"Executive Sweet," a World War II bomber, will be on display and offering trips this weekend at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.
The Mitchell B-25 is among the military and civilian airplanes and helicopters set to appear at the Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo on the airfield.
Patrons can take flights on the Executive Sweet, but the 30-minute trips are on the pricey side -- $425 a seat.
The B-25J was manufactured for the Army Air Corps by North American Aviation in Kansas City, Kan. in 1944.
With a wing span of 68 feet, she boasts twin Wright Double Cyclone engines rated at 1700 hp each and a 275 mph top speed.
The Executive Sweet was used mostly for training bomber crews, but similar Mitchell B-25s participated in the April 1942 Doolittle bombing raid on Tokyo, a psychological turning point for Americans in World War II.
The Executive Sweet later appeared in the 1970 film version of Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" and participated in the 50th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid in 1992.
The bomber belongs to the American Aeronautical Foundation, a non-profit aviation group run by volunteers out of Camarillo Airport, and participates in air shows around the country.
Passengers will be allowed to explore the aircraft's different crew positions, including tail-gunner, waist gunner, top turret gunner and nose gunner-bombardier.
Executive Sweet will be on display between flights. A seat for a flight on on Executive Sweet will be raffled off on Sunday afternoon as well.
In addition to aircraft, the Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo will feature classic cars, radio-controlled airplanes, food, vendors and a kids' play area. Organizers expect 25,000 to 30,000 people to attend the free event.
The expo takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Los Alamitos, 1120 Lexington Drive.
To book a flight, call 805-377-2106, visit www.WWRExpo.net or email rides@aafgroup.com.
