92-year-old George Everest gives a thumbs up prior to takeoff in a 1942 Boeing Stearman bi-plane Friday morning at the Carson City Airport.
Smiles were seen all around as 92-year-old George Everest sat down in the front seat of a 1940s Bowing Stearman biplane, ready for take off.
George was part of the Dream Flights event at the Carson City Airport that gave an opportunity to senior citizens and veterans to go up in the restored plane for a ride around Carson.
George described his 15 minute ride as “very nice.”
“We are so thrilled that he got this opportunity,” Elaine Dodd, Everest’s daughter said. “This is such a wonderful opportunity for seniors, and they didn’t ask for any money for it. I feel fortunate and I know my dad does too.”
Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation, a non-profit out of Carson City, paired with the Skyline Estates Senior Living to bring senior citizens in Carson City the “flight of a lifetime” to thank them for their service to the country.
“It is giving back to those who gave to us,” Emily Buntin, administrator for Skyline Estates, said. “The look on their faces (after they get back) is priceless.”
The AADF is dedicated to honoring seniors and veterans by providing the open-cockpit Stearman biplane, the same aircraft used to train military aviators in the late 30s and 40s. AADF founder, Darryl Fisher piloted the plane while the seniors sat in the front seat of the plane in a flight around Carson City.
“It’s amazing, this generation of people have done so much and to be able to say thank you in this way is unbelievable,” Fisher said.
Buntin said they had six seniors go up in the planes Friday, and they were all thrilled with the experience.
“We have one man who is back at the complex and he is still talking about it,” Buntin said. “We do it to give back and everyday we want to see them smile.”