Century Park Blog

In honor of their service and dedication to our country, residents of Garden Plaza at Cleveland, Tennessee, and Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove in Ooltewah, Tennessee, were able to enjoy a thrill with a free ride in a World War II biplane.

Each senior living campus brought five residents to the Cleveland Regional Jetport to take to the skies in a 1940 Stearman, the plane that most Air Force and Navy recruits began their training in. Ageless Aviation, a nonprofit organization, brings these biplanes to older veterans around the country, many of whom remember the Stearman from their time in the service.

Mike Winterboer, a pilot from Oregon, donated his time to give the 15-20-minute flights.

Riders from Garden Plaza at Cleveland were Jack Gish and his wife Louise, Jack Crisco, Robert Walent and Eddie Williams.

“It was great,” Jack Gish, Air Force veteran, shared about the flight. “I’ve always wanted to ride in a Stearman, but I’d never had the chance.”

Gish was stationed in England in World War II and serviced the machine guns carried by the B-24 bombers.

Louise Gish added, “It was super smooth. It was the first time I’d flown in a small plane. Of course, I’m always up for an adventure.”

Walent, on the other hand, was no stranger to military aircraft. He served in the Merchant Marines, the Air Force, the National Guard and the Reserves from 1946-1990, starting out in refueling errands.

"It took me back to 1944,” said Crisco, who served in the Navy. “It reminded me of the calm water and the calm swells – it’s the same motion.”

Crisco and his ship were headed to Japan with orders to destroy it when the war ended.

“I thank God for how he brought me through,” he said. “Jesus Christ is my reason for living.”

Williams served in the Army in Korea, from 1964-1967.

While the Cleveland group took their turn aloft in the morning, the Garden Plaza of Ooltewah residents did their flights in the afternoon.

First in the air was 93-year-old Ed Ryon, who had served in the Army Air Corps. He was based in France during World War II and flew 46 missions. Winterboer even gave Ryon the chance to fly the Stearman a little.

“I enjoyed it immensely,” Ryon said. “It was sure worth the trip.”

Jack Raulson also had a blast in the plane. He joined the Navy Hospital Corps in 1945 and narrowly escaped being sent to Iwo Jima.

Mattie Barron represented the women who served in the military. She joined the Air Force as a nurse and remembers the Stearman well.

“I went up in one before I went in the service,” Barron said.

The last resident to take a flight for the day was Penny Regnas, whose two husbands had both served in the Air Force – one in maintenance and one in intelligence. She also has two sons who have served in the Marines.

“It was so exciting,” Regnas said. “It’s been a while since I've been in such a small plane.”

This was the fourth visit Ageless Aviation has made to the Cleveland Regional Jetport, and both Garden Plaza campuses hope to bring the flights back again so more veterans can enjoy the experience.

Additional Images (click to enlarge)