The Willow Run Airport, situated about 30 minutes outside of Ann Arbor, is home to the Yankee Air Museum and was home to the Willow Run Bomber Plant, which produced bomber planes during WWII, between 1942 and 1945. At its peak, Willow Run, which used the Ford Motor Co.’s automotive mass production method, produced a B-24 every 59 minutes, for a total of 8,685 planes. It employed 42,000 people and was the only WWII plant where both men and women were paid the same because both began work at the plant at the same time. Willow Run also claims to be home to Rosie the Riveter, a cultural icon of WWII and symbol of women in the work force during that time.
Today, families can tour the Yankee Air Museum and learn the history behind Willow Run Airport. Families can also take flight and book a flight experience in a C-47 Skytrain plane, an air transport plane that can carry 12 passengers. After safety instructions, passengers will board the aircraft and get ready for takeoff. Once in the air, passengers can walk around the aircraft and explore the cockpit, nose and tail sections of the plane before buckling back up for landing. The flight lasts between seven and 15 minutes, but is a unique experience not to be forgotten.
Hours
Flights vary and must be booked in advance.
Age or Height Restrictions
Children still using booster seats in a vehicle are too young to fly.
Things to Know/Bring
Ear protection is provided. Wearing sneakers is suggested, as well as eating a light meal one to two hours prior to your flight to avoid possible nausea.
Parking
Free parking is available.
