returned to AVP with three aircraft in tow. A PT-13, a T-6, and a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the type of plane that dropped the atomic bombs over Japan.
Attendees were able to climb into the cockpit and learn the interesting history of some of the World War’s most important aircraft.
“The American government wanted something that could fly, this flies, could fly to 30,000 feet,” explained Thompson. “They wanted something 400 miles an hour. They wanted something with 20,000 pounds worth of bombs. And this plane could do that.”
For a price, rides are also available, taking passengers high above the NEPA sky in pieces of living American war history.
For the onlookers, it was a chance for people of all ages to see timeless American made feats of aviation for themselves.
“Seeing something in person versus reading about it, having it in the textbook, are really just very different,” said Heather Kurunczi, a mom who came with a Luzerne County homeschooling group. “You know, it’s kind of similar to, you know, hearing music on the radio, going to see a band in person. It feels different.”
The air power history tour will be at AVP for the rest of the week, with the B-29 offering rides during the weekend.
After that, they’re off to continue the tour in Maryland.