Historic WWII aircraft reunite for 80th Anniversary of Sioux Gateway Airport and Sioux City’s River-Cade celebration

Conroe, TX (June 1, 2022)  In cities across the U.S., vintage military aircraft rest quietly in museums, where school children and tourists admire them, take their pictures and leave them behind closed doors at the end of each day.  This summer, aviation history blasts out of the museums and into the skies as the Commemorative Air Force thunders into Sioux City. Sioux Gateway Airport will host American aviation history as the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) holds an event featuring restored WWII aircraft for public viewing and flights. Led by the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders, four vintage aircraft will be in Sioux City June 19th through 24th to reunite for 80th Anniversary of Sioux Gateway Airport.
 
The B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders is one of only three remaining that are actively flying in the U.S. today. This aircraft was the first Flying Fortress to be restored solely for the sake of education and use as a flying museum, and is an accurately restored B-17, bristling with machine guns and featuring period-specific equipment. Hosted by the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation, local chapter 291 of the Experimental Aircraft Association and Hawthorne Aviation, the event will also include the only flying example in the world of the notorious Helldiver dive-bomber, plus the popular SNJ/T6 Texan advanced trainer in which thousands of airmen trained for combat, and a twin engine Navy transport in which the whole family can fly together. Notable for their historic importance and excellent level of restoration, all four warbirds will offer cockpit tours and flights to the public beginning Tuesday July 19th.    
 
The public is invited to enjoy on-board tours and warbird flights with the aircraft crews at Revv Aviation, 6121 Pershing Street, Sioux City, Iowa 51111.  Admission to the event is $15 each for adults and teens, $10 for children under 12, and $25 for a family of up to five and includes access to all the aircraft for cockpit tours as well as full admission to the Mid America Museum of Aviation and Transportation located nearby at 2600 Expedition Court.  Warbird flights start as low as $100 on the Navy transport, and on the T6 advanced trainer for $380. Seats on the B-17 start at $495 and a flight on the dive-bomber is $995. Ground tours will be conducted from 10:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday through Sunday July 19th through 24th, excluding flying times. Those who wish to fly can call 855-FLY-A-B17 (1-855-359-2217) or reserve online at B17TexasRaiders.org  See more on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/B17TexasRaiders .
 
About the 80th Anniversary of Sioux Gateway Airfield
The CAF B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders will reunite with Sioux City Army Air Base as part of the 80th Anniversary of the airfield in Sioux City.  Now called Sioux Gateway Airport, the air base was built after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and was dedicated in July of 1942.  In addition to the CAF Warbird Expo, the museum will host other events as well as participate in additional River-Cade celebrations including a parade appearance on Wednesday July 20 and a Pancake Breakfast and Car Show on Saturday, July 23.
 
About the Commemorative Air Force
Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historic aircraft for more than half a century, the CAF mission is to educate, inspire and honor through flight. The CAF is a 501 (c) 3 educational organization, and has over 12,000 members and a fleet of 180 airplanes distributed throughout the U.S. For more information, visit commemorativeairforce.org