Touring the B-17 and B-25 During the Flying Legends of Victory Tour in Erie, PA

Every once in a while, something comes to your hometown that you know you can't miss.


For me, that was the Flying Legends of Victory Tour when it stopped at Erie International Airport over Fourth of July weekend. Featuring the B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey and the B-25 Mitchell Maid in the Shade, the tour gave visitors the opportunity to see two fully restored World War II aircraft up close and learn more about the history they represent.


As someone who grew up by an airport and has always been fascinated by airplanes, I knew I needed to be there.

Growing Up Beside the Airport


One of the reasons aviation has always fascinated me is because I grew up just a few minutes from Erie International Airport.


When you live that close to an airport, airplanes become part of everyday life. Hearing engines overhead or watching aircraft line up for landing eventually becomes normal, but I never really stopped paying attention. Even now, whenever I'm home visiting my parents, I still catch myself looking toward the sky whenever I hear an airplane approaching.


That curiosity has followed me into adulthood.


I also spend more time on FlightRadar24 than I'd probably like to admit (yes, I have the gold subscription). If I hear something interesting overhead or notice an aircraft that seems out of the ordinary, there's a good chance I'm opening the app to see what it is, where it came from, and where it's headed. It's become one of my favorite ways to connect what I'm seeing in the sky with the stories behind the flights.

Seeing History Up Close


I've seen plenty of airplanes over the years, but standing next to a B-17 and a B-25 is a completely different experience.


Photographs and documentaries can only show so much. Walking around these aircraft in person gives you a real sense of their size, their craftsmanship, and the history they carry. Every rivet, every compartment, and every detail reminds you that these airplanes weren't built to sit in museums. They were built for a purpose during one of the most significant periods in modern history.


Being able to step inside both aircraft made the experience even more meaningful. Looking through the cockpit, moving through the narrow interior, and seeing how the crews operated gave me an entirely new appreciation for the people who flew these missions. It's one thing to know the history. It's another to physically stand where that history happened.

Watching Them Fly


As incredible as touring the airplanes was, my favorite part of the weekend might have been watching them take off and land.


There is something almost surreal about hearing those engines come to life. The sound alone is enough to get your attention, but watching aircraft from the 1940s lift off the runway is an entirely different feeling. For a few moments, it almost feels like time has folded in on itself.


Because I was home for the weekend, I was able to watch them multiple times. Every takeoff and landing was just as exciting as the last, and I found myself looking forward to hearing the engines long before I actually saw the airplanes.


Having FlightRadar24 open while they were flying only made it more fun. I could follow their route on the map, step outside, and watch them pass overhead just moments later. It was one of those small things that made the entire experience feel even more interactive.

A Meaningful Fourth of July Weekend


The timing of the tour made it feel even more significant.


With Fourth of July celebrations taking place across the country and America250 continuing to highlight our nation's history, seeing these aircraft in person felt like a meaningful reminder that history is made up of countless individual stories. The B-17 Flying Fortress and B-25 Mitchell represent a generation of people whose service and sacrifice shaped the world we know today.


History often feels distant until you're standing in front of something that lived through it.


Seeing these airplanes reminded me that preserving history isn't only about reading books or visiting museums. Sometimes it's about maintaining these incredible machines, sharing their stories, and allowing new generations to experience them firsthand.

Capturing My Experience


Of course, I couldn't leave without documenting my visit. I spent time photographing both aircraft from every angle, but I also wanted to capture what it actually felt like to explore them. That led me to create two quick TikToks featuring footage from both outside and inside the airplanes.


If you'd like to see more of the experience, you can watch them here:


Video has a way of bringing these aircraft to life in a way that photos alone can't. Hearing the engines, walking through the interiors, and seeing the details up close helps tell a much fuller story.

Final Thoughts


One of the things I appreciate most about photography is that it encourages me to say yes to experiences like this. It gives me a reason to slow down, look more closely, and document moments I know I'll want to remember later.


This weekend combined so many things I already love: aviation, history, photography, and being home in Erie. It also reminded me that some of the most memorable adventures don't require traveling across the country. Sometimes they're happening just a few minutes from the house you grew up in.


I left with hundreds of photos, two videos I'm proud of, and an even greater appreciation for these remarkable aircraft and the people who continue preserving their legacy. It's not every day you get to step inside a piece of history, and I'm grateful I had the opportunity to do exactly that.