The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron, America’s tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, announced their line-up for upcoming events around the country for 2017. After an incident last year resulted in an 11 month restoration, the Squadron’s P-51C Mustang Tuskegee Airmen will return to flight this air show season to wow audiences with its aerobatic tribute to our nation’s first black military pilots and their support personnel.
The CAF Red Tail Squadron’s unique cross-country outreach program also includes the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit. This mobile movie theater takes visitors on a journey through time – and then through the air – with the original short film “Rise Above.” The theater’s dynamic 160-degree panoramic screen creates the sensation of being in the cockpit soaring above the clouds in a P-51C Mustang, the signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen. Entrance to the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit is always free, although tickets may be required to host venues.
Here is a snapshot of where you can find the CAF Red Tail Squadron. For a full list of events, visit redtail.org/calendar.
Dallas, TX – February 6-17 – CAF National Airbase Tribute to Black History Month
Yuma, AZ – March 17-18 – MCAS Yuma Airshow
Columbus, GA – April 8-9 – Thunder in the Valley Air Show
Montgomery, AL – April 8-9 – Maxwell Air Force Base Air Show
Meridian, MS – April 15 – Community Open House at Key Field
Panama City, FL – April 22-23 – Gulf Coast Salute Open House & Air Show
Lake Charles, LA – April 28-30 – Chennault International Airshow
Waseca, MN – July 13-17 – Waseca County Free Fair
Ypsilanti, MI – September 2-4 – Thunder Over Michigan Air Show
Omaha, NE – September 13-17 – Nebraska Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Community Outreach Event
Port Clinton, OH – September 20-24 – Liberty Aviation Museum Open House
Tallahassee, FL – October 31-November 5 – Community Open House
Atlanta, GA – October 7-8 – CAF Atlanta Warbird Weekend
While on tour, the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit makes additional visits to local schools where students are encouraged to think critically about the group’s Six Guiding Principles – Aim High, Believe In Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready To Go, Never Quit and Expect to Win. Contact Kristi Younkin, logistics coordinator, at logistics@redtail.org or (479) 228-4520 for information on how to bring the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to your community.
About the CAF Red Tail Squadron
The CAF Red Tail Squadron is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to educating audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. RISE ABOVE: Red Tail, their three-fold outreach program, includes a fully restored WWII-era P-51C Mustang, the signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen; the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit 53’ mobile theater featuring the original panoramic film “Rise Above”; and resource materials for teachers and youth leaders. Each year, they embark on a nine-month cross-country tour that includes appearances at air shows, schools, museums and community events. The group’s Six Guiding Principles – Aim High, Believe In Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready To Go, Never Quit and Expect to Win – serve as the foundation for their outreach programs and are based on the experiences and successes of the Tuskegee Airmen. The CAF Red Tail Squadron is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). Learn more at www.redtail.org.
