Chateau Residents Fly in Vintage Bi-Plane

Chateau Girardeau residents Kathryn Vance, John Shelton, Emra "Pug" Kurre, and Gene Beussink pose with the Stearman before taking flight.

Four lucky residents of Chateau Girardeau had the opportunity Friday morning to fly in a vintage Boeing Stearman bi-plane, thanks to the nonprofit Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation. Darryl Fisher, pilot and founder of the California-based organization, travels the U.S. donating the flights to military veterans and seniors.

The names of three Chateau Girardeau residents were randomly chosen in a drawing held at the retirement community. They were Gene Beussink, John Shelton and Kathryn Vance. Buessink is a retired U.S. Army corporal who served in Korea from 1953-1954. Vance 'served' as a military wife, traveling to many countries during her husband's Air Force career. A fourth resident, Emra "Pug" Kurre, was spontaneously given an early 95th birthday present. He had come out to watch the festivities and ended up receiving the first flight of the morning. Kurre is a veteran of the Army Air Corp, which later became the U.S. Air Force, and actually flew in this type of airplane during WWII.

The two-seat, open-cockpit plane was used to train aviators in the late 1930s and early 1940s during World War II. Officially named the Boeing Model 75, the plane went by many names but is commonly referred to simply as a "Stearman" by those who flew it. Engineer Lloyd Stearman designed it for his aircraft company, which was bought by Boeing in 1934. While more than 10,000 were manufactured by 1945, about 1,000 remain in existence.

The Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation was started in 2011 by Darryl Fisher and his wife, Carol. A fourth-generation pilot, Fisher also inherited a commitment to giving back to America's senior citizens; his paternal grandparents opened a senior healthcare facility in Oregon in 1965. Darryl and his father, William, brought flying to seniors in 2011 when they fulfilled a life-long dream of traveling the U.S. to give seniors in retirement or healthcare facilities the opportunity to fly in the vintage plane. The nonprofit organization was then founded with the mission of "Giving back to those who have given." Darryl Fisher confesses, "I never get tired of this; it sends chills up my back."

This year's tour, "A Salute to America's Senior Farmers and Veterans," is funded in part by Willowood USA, a manufacturer of crop protection products. The company's national sales manager, Andy King, resides in Cape Girardeau. More information about the plane and donating to fund future flights can be found at www.agelessaviationdreams.org.