Fly the B-17 Yankee Lady at Wings and Wheels This Weekend

One of the most widely-anticipated weekends for aviation enthusiasts is here.

The two-day Wings and Wheels Expo returns to Teterboro Airport Saturday and Sunday and as always, promises an airshow complete with must-see classic vintage military aircraft, such as the B-17 Yankee Lady.

The plane is one of the last of it's kind, said Ali Parisi, operations officer of the Army Air Forces Historical Association, which will have a display at the expo this weekend.

"There's only 25 left in the world, and one of 10 which still fly," Parisi said, adding that there were 13,327 built during the war years.

The Yankee Lady Air Museum, based in Michigan, is run by volunteers who take the planes to air shows all around the country, said Jim Hogan, who led a press flight Friday. Hogan says working or retired pilots volunteer their time to take the B-17 up.

The air tour takes riders from Teterboro towards the Hudson River, near the George Washington Bridge and then over to the Verrazano bridge and back. Once in flight, riders can make their way around the cabin, view the cockpit and crawl down below into the nose of the plane for an amazing view.

While up at 3,000 feet, one can see the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, the new Freedom Tower, Giants stadium and more.

Flights are available this weekend and can be arranged by calling 734-502-8983. It costs $450 to ride.

A number of other planes will be on display at the expo such as a Japanese Val dive-bomber.

The salute to veterans component of the expo will include a focus on Pearl Harbor, women who flew during WWI, Tuskegee Airmen among others, according to Shea Oakley the executive director of the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey.

Local groups, including the Hasbrouck Heights Mens Association and veterans groups usually take part in the event.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for seniors and children under 12 and children under 3 are free.

Veterans wearing VFW or American Legion caps or active military duty personnel are admitted free.

Watch the video of the Yankee Lady in flight and click through our photo gallery.

For more information call the museum at 201-288-6344.