The Aero Experience: 2023 Memorable Story: Dream Flights Flies Veterans from Decatur, IL Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

Seven veterans from the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War eras were honored last July with flights over Decatur, IL in a 1940s-vintage Stearman training aircraft. The flights were provided by Dream Flights, a non-profit organization that was founded as the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation by the Fisher Family in 2011. The first Dream Flight was made that year when a Stearman was ferried from Cleveland, MS to the west coast following its restoration. The 1,000th Dream Flight was given in May of 2015, and the program has grown due to national tours in recent years.

The Aero Experience coverage includes the initial meeting of the veterans in the Gaitros Aviation FBO and a selection of photos and video from the flights. Pilot Jeff Klosky and crew chief Allyssa VanMeter (aka Fly Allyssa) worked together with two representatives from sponsor Sport Clips to make each passenger transition quick and easy. The 1943 Boeing Stearman E75N1 N11125 is similar to the over 10,000 used to train U.S. and Canadian military service pilots during World War II. They were later used by civilian pilot training schools and became a standard crop-dusting platform for decades.

We begin our coverage with the introductions and safety briefing from the crew and the arrival of the Sport Clips representatives who will assist the veterans throughout the day. A group photo with the airplane taken before the first flight. Special thanks to Gini Smith for being a great advocate for these veterans and coordinating their participation in this and previous veteran events in Central Illinois.

After each flight, the veteran receives a cap signed by Klosky and the World War II veterans are invited to sign the vertical tail that will eventually become a museum exhibit. Here we include coverage of the veteran flights in this photo essay and accompanying video. The Aero Experience thanks Dream Flights for honoring our veterans on this Midwest tour.

Frank J. Marshall, U.S. Navy Pharmacist WWII