A B-24, a classic World War II-era plane, takes off as part of the Commemorative Air Force AirPower History Tour, which is coming to K.I. Sawyer International Air Force Base on Aug. 2-3. (Photo courtesy of Commemorative Air Force)

K.I. SAWYER — History will be in the air, literally, as several historic World War II aircraft will be on display at Sawyer International Airport during the AirPower History Tour Aug. 2-3.

The event is part of a nationwide tour of airports, presented by the Commemorative Air Force. Those attending the event will have an opportunity to get an up close look at all of the aircraft, including tours of cockpits and will be able to purchase rides.

The planes are scheduled to arrive beginning at noon Aug. 1, with the public portion of the event taking place over the subsequent two days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Once the aircrafts land, they will be staged at the Boreal Aviation FBO ramp at the airport, located at 401 Avenue F.

Access to the display area will be located at the gate adjacent to the ramp.

Access to the ramp will cost $20 for adults, $10 for 11- to 17-year-olds and free for children ages 10 and under. Those interested in purchasing rides can do so at www.airpowertour.org.

There will be a total of four aircraft on display during the event.

The first is the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. The plane, known as “FIFI,” was first flown in 1942 and became active in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944 and is famous for being the same model of aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan at the end of WWII. The B-29 was also flown during the Korean War and was in commission until 1960. “FIFI” is one of two B-29s in the world still flying and has being touring with the CAF since the 1970s.

The B-24 Liberator, nicknamed “Diamond Lil,” was the most highly mass produced warplane of WWII with more than 18,000 of the planes being produced, the majority of them in Michigan. “Diamond Lil” was one of the first B-24s produced and one of two that are still being flown.

The North American T-6 Texan, known as “Pilotmaker,” was a flight trainer that prepared new pilots for complex aircrafts, which were capable of more than 200 mph, which they would use in battle. The T-6 had a closed cockpit, capable of seating both an instructor and a student.

The Boeing PT-13 “Stearman” also was primarily a flight trainer for all branches of the military during WWII and was famous for training more crews than any other plane during the war.

The Commemorative Air Force has been flying and collecting WWII-era aircraft for more than six decades and has a fleet of over 170 planes and have the support of more than 12,000 volunteers. To learn more about the CAF, visit www.commerativeairforce.org.