Commemorative Air Force - AirPower History Tour - 2023

The Commemorative Air Force bring their 2023 AirPower History Tour to Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI) for a Memorial Day Weekend visit. Attending aircraft includes their Boeing B-29 Superfortress “FIFI”, Consolidated B-24 Liberator “DIamond Lil”, Beechcraft RC-45J Expeditor, North American P-51D Mustang “Gunfighter”, North American AT-6 Texan, Boeing PT-13 Stearman, and a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor.

Due to expected poor weather on Sunday, all the weekend flying was packed into the Saturday schedule. And fly they did. Four flights by the B-29 and three by the B-24. All the other aircraft made multiple fights on Friday and Saturday as many people wanted to experience a warbird flight.

The rain arrived on Sunday and low clouds lingered into Monday. Forcing a delayed departure by the remaining aircraft on to their next tour stop.

25-29 May 2023

Arrival Day

The CAF aircraft trickled in throughout the afternoon. The B-29 Superfortress and AT-6 Texan arriving first. The P-51D Mustang was the last to arrive. A couple of pilots took the time to make several practice Touch-n-Go landings to familirize themselves with Tri-Cities Airport.

25May23

T-6 Texan - B-29 Superfortress - B-24 Liberator
25May23 — T-6 Texan - B-29 Superfortress - B-24 Liberator 25May23

C-45 Expediter - B-29 Superfortress
25May23 — C-45 Expediter - B-29 Superfortress 25May23

You can get an idea of the size difference between the B-29 Superfortress and the B-24 Liberator.
25May2 — You can get an idea of the size difference between the B-29 Superfortress and the B-24 Liberator. 25May2

CAF Airpower History Tour - Multi Engine Warbirds Arrival Day at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI)

RC-45J EXPEDITOR - B-29 SUPERFORTRESS “FIFI” - B-24 LIBERATOR “DIAMOND LIL” - C-45H EXPEDITOR

Arrival of four of the multi-engine warbirds from the Commemorative Air Force to Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI) to begin their weekend stay at the 2023 AirPower History Tour.

25May23

CAF Airpower History Tour - Single Engine Warbirds Arrival Day at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI)

P-51D Mustang “Gunfighter” - AT-6 Texan “Nella” - PT-13 Stearman

Arrival of three of the single-engine warbirds from the Commemorative Air Force to Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI) to begin their weekend stay at the 2023 AirPower History Tour.

25May23

CAF Airpower History Tour - Warbirds Arrival Day - SUPER CUT - at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI)

RC-45J EXPEDITOR - B-29 SUPERFORTRESS “FIFI” - B-24 LIBERATOR “DIAMOND LIL” - AT-6 TEXAN “Nella” - PT-13 STEARMAN - P-51D MUSTANG “GUNFIGHTER” - C-45H EXPEDITOR

Super cut of all warbirds from the Commemorative Air Force in the order they arrived to Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI) to begin their weekend stay at the 2023 AirPower History Tour.

25May23

Friday Fly Day

I caught a few flyovers by the RC-45J Expeditor and P-51D Mustang in the morning. Made a trip out to the airport in the afternoon to view the ramp. A nice crowd had made the trip out to Tri-Cities Airport to view the visiting aircraft. Stopped by in the evening after the gates were closed to view the aircraft all buttoned up for the evening.

26May23

The RC-45J Expeditor made numerous trips past BMS on this day.
26May23 — The RC-45J Expeditor made numerous trips past BMS on this day. 26May23

A lone 1983 AERO VODOCHODY L-39ZA owned by COASTAL DEFENSE INC makes a stop at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI).
26May23 — A lone 1983 AERO VODOCHODY L-39ZA owned by COASTAL DEFENSE INC makes a stop at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI). 26May23

Pilot of the 1983 AERO VODOCHODY L-39ZA owned by COASTAL DEFENSE INC looking through the cockpit and has the storage area in the nose open at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI).
26May23 — Pilot of the 1983 AERO VODOCHODY L-39ZA owned by COASTAL DEFENSE INC looking through the cockpit and has the storage area in the nose open at Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI). 26May23

A P-51D Mustang always draws a large contingent of admirers.
26May23 — A P-51D Mustang always draws a large contingent of admirers. 26May23

Lucky man about to take the ride of a lifetime in the P-51 Mustang "Gunfighter".
26May23 — Lucky man about to take the ride of a lifetime in the P-51 Mustang "Gunfighter". 26May23

Another flyover of BMS by the Commemorative Air Forces RC-45J Expeditor
26May23 — Another flyover of BMS by the Commemorative Air Forces RC-45J Expeditor 26May23

Passing overhead, you can look through the windows in the belly of the Expeditor and see out a windows near the top of the aircraft.
26May23 — Passing overhead, you can look through the windows in the belly of the Expeditor and see out a windows near the top of the aircraft. 26May23

Buttoned up for the evening, this T-6 Texan rests after flying a steady stream of passengers this day.
26May23 — Buttoned up for the evening, this T-6 Texan rests after flying a steady stream of passengers this day. 26May23

P-51D Mustang "Gunfighter"
26May23 — P-51D Mustang "Gunfighter" 26May23

B-24 Liberator "Diamond Lil"
26May23 — B-24 Liberator "Diamond Lil" 26May23

Buttoned up for the night. This P-51 Mustang looks fast even with the cockpit cover on.
26May23 — Buttoned up for the night. This P-51 Mustang looks fast even with the cockpit cover on. 26May23

C-45 Expeditor
26May23 — C-45 Expeditor 26May23

B-29 Superfortress.
26May23 — B-29 Superfortress. 26May23

The engines on the B-29 all have individual names. Such a Mitzi and Ingrid.
26May23 — The engines on the B-29 all have individual names. Such a Mitzi and Ingrid. 26May23

B-29 Superfortress "FIFI"
26May23 — B-29 Superfortress "FIFI" 26May23

Saturday Fly Day

Saturday was to be a big day of flying for the CAF aircraft. From 9am in the morning until 6pm there was something starting up, taxing out, taking off, flying over, landing, taxing in, or shutting down. The Bombers flew all their scheduled Saturday and Sunday flights on Saturday. The remaining aircraft were kept busy with multiple flights for each one. It was a fantastic show to watch.

27May23

CAF P-51D Mustang "Gunfighter" Ride Flights - AirPower History Tour - Tri-Cities Airport

The Commemorative Air Force bring their North American P-51D Mustang “Gunfighter” to Tri-Cities Airport (KTRI) on the 2023 AirPower History Tour. The Mustang was up and down multiple times on Friday and Saturday with paying passengers experiencing the ride of a lifetime.

26-27May23

Wet Sunday

Rain descended on the Tri-Cities area on Sunday. The remaining aircraft sat forlorn on the ramp in the steady downpour.

28May23

Departure Day

Low cloud cover from the rain on Sunday lingered over Tri-Cities Airport. Delaying the CAF aircraft from taking off to their next AirPower History Tour stop until nearly 4pm.

29May23