Able Flight

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Charles Stites

Able Flight Class of 2023

Andrew Kurka

In just a few months, Able Flight’s “Class of 2023” will arrive at Purdue University to begin training.  But for everyone selected, their journey to taking part in this unique program began much earlier.

Every year, people with a physical disability who dream of becoming a pilot through Able Flight’s scholarship program carefully assemble and submit their applications. Then they wait for the scholarship committee to do their work of reviewing and ranking the applications. For a selected few, interviews are scheduled and conducted before it is determined which applicants will have their lives changed forever through intensive and demanding training. [Read more…] about Able Flight Class of 2023

2022 Was A Great Year

Able Flight’s “Class of 2022” with their instructors at Purdue University

As the end of 2022 approached, we looked back to see how well we met our goals. That’s something we do not only to gauge our effectiveness in meeting our mission, but to help us prepare for 2023:  what did we do well, and what can we do better?

To understand how effective our program was in 2022, it’s helpful to start with the basic numbers, and then to look deeper into how those achievements translate into real change in the lives of those served by Able Flight.

When we planned for 2022, our goal was to award eight scholarships, and that’s exactly what we did. We accomplished this with the help of  outstanding partners, supporters, and friends, and now we’re looking ahead to even greater success in 2023.

[Read more…] about 2022 Was A Great Year

Pilot Wings For The Class of 2022

New Able Flight pilots, instructors and sponsors at Wings Ceremony at EAA AirVenture

For our newly graduated pilots, it is a special day each year when they are brought onstage at Able Flight’s Wings Pinning Ceremony at EAA AirVenture. They are VIPS as family, friends and Able Flight sponsors gather to celebrate their success.

This year’s class of six finished their training at Purdue in early July and just over three weeks later they traveled to Oshkosh for the ceremony. New Able Flight pilots Ryan Chen, Stephanie Cibello, Nathaniel Miller, Chris Murad, and Chance Field were on hand, and also honored was Andy Burnett who couldn’t make it to the ceremony. [Read more…] about Pilot Wings For The Class of 2022