HUNTSVILLE — The public will be able to get up close and personal with the “Madras Maiden,” a World War II-era bomber airplane, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. when it makes a stop in Huntsville.

As part of the Liberty Foundation’s 2018 Salute to Veterans tour, the “Madras Maiden” will be available for both ground tours and public flights over Huntsville at the Huntsville International Airport. This year marks 73 years since the end of World War II.

Scott Maher, public relations officer for the Liberty Foundation, calls this experience the “ultimate history lesson.”

According to a press release from the Liberty Foundation, this Boeing B-17 was dubbed the “Flying Fortress” for its defensive fire power that “saw action in every theater of operation during WWII.” Of the 12,732 B-17’s produced between 1935-1945, 4,735 were lost in combat and only 12 still fly today. The “Madras Maiden” is one of those 12.

The Liberty Foundation’s bomber was built toward the end of the war and “never saw any combat.” It was built under contract in Burbank, California, by Lockheed-Vega on October 17, 1944. From the time it was built until the end of its military career in 1959, it was used as a research and development aircraft. Since then, it has passed through the hands of various companies for different purposes and been purchased by three different aviation museums before being restored to its original combat configuration.

The Liberty Foundation, a nonprofit flying museum, operates it today as a way to honor veterans, educate the public about the price of freedom and preserve a piece of aviation history.

Flights aboard the “Madras Maiden” are $410 for Liberty Foundation members and $450 for nonmembers. Passengers can become a member for $40 and still receive the member discount. According to the press release, the total operating cost to fly a B-17 Flying Fortress is more than $5,000 per hour. Funds raised help to offset these high costs.

“It is only through … the public’s support that we can continue to keep the B-17 on tour and from being permanently silenced to sit in a museum,” Maher said.

The flight experience will last 45 minutes with the aircraft being in flight around the city for approximately 30 minutes. Passengers will receive a pre-flight safety briefing, during which they will get to learn about the historical significance of the Flying Fortress.

“During the flight, you are actually able to visit the cockpit, glass nose and all crew positions to really get a feel for what this historic aircraft was like during the war,” Maher said.

Flights will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. “every hour on the hour,” according to Maher. There will be a secure, designated area for anyone on the ground wishing to watch a flight for free.

Ground tours will be from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

The “Madras Maiden” will be at the Huntsville International Airport, Signature Flight Support FBO, located at 2000 Houston Goodson Way in Huntsville. To register for a flight, call 678-589-7433. For more information on the Liberty Foundation and its mission, visit libertyfoundation.org.