Dream Flights for veterans in Medina, Ohio

by: Roosevelt Leftwich

Posted: Jun 27, 2024 / 06:00 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 27, 2024 / 06:00 PM EDT

MEDINA, Ohio (WJW) — You’re never too old for a new adventure.

Ninety-year-old John Mountain has been looking forward to this flight for quite a while.

His wife Joanne said that John jumped at the chance to fly in an airplane that is just eight years younger than he is.

“It’s finally a dream coming true. It’s something that he wanted to do ever since he found out it could be done,” Joanne said.

Dream Flights is a nonprofit that honors veterans by giving them a trip in classic Stearman biplane. And for John, this trip lived up to its name.

This is old-fashioned flying — open air, seat of the pants kind of stuff.

“There are times when we’re flying over these small towns that you can smell hamburgers or barbecue cooking,” Dream Flights pilot Hunter Stuckey said.

Although there are no barrel rolls or Immelmann turns, you do get a great view of Medina and Medina County. It’s quick trip, but one that brings a lot of joy.

Last year, when Dream Flights came to town, John was in line and ready to go. But the plane wasn’t, so he had to wait a year for this chance.

And it was well worth it.

“Oh man, it’s an experience. You don’t have any other way — at least I don’t know I would ever. And they’re all veterans, and I think it’s wonderful thing to do for the veterans,” John said.

And the folks with Dream Flights make it a point to make sure that every veteran that wants to fly can get to fly.

Age, physical challenges — none of it matters, because the team is determined to help every veteran fly and to honor their service.

“We have a method that’s been developed; a method that works really well and we’re able to get people who have disabilities in and out of the airplane with no problem. So it’s just a wonderful experience for everyone,” Stuckey said.

And the effort is not lost on veterans who spent a lot of their youth serving their country.

It makes them happy that people care enough to take the time to give them a new experience, and say thank you with a 220-horsepower, air-cooled radial engine that gives you a great view of the country that you helped to protect.

Dream Flights barnstorms across the country, giving veterans a ride of a lifetime and so far, they’ve been able to help more than 6,000 veterans take to the sky.

If you would like more information about what Dream Flights and how your veteran can possibly get a free flight, you can follow this link.

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