WWII Warbird Rides at Leesburg Airport

A WWII TBM Avenger torpedo bomber from the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) will be offering warbird rides for one day only at the Leesburg Executive Airport on Saturday June 28. The airport is located at 1001 Sycolin Rd, Leesburg, VA 20175.

“We’re excited to participate in the Smokehouse Pilots Fly-In at Leesburg Airport Saturday June 28 where the public can see dozens of general aviation airplanes, a UH-1H Huey helicopter from Liberty Warbirds, in addition to the Capital Wing warbirds,” said Pete Ballard, Capital Wing Warbird Rides Coordinator. “In the morning we will fly in our rare Japanese Fuji LM-1, one of only three still flying. Our TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the largest single-engine bomber of WWII, will be arriving in the afternoon and be available for warbird rides. A warbird ride is a once in a lifetime experience. We tell people not to miss the opportunity when it comes around. Riding in the TBM Avenger engages all your senses: sight, sound, smell, and touch. You become a part of the warbird. You experience living history,” he said.

Warbird rides for the TBM Avenger may be purchased in advance at the Capital Wing website https://www.capitalwingwarbirdrides.org/warbird-rides. “We will be at Leesburg for only one day and have a limited number of ride flights available so we encourage anyone who wants to ride our torpedo bomber Doris Mae to act quickly and purchase a flight,” said Ballard. Flights not sold in advance will be available on a walk-up basis at the airport. “Very few warbirds fly two people at the same time in the same aircraft. Our TBM is one of them,” he said.

To see the Capital Wing TBM Avenger in action including engine start, wing unfold, and take off, click here. To hear who we are, what we do, why we do it, and see actual video from a warbird ride check out this story from WGHP-TV.