The museum and its partners have created a WWII warbird air review that will fly over the entire city for Houstonians to enjoy from the safety of their own homes.
HOUSTON — On Friday, May 8, in honor of those who served and sacrificed during World War II, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Lone Star Flight Museum and its supporting partners will fly nearly 30 rare and historic warbirds over the city of Houston in an epic aviation event called the Fight to the Finish Flyover. The flyover will take off at 11:45 a.m. from Ellington Airport and fly a 120-mile flight plan over the skies of the Greater Houston area. This historic flight will last just over one hour, landing back at Ellington Airport at approximately 1:10 p.m.
Flyover partners include the Commemorative Air Force Houston, Gulf Coast and Highland Lakes Wings; Wings Over Houston Airshow; Signature Flight Support; HoustonFirst; IHeart Media-Houston and many individual warbird plane owners, pilots and volunteers. All partners volunteered their time and resources to make this event possible.
Museum President and CEO Douglas H. Owens, Lt. Gen. (ret.) said, “The Fight to the Finish Flyover is an invitation for Houstonians to join in acknowledging the 75th anniversary of VE Day – Victory in Europe. And, while we navigate this difficult time in our community, we encourage everyone to step outside and enjoy a moment of patriotic distraction and marvel at the rare warbirds flying overhead, all from the safety of their own front yards. This amazing flyover is a unique opportunity for everyone to view, all they have to do is look up!”
THE FLIGHT PLAN
This unprecedented flyover will begin at 11:45 a.m. and roar over Pasadena, the San Jacinto Monument, University of Houston-Main Campus, Downtown Houston, Memorial Park, Acres Homes, Houston National Cemetery, Cypress, Cinco Ranch, Mission Bend, the Energy Corridor, West University Place, Bellaire, Missouri City, Alvin, Pearland, Friendswood, Dickinson, Kemah and other communities underneath the flight path. The flight will end back at Ellington Airport at approximately 1:10 p.m.
THE FLIGHT LINE-UP AND PROGRAM
The fleet of more than two dozen historic warbirds include the B-25 Mitchell ‘Devil Dog’, Grumman HU-16 Albatross, P-51 Mustang, P-63 King Cobra, SB2C Helldiver, CAF Tora Group, C-45 Twin Beech, T-6 Texan, BT-13 Valiant, L-17 Navion, T-34 Mentor, Yak 52 and more.
