NEWS RELEASE

Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing

2017 N. Greenfield Road • Mesa, Arizona 85215
www.azcaf.org
Telephone: (480) 924-1940
Rick Senffner
pio@azcaf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2008, Mesa, Arizona

Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Dekalb, IL. B-17 Flying Fortress SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY will be on display at the Dekalb-Taylor Airport, August 18-24 In support of the Annual Dekalb Corn Fest.

WHAT:  The most fully restored B-17 Flying Fortress SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY a World War II vintage bomber airplane will fly into Dekalb-Taylor Airport, offering the public an up-close and personal look at this unique piece of aviation history.  The public is invited to tour this airplane–inside and out. A $5.00 donation is requested to tour through the plane. There’s even the opportunity for some lucky individuals to actually take a flight in SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY and experience this rare aircraft first-hand. Flight opportunities on SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY is $425 - per person tax-deductible with a minimum of 5 persons per flight. The flight will average 45 minutes. Minimum age of passengers is 18 years. For more information and to make reservations call 602-448-9415. Only a handful of these rare birds remain in the world today and most of them are on static display in museums. 

WHERE: The aircraft will be on display at Dekalb-Taylor Airport.   

WHEN:  SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY will arrive at Dekalb-Taylor Airport at 12:00 noon Monday, August 18, and will be on display at Dekalb-Taylor Airport until the aircraft departs Monday morning August 25.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY will be displayed and can be toured from 12:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. (or until the crowd thins out), weather permitting on August 18
August 19-24, 9 AM to 6 PM (or until the crowd thins out), weather permitting.

WHO: SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY has been restored as a flying museum/memorial by the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing so the public can tour these one of a kind aircraft. All tour proceeds benefit SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY. Members of the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force are volunteers and the Commemorative Air Force is a non-profit organization. 

WHY: SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY is a flying memorial and museum of the men who flew and crewed these airplanes, as well as the men and women who built them more than 50 years ago during and especially to the crews that did not return.  The B-17 Flying Fortress was famous for the daylight bombing raids over Germany during World War II and could sustain such battle damage that the aircraft lived up to its name of the Flying Fortress. Out of 12,731 built there are only about 10 restored and airworthy examples remaining. For the airplane enthusiast, it’s an opportunity to have a museum come to the visitor instead of the traditional other way around. 

The public will not only have the opportunity to look them over from the inside out, but to hear and see them fly.  It’s a unique opportunity for aviation enthusiasts young and old. Aviation gifts will be available for purchase through the PX. See the Arizona Wing CAF website for more information on Sentimental Journey at www.azcaf.org

For further information e-mail Rick Senffner for information or images at pio@azcaf.org