B-29 DOC & P-51 Gunfighter add tour stop in Wilmington, N.C., in May

March 20, 2026

The B-29 DOC History Restored Tour will bring two World War II-era icons to Wilmington International Airport, May 14-17: B-29 DOC + P-51 Gunfighter

DOC is one of 1,644 Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers built in Wichita, Kan., during World War II, and one of only two B-29 bombers still airworthy and flying today. P-51Gunfighter is a D Model Mustang, and one of less than 150 of the 15,000 manufactured during the war that remain.

Both historic aircraft will be available for public tours and flight experiences during the event in Wilmington.

Purchase B-29 DOC Rides
Purchase P-51 Gunfighter Rides

“Keeping World War II–era warbirds flying is about more than preserving aircraft—it’s about preserving legacies,” said B-29 DOC Aircraft Commander Sean Elliott. “When these historic planes take to the skies on tour, they transform history from something read in books into something people can see, hear, and feel, honoring the men and women whose courage defined a generation.”

The tour stop in Wilmington will be the second stop of a three-city tour for both warbirds touring together in the month of May. The other two tour stops in May include Knoxville, TN (May 7-10) and Allentown, PA (May 21-25).

“Aircraft like these are more than machines—they’re storytellers,” said P-51 Gunfighter Pilot Jon Hullsiek. “When a World War II warbird flies overhead, it carries with it the legacy of the pilots, crews, and communities who stood behind them. Keeping them flying and bringing them to cities across the country ensures that their sacrifice and service will never fade from memory.”

DOC and Gunfighter will arrive in Wilmington on Monday, May 11, and will be available for public ground and cockpit/ramp tours on Thursday and Friday, May 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Public access for this event will be at 2022 Control Tower Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405 (not the main airport terminal building). B-29 DOC Flight Experience Rides will be available Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, at 9 and 10:30 a.m., followed by ground and cockpit tours from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. P-51 Gunfighter will be available for ride flights May 15-17 and will be on static ramp display throughout the event when it is not flying. Ramp and cockpit tour admission will be $10 per person or $20 per family (tickets available at the gate the day of the event).

Ride flight tickets for both warbirds are on sale now: