AirExpo 2022 Features Return of 'Yankee Lady'

Attendees at Wings of the North's 2022 AirExpo were able to climb aboard an iconic plane of World War II and be transported back in time via big bomber flight.

Yankee Air Museum again offered paid B-17G rides during the two-day event July 23-24.

The aircraft is based in Belleville, Michigan, It was the 13th from the last ever produced. It was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces on July 16, 1945, and did not go overseas or see combat. In all, 12,731 Flying Fortresses were built during World War II. Today, there are approximately 10 or fewer different models of B-17s reported to be airworthy. "Yankee Lady" is one of only five on which a person can purchase a ride. None of the flyable B-17s left in existence today flew in combat. "Yankee Lady" carries the livery of the 1st Bomb Wing (black triangle on the tail) 381st Bomb Group (white "L" within the triangle) and the 534th Bomb Squadron (large "GD" on fuselage). This aircraft mission livery honors a major donor to the B-17 who was a pilot of a B-17 in this group operating out of Ridgewell, England.