SCHEDULE CHANGE: B-29 DOC & P-51 Gunfighter Delay Tour Stop in Wilmington, North Carolina

May 13, 2026

The B-29 DOC History Restored Tour featuring two World War II-era warbirds scheduled to arrive in Wilmington this weekend (May 14-17) has been rescheduled to September 24-27. The schedule change is due to ongoing aircraft maintenance that has delayed the start of the 2026 tour season for B-29 DOC.

“Two of DOC’s four engines have been undergoing extensive maintenance and inspection since December as part of our continued commitment to the safety and reliability of the aircraft,” said Josh Wells, B-29 DOC chief executive officer. “One of the two engines was reinstalled on the aircraft in late April, but the second engine is still being repaired by our engine vendor and is not expected back on DOC’s airframe until later this month. While we had hoped to begin our tour season in April, the extended timeline for the engines to return to Wichita has required additional maintenance and testing before the aircraft can safely return to flight operations. This has driven our decision to postpone the event in Wilmington until September.”

The tour event at Wilmington International Airport in Wilmington, which has been rescheduled for late September, will still feature B-29 DOC and 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 the less than 150 of the 15,000 manufactured during the war that remain.

Ride flight passengers with purchased tickets have already been contacted by the DOC and Gunfighter teams individually with rebooking options.

NEW EVENT DETAILS FOR B-29 DOC & P-51 GUNFIGHTER IN WILMINGTON

DOC will arrive in Wilmington on Wednesday, September 23, (Gunfighter will arrive on Thursday, September 24) and will be available for public ground and cockpit/ramp tours Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Public access for this event will be 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, September 26 and 27, 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 September 25-27 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: