On Sunday, May 10, in honor of those who served and sacrificed during World War II, and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Lone Star Flight Museum and its supporting partners will fly nearly 30 rare and historic warbirds over the city of Houston in an epic aviation event called the Fight to the Finish Flyover. The flyover will take off at 2 p.m. from Ellington Airport (EFD) and fly a 120-mile flight plan over the skies of the Greater Houston area. This historic flight will last just over one hour, landing back at Ellington Airport at approximately 3:15 p.m.  

Museum President and CEO Douglas H. Owens, Lt. Gen. (ret.) said, “The Fight to the Finish Flyover is an invitation for Houstonians to join in acknowledging the 75th anniversary of VE Day – Victory in Europe. And, while we navigate this difficult time in our community, we encourage everyone to step outside and enjoy a moment of patriotic distraction and marvel at the rare warbirds flying overhead, all from the safety of their own front yards. This amazing flyover is a unique opportunity for everyone to view, all they have to do is look up!” 

Arturo Machuca, General Manager of  EFD and the Houston Spaceport, said he was excited about the one-of-a-kind event. 

“The museum and its partners have created a fantastic WWII airbird review,” Machuca said. “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is an opportunity for Houstonians to celebrate an historic achievement. We are proud to serve as a starting point of the flight plan for some spectacular aircraft.” 

Flyover partners include the Commemorative Air Force Houston, Gulf Coast and Highland Lakes Wings; Wings Over Houston Airshow; Signature Flight Support; Houston First Corporation; IHeart Media-Houston and many individual warbird plane owners, pilots and volunteers. All partners volunteered their time and resources to make this event possible.   

Flight Plan 
This unprecedented flyover will begin at 11:45 a.m. and roar over Pasadena, the San Jacinto Monument, University of Houston-Main Campus, Downtown Houston, Memorial Park, Acres Homes, Houston National Cemetery, Cypress, Cinco Ranch, Mission Bend, the Energy Corridor, West University Place, Bellaire, Missouri City, Alvin, Pearland, Friendswood, Dickinson, Kemah and other  communities underneath the flight path.  The flight will end back at Ellington Airport at approximately 1:10 p.m.  

Flight Lineup and Program 
The fleet includes more than two dozen historic warbirds and a  flyover program will be available for Houstonians to download from the Lone Star Flight Museum website at LoneStarFlight.org/flyover and via the museum’s Facebook and Instagram pages.  The program will include the flight path and a map showing the estimated time the aircraft will be overhead throughout the hour-long flight.   

Social Distancing 
The Fight to the Finish Flyover is following all social distancing orders and guidelines. Houstonians will not be required to travel to a “viewing area” to see the planes. The flight path has been coordinated with Air Traffic Control and is designed to allow spectators to see the aircraft from the safety of their homes.  The planes will not be viewable from the public areas of EFC and the Lone Star Flight Museum is currently closed to the public due to current health guidelines.  

This aviation event is part of a summer-long program at the Lone Star Flight Museum to observe the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII called Fight To The Finish.  This program is a thoughtful presentation of life on the Homefront, the bravery of our warfighters on the front lines, the innovations that came from the war, and ultimately, the success of the Allied effort during World War II 

The Lone Star Flight Museum and its partners felt compelled to lift the spirits of the Houston community while we fight COVID-19.  The program name, Fight to the Finish, was originally a nod to the efforts of those that fought in World War II, but today has even more significance that anyone could have imagined.    

About the Lone Star Flight Museum 
The Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) is a 501c3 aviation museum and STEM learning center with a mission to celebrate flight and achievements in Texas aviation as well as educate and engage our youth through science, technology, engineering and math. In addition to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the 130,000-square-foot museum is home to a flying collection of rare and historic commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. Multiple public and STEM-focused education programs create an unforgettable museum experience for visitors of all ages. Located at Ellington Airport, just 20 minutes from downtown Houston.  

Visit their website at https://lonestarflight.org.