Dream Flights takes SWFL vets on ride to the past in WWII biplane

Reporter: Asha Patel Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:
Steerman biplane at the Dream Flights flights for veterans event. (CREDIT: Wink News)

On Friday morning, seven local veterans between 82 and 94 are taking part in the Dream Flight program.

Veterans from the senior living community Bentley Village are ready for takeoff. Dream Flights is thanking them for their service by giving all of them a free ride in a Stearman biplane.

“All of our pilots, they fly for airlines and FedEx, these are commercial pilots,” said Merilyn Chaffee, vice president of operations at Dream Flights. “They’re paid in satisfaction; they are overpaid every time they give a dream flight.”

The Stearman biplane was used to train World War II Army Air Corps service members. Dream Flights holds this event to recognize veterans all across the country.

The first veteran to take flight is 94 years old.

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