At Wichita Warbird Weekend, you can ride in and get up close to World War II bombers
Starting Wednesday, you can fly inside or get up close to nine historic aircraft in Wichita, including one of the last two airworthy B-29s in the world.
It’s all a part of Wichita Warbird Weekend, which will take place July 6-10 at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitor’s Center, 1788 S. Airport Road at Eisenhower National Airport.
Four of the nine aircraft will be available for rides; five will be on the ground for people to touch and get up close to. People can also talk to the pilots and World War II veterans about their stories, said B-29 Doc executive director Josh Wells.
At last year’s Wichita Warbird Weekend, Wells said B-29 Doc had a full house of people. This year, B-29 Doc has added more aircraft to fly in and get up close to. In addition, the Echos Band will play a concert of 1980s music on the evening of July 9. “My favorite part of the entire weekend is being able to get unique airplanes and warbirds to the city of Wichita — to really celebrate Wichita being the air capital of the world,” Wells said.
“Doc,” a World War II bomber based in Wichita, is one of four aircraft that will be available at the event for rides. Doc is one of 1,644 B-29 Superfortresses manufactured in Wichita during World War II and one of only two B-29 Superfortresses flying today.
Doc was restored by hundreds of volunteers, including workers and retirees from Wichita’s aviation industry, veterans, active duty members and more after being found in the Mojave Desert. It lives inside B-29 Doc’s 42,000 square foot hangar and museum facility at the Eisenhower National Airport, where volunteers maintain the aircraft.
“We’re very proud to call Wichita our home,” Wells said. “Our volunteers are very proud of what they do.”
In addition to Doc, Wells said the following aircraft will be available at the event for both rides and static display:
The B-25 Berlin Express from the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which is a medium World War II bomber that was completely restored in 2019.
A Stearman PT-13 from the Commemorative Air Force’s Heart of America Wing in Gardner, Kansas.
A Cessna UC-78 Bobcat, which is operated and owned by the Commemorative Air Force Jayhawk Wing in Wichita.
A Cessna L-19, North American Aviation T-6 Texan, Beech Staggerwing, Fairchild PT-26 and Taylorcraft L-2 will be available for static and ground display, according to a news release from B-29 Doc.
The Beech Staggerwing is the last aircraft of its kind that was built and delivered, Wells said. The aircraft was built by Beechcraft in Wichita.
“It’s a great restoration,” Wells said. “It’s unique and one of a kind airplane.”
In addition, visitors can view the center’s new Kansas Women in Aviation Hall of Fame Exhibit. The 2,000 square-foot exhibit honors the women who built wartime equipment and worked on the front lines of manufacturing and assembly lines.
“We opened the Kansas Women in Aviation Hall of Fame Exhibit this year and it honors the women who built aircraft in Wichita during World War II and really paved the way for women to have careers in aviation, to break that glass ceiling, to inspire young female aviators and people who are in love with aviation to get into the aviation industry,” Wells said.
If you go
General admission tickets for the Wichita Warbird Weekend event can be purchased at the door of the event, which is $10 per person or $20 for a family.
The event will be open July 6-8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 9 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and July 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To purchase ride tickets for B-29 Doc, visit www.b29doc.com/rides or call 316-358-9894. Ride tickets for the B-25 Berlin Express can be purchased at www.flytheb25.org or via phone at 800-359-6217. To ride the PT-13 Stearman, you can purchase tickets the day of the event, or call 913-209-8027 to buy them. Tickets for the UC-78 Bobcat can also be purchased the day of the event or by calling 316-655-0257.
