Monday, September 2, 2013

Aviation Community Shares Talents, Generosity at Labor Day Benefit Event

By Carmelo Turdo, Mark Nankivil and Leo Cachat
The Midwest Aviation community in the St. Louis and Metro East Illinois area came together today for a Labor Day Benefit Event hosted by the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum and EAA Chapter 64 at St. Louis Downtown Airport.  The event was conceived by Brian Kissinger, USAF veteran, pilot, itinerant minister and two-time brain cancer survivor to raise funds for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Fisher House, and a fellow member of EAA Chapter 64 who needs temporary financial support to weather a family crisis.  When Kissinger proposed the idea, the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum and EAA Chapter 64 immediately agreed to participate.  Hundreds of visitors enjoyed visiting the Museum and watching the aircraft fly in from around the region.  What started out as an idea to help others turned into an enjoyable family-friendly day at the airport, and one that will affect those in crisis for years to come.  
 
The Aero Experience is proud to have been an early supporter of this event, and we also wish to thank Brian Kissinger (and his ministries Brain's Flight and  Pax et Amor), the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, EAA Chapter 64, St. Louis Downtown Airport, Ideal Aviation, and many individual contributors who made this a very successful benefit event.  Also, special thanks to the Sawmill Restaurant, caterer of the barbecue lunch which served as part of the fund-raising activity.  Here we present the some highlights of the day, and invite you to visit the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum and EAA Chapter 64 soon.
 
Brian Kissinger Met with Visitors and Flew a Sonerai Aircraft on Several Passes:
 
























John and Elizabeth Schaefer Flew In Their A-1B Husky:
 












Bob Kraemer Brought His Stearman A75N1 in Navy Colors:
 






















 
Many Guests Tried Out the F-4 Cockpit for Size:
 



     


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