How About A Wild Ride On A B-25 Bomber?

A restored World War II veteran B-25 Mitchell bomber is scheduled to visit Yakima for a week in early July. The Commemorative Air Force’s ‘Maid in the Shade’ will be on display at the Yakima airport, offering rides and tours, Tuesday, July 5, to Monday, July 11. It will be at the McAllister Museum of Aviation, at the east end of McAllister Field.

The B-25 will give the public an up-close and personal look of aviation history. The public is invited to tour the airplane. And, some individuals will have the opportunity to take a flight in the plane. A portion of the flight cost is tax-deductible. Only a handful of these rare birds remain in the world, and even fewer provide the opportunity to experience flight just as the flight crews did during WW II.

In addition to ‘Maid in the Shade,’ the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aviation Museum maintains and flies several WWII aircraft, including the Boeing B-17 ’Sentimental Journey,’ which has stopped in Yakima several times.

The WWII bombers are maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial to America’s veterans by the all-volunteer non-profit Commemorative Air Force, Arizona Wing Aviation Museum based in Mesa, AZ at Falcon Field Airport.

‘Maid in the Shade’ is a veteran with 18 combat missions flying out of Corsica during WWII. The restoration to bring “Maid in the Shade” back to flying condition took 28 years and was completed May 2009. The Arizona Wing Aviation Museum and its restored aircraft and artifacts span over 90 years of aviation history.

Details about purchasing rides on the B-25 can be obtained by phoning 602-448-2350 or e-mailing the C.A.F. at rides@azcaf.org. After the plane arrives in Yakima, ride information can be obtained by phoning the McAllister Museum at 509-457-4933.