A collection of relics from skies gone by sits waiting for visitors at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
The Airpower History Tour of the Commemorative Air Force flew in a B-29 named ‘Fifi’ and two other aircraft for what they say will be an extended weekend of flying fun.
“We’ll have a P-51, a T6 Texan steering biplane. And I think a T26, I think that we’ll all be given rides over the weekend. This, this will be giving rides Saturday and Sunday, but it’s open now for people to come walk through what we call cockpit tours,” said Steve Thompson, Commemorative Air Force.
“I’ve loved planes since I was a child. I mean, from, I think my generation grew up with like Airwolf, and after that, I just started to get into aviation,” said April Miller, Olyphant.
April Miller drove from Olyphant to grab a few photos of the historic planes. She says the B-29 Superfortress stood out the most for its long-standing role in air force history. Its design helped in combat and influenced Hollywood, too.
“The inside of it was, the Millennium Falcon was designed from that, from Star Wars, so if you go in and you look out, it literally looks like you’re looking out of the Millennium Falcon,” said Miller.
A field trip for children, a part of a homeschool program in Luzerne County, saw some of the equipment turned into jungle gyms.
“Something to this effect, I think it’s kind of a unique experience for kids to kind of get a hands-on approach for something that they’re interested in,” said Heather Kurunczi, parent.
A place where Kurunczi says curious minds got a lesson in history and maybe a new interest. “Noticed that a lot of the pilot community is definitely aging. It’s not to the point where it’s necessarily refreshing, so I think it’s good to start, you know, from the ground and inspire children, the next generation of people to potentially get involved in aviation.”