Turlock veteran Russel Nelson, a 91-year-old former Army helicopter pilot, said the skies were just like he remembered when he had the opportunity to once again take flight thanks to the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation.

The nonprofit organization was founded in 2011 to honor U.S. military veterans and older adults by reconnecting them with the freedom and wonder of flight. To date, the foundation has delivered more than 8,000 “Dream Flights” to seniors across the country.

Nelson, along with fellow Covenant Living of Turlock resident Richard Grimes (84) and Covenant employee and Canadian Air Force veteran Donald Bosworth (77), were able to take a ride aboard a 1942 Boeing Stearman—the iconic biplane used to train U.S. military aviators during World War II.

Dream Flights pilots are volunteers and they primarily fly for major airlines and/or are active duty or retired military veterans themselves. They participate year-round in training at the Dream Flights University

The Turlock residents’ volunteer pilot was Molly Flanagan Littlefield, a Dream Flights University instructor and retired United Airlines pilot.

“It was so inspiring,” said Covenant Assisted Living Life Enrichment Coordinator Elise Orozco, who accompanied the veterans to the Dream Flight at Castle Air Force Base in Atwater. “It was just really cool to see them get on a plane. I never thought a 91-year-old resident would be able to get into a plane and be able to ride in it. It was very cool.

“The first thing he said to me (when he landed) was ‘that was a blast. I want to go again.’”

For more information about Dream Flights, visit: https://dreamflights.org/