Liberty Foundation's 2018 Salute to Veterans tour brings the Boeing B-17 "Madras Maiden" to Broomfield.

BROOMFIELD, CO - APRIL 30: B-17 pilot John Shuttleworth, gets ready to take off in the World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Madras Maiden" at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport on April 30, 2018 in Broomfield, Colorado. The Liberty Foundation's 2018 Salute to Veterans tour is bringing the famous "Madras Maiden" for a public event at the airport on May 5th and May 6th. People will be able to pay $450 for a 45 minute flight in the World War II bomber. There will also be tours of the plane on the tarmac for folks that can't afford the price of the flight. There were 12,732 B-17s produced between 1935-1945 of which 4,735 were lost in combat. After WWII the plane saw combat in three more wars. The "Madras Maiden" was built toward the end of the war and never saw any combat. It is painted in the colors of the 381st Bomb Group. The 381st BG flew 297 operational missions during the war, dropping 22,000 tons of bombs. In wartime, when fully loaded the plane weighs 79,500 lbs with a crew of ten men, 2,000 lbs of bombs, 13 guns with ammunition and fuel. During the war the plane could stay aloft for 12 hour missions. The Liberty Foundation's B-17 provides visitors "the opportunity to take a step back in time and gain respect for the men and women who gave so much to protect our freedoms." The event takes place May 5th to May 6th from 10am-5pm. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)