2016 Year In Aviation Service: Washington, MO Regional Airport Shares Flight, Lofty Dreams With Local Family

By Carmelo Turdo

The Midwest Aviation community is known for showing a welcoming spirit to those dreaming of the wonders of flight. The Aero Experience has reported many examples in our 2016 Year In Aviation Service series in recent months. We are now very pleased to post this story from our recent visit to Washington, MO Regional Airport.  The airport staff was preparing for a visit from a very special young man and his family.  

The Ingrams and Officer Saavedra

The Young man is Alec Ingram, and he and his family arrived at the airport around 9:30am Sunday.  They were escorted VIP style by Washington Police Officer Eric Saavedra.  The Ingrams and the airport staff kept the visit a surprise to 11 year-old Alec, who was then told that he could go flying around his home town in an airplane already on the apron awaiting his arrival.  He was indeed surprised to hear of this development, but, after a few seconds, Alec was eager to go along with the idea.  There would also be some other great activities to come during the visit.  

Shortly after arriving, Alec was shown to the aircraft.  He was flown by Washington Regional Airport Manager Kevin Hellmann in a Cessna Centurion with retractable landing gear.  Following the flight, he was given curbside service to the terminal.

Flying in a small aircraft is a great experience for most 11 year-olds, and it was by all accounts enjoyable for Alec who saw his house and neighborhood from the air for the first time.  It was also a testament to his strength of spirit and positive attitude that he was eager to take the flight and also do other activities most people take for granted.  Alec Ingram was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, in May of 2015.  Doctors operated on the tumor in his arm, saving it from amputation.  He endured many rounds of chemotherapy and earlier this year, experienced heart failure and was in a coma for three months.  The Alec Ingram we met on Sunday did not appear to be the same young man, just a sharp-looking boy with a backpack.  However, the backpack contains a ventricular assist device that helps his heart pump blood throughout his body until he can be eligible for a heart transplant when he is deemed cancer-free.  He is very fortunate to have strong family, community and spiritual support to continue his fight for recovery.  We encourage you to read about Alec and support his family with your prayers and financial support.   

The flight around the Washington, MO area was just the beginning of the airport activities.  Alec and his family visited some open hangars, one containing a beautiful aerobatic Extra 300 and a Pitts S-2B sitting just outside.  Alec tried it on for size, and after some more growing, it will be just right!

 

After visiting the hangar, Alec boarded the tractor with airport employee Jim Phillips and they took a spin around the apron. 

 

As they say, that's not all.  Alec and the Ingram family were treated to an appearance by airshow performer Patrick McAlee flying his ExtremeFlight Pitts S-1E for several "smoke- on" passes.  Following an exciting demonstration, the Ingrams met with McAlee and he gave Alec several autographs and a new ExtremeFlight shirt.  When McAlee heard about the planned visit, he came back from Chicago to contribute to the festivities.  McAlee's mother passed away from cancer, and he instantly made a connection with Alec who currently battles the disease.      

 

It was the intention that Alec Ingram and his family find enjoyment in their visit to Washington Regional Airport, and it appears as though that was the case.  The Aero Experience thanks the Ingram family for their graciousness and permission to post this story.  We also thank Washington Regional Airport and Patrick McAlee/Extreme Flight for their hospitality and humble aviation service. 

2016 Year In Aviation Service: Pekin Municipal Airport 2016 Wings and Wheels Part 3 - JAARS Shares Passion for Aviation

By Carmelo Turdo

The 2016 Pekin, IL Municipal Airport Wings and Wheels event last Saturday was a model fly-in that attracted local residents to experience aviation at their community airport.  The sixth annual event featured about a hundred classic cars and motorcycles along with unique aircraft on display and flying throughout the day.  As always, aviation people were happy to talk to the visitors and encourage them to learn about flying and their aircraft.  

In Part 3 of this series, The Aero Experience will focus on one of the main activities of the day - helicopter and airplane rides - provided by JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Services).  Several hundred visitors took rides in the organization's Robinson R44 helicopter and Helio H-295 Courier short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft.  There was a steady lineup of riders for each aircraft throughout the day, many of whom were taking their first flight ever.  The experienced JAARS crews provided a well organized and safe way to share the joy of flight and informed those who were interested in their mission field work.

Michael Bunn and Daryl Bussert

Prior to the morning flights, The Aero Experience visited with JAARS instructor pilot Michael Bunn.  Bunn has spent three years in Africa and seventeen years in the Amazon flying float planes.  He currently trains pilots at the 400-acre airport facility in Waxhaw, NC.  "It [JAARS] was founded to support Wycliffe Bible Translators, he said.  "We train mission pilots for about 15 different mission organizations.  We have eight on staff who flew overseas from between 15 to 30 years experience, and then we came back to mentor missionary pilots."  JAARS prepares for service the aircraft uniquely suited for accessing remote areas, including the Helio Courier, Cessna 206, Pilatus Porter, Robinson R44 and Kodiak Quest.  Flying in one of these aircraft is often the only practical way for staff and supplies to reach remote settlements, and the only way for the transportation of patients to medical facilities.  Those who were interested in supporting JAARS were able to learn more about the organization, and those who did not still had a great flying experience.

The JAARS crews were busy all day giving flights in the Robinson R44 helicopter and the Helio Courier.  The Aero Experience brings to you some views of the flights as seen from the flight operations area:

 

 

The Aero Experience thanks the JAARS staff for their hospitality and for setting the example for Aviation Service.  Thanks also to the staff and volunteers at Pekin Municipal Airport for producing a great Midwest Aviation community event.