To the Editor:

I would like to thank the organizers of the Alma Airport Fly-In. On Sunday, August 22, I had the privilege of accompanying my 87 year old mother on her “first ever” plane ride. We had originally went for the Air Show that we thought was planned, but found out later it was “ Fly-In.”

When my nephew commented they were doing plane rides, I remembered the repeated comments from Mom about wanting to fly. Now considering that this was a woman who (in the past) would have had to be sedated (completely) to board a plane, I didn’t take it too seriously. But, we were there and the chance for her to fulfill her wish was within reach.

I sincerely thank the gentleman that drove the golf cart shuttle for us. I didn’t get his name, but he was a knowledgeable man with a kind heart. Not only did he drive us up to the waiting area,
he requested a specific pilot and kept mom in the shade under the canopy on the cart, while we waited our turn.

Our pilot was in deed a great pick. We had Adam McKinstry from Carson City who is a member of the E.A.A. Chapter 134 based in Alma. He was patient and very understanding. He also made
it clear that if there were any second thoughts about flying even after the plane was in motion, that at anytime he would turn around. For me, this was reassuring considering I had no idea how
mom would react when she actually got off the ground. Well, she loved it. I never saw one bit of anxiety. In fact, she spent the entire time gazing out over the wonderous beauty below.

So, “Thank-you” Alma Airport organizers, our golf-cart driver, the young man that assisted getting mom in and out of the plane and of course our pilot, Adam. I took pictures and even some
video so Mom could recount her experience. But as we ended the day and parted our ways, she thanked me again and said she would never forget this day. “Neither will I Mom...Neither will I.”

Althea Powell
Perrinton