23rd Annual Bomber Buffing at Yankee Air Museum’s Hangar

23rd Annual Bomber Buffing Saturday May 5, at Yankee Air Museum’s Hangar
April 18, 2018—Yankee Lady, the Yankee Air Museum’s B-17 Flying Fortress took to the skies on Wednesday April 11, 2018 for the first test and pilot requalification flights of the season. The B-25 Mitchell will be next to fly. Sighting these aircraft, like the first Robins of spring, is a sure sign air show season is coming and for Yankee Air Museum, that means it’s time to polish the planes.
The 23rd Annual Bomber Buffing party is set for Saturday May 5, 2018 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running until 2:00 p.m. The event is at Yankee Air Museum’s Hangar, Willow Run Airport, Hangar 1, 801 Kirk Profit Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
“Everyone is invited on Saturday, May 5, to help us polish the Boeing B-17 “Yankee Lady” and the North American B-25 “Yankee Warrior,” said Kevin Walsh, Yankee Air Museum Executive Director. “Bomber Buffing is a perennial favorite and we’ve ordered good weather for the occasion.”
There is no cost to participate in this event. In fact, a pizza luncheon will be served for everyone buffing a plane. People are encouraged to bring plenty of clean, soft rags. Mothers Polishes, Waxes and Cleaners, Inc. has donated plenty of aluminum polish for people to use.
The historic B-17 Flying Fortress, Yankee Lady and B-25 Mitchell medium bomber Yankee Warrior are on the west side of Willow Run Airport, in Hangar 1, Bay 8 and need their aluminum skin polished to a high gloss.
“This is one of our signature events,” said Ray Hunter, Chairman of the Yankee Air Museum Board of Directors. “People of all ages love the fact they can get up close to our planes. It’s a huge help to our ground crews and the timing couldn’t be better.”
“Once again, we’ll be flying our Waco biplane during the event and offering rides, weather permitting,” said Hunter. “The biplane allows us to offer an affordable open cockpit Air Adventure and because of the lower operating cost, it’s the perfect gateway to flying in vintage aircraft.”
Yankee Air Museum itself will be open with free admission for all Bomber Buffers on Saturday, May 5, 2018 and people are encouraged to visit after polishing the planes.
Bomber Buffing also coincides with the 3rd Annual Detroit Aviation and Airline Collectibles Show, being held in Hangar 1 Bay 7. The show is presented by Yankee Air Museum and attracts hundreds of collectors and aviation enthusiasts from across the region.
“Last year the combined events drew hundreds of people to Willow Run Airport and everyone had a good time,” Walsh said.
In order to defray the costs of staging the Detroit Aviation and Airline Collectibles Show, Yankee Air Museum is charging $5.00 admission for adults (children under 15 are free).
Hangar 1 is on the northwest side of the airfield. Follow the road signs for west and south access to Willow Run Airport to get to Hangar 1. Entry will be through the door on the north side of Hangar 1. The address is: Willow Run Airport, Hangar 1, 801 Kirk Profit Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

About Yankee Air Museum: Established in 1981 the Yankee Air Museum is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. The Museum works to positively excite kids and stimulate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to help meet the challenges facing America. Yankee Air Museum, located at 47884 D Street, Belleville, Michigan on the grounds of historic Willow Run Airport, is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Visit www.yankeeairmuseum.org to discover more about us and how we are working to preserve local history with the www.SavetheBomberPlant.org campaign. For more information, call 734-483-4030.
To see a short video from the 2016 Bomber Buffing, click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5p3H6yR6g
About the Detroit Aviation and Airline Collectibles Show: The Yankee Air Museum is presenting and hosting its third gathering dedicated to aficionados of historic airlines. The event runs from 9:00AM to 3:00PM on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Dealers of airline postcards, collector cards, books, magazines, pins, models, brochures, posters and more will be displaying and selling collectibles. Admission is $5.00 and children 15 and under are free. The show is being held in historic Hangar 1, Bay 7 west side of Willow Run Airport, 801 Kirk Profit Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan.