EAA B-17 PART OF FRIDAY’S MASSIVE ‘ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY’ FLYOVER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (May 6, 2015) — The Experimental Aircraft Association’s B-17 bomber Aluminum Overcast will be among the aircraft group leaders in the massive “Arsenal of Democracy” flyover in Washington, D.C., on Friday, May 8.

The flyover involving more than 50 World War II-era aircraft commemorates the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day that marked the end of World War II combat in Europe and the surrender of the Axis powers to the Allied forces. It is one of the most diverse arrays of World War II aircraft ever assembled, flying in 15 historically sequenced formations that represent the war’s major battles from Pearl Harbor through the final air assault on Japan, and concluding with a missing man formation to the playing of taps.

EAA’s B-17, which has toured the country for the past 20 years in honor of veterans and their sacrifices, will lead the B-17 group that honors the efforts of “Big Week,” a February 1944 Allied air offensive that involved nearly 4,000 bombers in attacks on Nazi Germany. Aluminum Overcast will be flown by EAA’s Sean Elliott and George Daubner, and joined by the Commemorative Air Force’s B-17 Texas Raiders in the flight.

“This is an unprecedented privilege for an EAA aircraft to be part of this historic event,” said Elliott, who is EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety as well as an experienced B-17 tour pilot. “It has been amazing to watch the positive coordination between the aviation community and the many federal agencies to make this possible, all to remember the contributions and sacrifices of The Greatest Generation. It is our honor to fly on this day.”

The Arsenal of Democracy flyover begins at 12:10 p.m. EDT, with aircraft flying over the Lincoln Memorial, then over Independence Avenue and east of the U.S. Capitol, before flying over Reagan National Airport and out of the Washington, D.C., airspace. The entire flyover is expected to take just over an hour, with flights of aircraft passing every two minutes. It will be featured in an online webcast from Washington.

Jack J. Pelton, EAA chairman of the board, will be among 100 dignitaries and VIPs who will watch the flyover from the roof of the Smithsonian in Washington. The flyover, which also includes numerous other EAA members flying warbird aircraft, will be extensively covered by national media.

EAA’s B-17 will continue its national tour this coming weekend in Manassas, Virginia, appearing with the CAF’s B-29 and B-24 bombers in a unique gathering of three of World War II’s best-known bombers.

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