Wishes Granted

Pilot's Last Flight

Jerry Scanlon, 89, owned the first black radio station in Pine Bluff, Arkansas beginning in the early 60s. Being a pilot, he would fly around the city and give traffic and weather reports to the listeners below. As a result, flying became a large part of his life. Having Parkinson's disease and the early stages of Alzheimer's, Jerry had a wish for Forever Young- to fly just one more time!

Grant Bales, flight instructor for Air Venture Flying School, donated his time to take Jerry for a 40-minute flight in a new Cessna 172 Skyhawk, along with friends Seena Walker and Don Webb. Mr. Scanlon was so excited to be in an airplane again. He said, "What a way to spend my birthday! It was truly fun, but how did the time go so fast?"