Wednesday, July 10Spirit of Wisconsin Fly-In: La Crosse

La Crosse Regional AirportColgan Air2709 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, WI 546039:00 a.m.

Thursday, July 11Spirit of Wisconsin Fly-In: Madison

Dane County Regional AirportWisconsin Aviation3606 Corben Ct., Madison, WI 537049:00 a.m.

Friday, July 12Spirit of Wisconsin Fly-In: Waukesha

Waukesha County AirportAtlantic Aviation2525 Aviation Rd., Waukesha, WI 531889:00 a.m.

July 21-28 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration

Spirit of Wisconsin on display at Wittman Airport525 W 20th Ave Oshkosh, WI 54902*Event times coming soon

2019 SPIRIT OF WISCONSIN 8-CITY DEDICATION TOUR

Wednesday, June 19Spirit of Wisconsin Dedication and 8-City Dedication Tour Kick-off

Stevens Point Municipal Airport4501 WI-66, Stevens Point, WI 54482Dedication Ceremony: 11:00 a.m.Inaugural Dream Flight: 12:00 p.m., followed by additional pre-selected Dream Flights

Thursday, June 20Spirit of Wisconsin Fly-In: Waupaca

Waupaca Municipal Airport2601 Runway Dr. Waupaca, WI 549819:00 a.m.

Wednesday, June 27Spirit of Wisconsin Fly-In: Green Bay

Green Bay Austin Straubel International AirportJet Air Group1921 Airport Dr., Green Bay, WI 543139:00 a.m.

Friday, June 28Spirit of Wisconsin Fly In: Eau Claire

Chippewa Valley Regional AirportHawthorne FBO3800 Starr Ave, Eau Claire, WI 547039:00 a.m.

www.agelessaviationdreams.orgMedia Contact: Wendy D’Alessandro | wendyd@dreamflights.org | (561) 251-3151

SPIRIT OF WISCONSIN

For 27 years, Roland Garlinghouse, an aviator and Stearman enthusiast, owned and flew the biplane that would later be named the Spirit of Wisconsin. But before the Stearman settled into civilian life in Arkansas with Roland and his family, it was stationed at the Minneapolis Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station during World War II to train military aviators.

That was 1943.

After about six month flying in the Midwest’s frigid temperatures, the plane was transferred to the heat of Corpus Christi, Texas, where it continued to train aviators until the war ended. The plane was then put on surplus and transferred to the Naval Air Station in Memphis until 1947. Later, it was moved to Hayti, Missouri, where it seemed destined for life as a dust-er and sprayer. Instead, the plane remained in stor-age until it was purchased by a civilian pilot in North Carolina.

Roland purchased the plane in 1991 and restored it as close as possible to its former glory, noting it was a special plane from the start. This Stearman runs on a 9-cylinder engine, rather than the typical 7-cylinder. “It was the same engine used in General Patton’s tanks,” he said, which made it easier for him to find surplus military parts.

Garlinghouse used the Stearman to travel locally and to vintage aircraft gatherings, taking off from a grass strip located at his home in Arkansas, and landing in places as far away as upstate New York. In later years, he gave rides to retired Naval aviators who lived nearby. Unknowingly, he was preparing the Stearman for AADF’s mission of ‘giving back to those who have given.’

“Stearman owners never really feel like they own their airplane. We’re just stewards,” he said. “When I heard about Ageless Aviation and that Darryl was looking for a Stearman, it struck me that AADF might be a great place for my plane.”

Fisher and a group of volunteers restored the plane at Fisher’s small hangar located just outside Carson City, Nev. On June 19 at Stevens Point Municipal Airport, AADF will dedicate the Spirit of Wisconsin and give the inaugural Dream Flight to Eddie Lamken, the World

A Stearman Flies Full-Circle:Once used to train aviators during WWII, the Spirit of Wisconsin now honors U.S. veterans for their service

War II veteran who inspired a family and a community to raise funds to purchase the 1943 Stearman.

Lamken’s Dream Flight also kicks off a state-wide Dream Flight Tour.

www.agelessaviationdreams.orgMedia Contact: Wendy D’Alessandro | wendyd@dreamflights.org | (561) 251-3151

THE STORY BEHIND THE PLANE

Serves: Wisconsin and neighboring Midwest states.

Built: 1943

Manufactured: By Boeing, using the same engine found in General Patton’s tanks.

First Dream Flight: AADF presented WWII veteran Eddie Lamken with the inaugural Dream Flight on June 19, 2019 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

History: This 9-cylinder Stearman was used to train military aviators during World War II, first at the Minneapolis Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station and later at the Naval Air Sta-tion in Corpus Christi, Texas. Once retired from training, the plane was purchased to work as a crop duster but instead sat in storage.

The plane found its way to Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee before finding a permanent home with Roland Garlinghouse, an aviator and Stearman enthusiast. He re-stored the plane and used it to travel locally and to vintage aircraft gatherings around the country; he also gave flights to neighboring retired naval aviators.

This is the first Stearman purchased by AADF using funds raised by a local community. It’s stationed at Stevens Point Municipal Airport, where in 2016 WWII veteran Eddie Lamken’s Dream Flight inspired a family and a community. Lamken’s son, David Lamken, initiated and led a two-year fundraising campaign to raise just over $125,000, all of it earmarked for the purchase of the Spirit of Wisconsin.

Whenever time allowed, 10-plus volunteers from Nevada, Or-egon, California, and Texas did their part to restore the bright yellow biplane to meet the high standards set for an AADF Stea-rman. Some gathered in the hangar located just outside Carson City, where the plane was stored during restoration. Others worked remotely, carefully restoring, packaging, and shipping parts that would be installed in the plane. The restoration was a labor of love – for aviation, for AADF’s mission, and for the group of Wisconsin volunteers who spent two years raising money to bring this vintage biplane to the town of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

www.agelessaviationdreams.orgMedia Contact: Wendy D’Alessandro | wendyd@dreamflights.org | (561) 251-3151

June 19, 2019 at Stevens Point Municipal Airport

Dream Flyer: Eddie Lamken,93, U.S. Army Air Corps E3 Private First Class, 1943-1946 Eddie was a part of Rhineland and Central Europe battles

Awards: American Theater Service Medal, European Afri-can Middle Eastern Theater Service Award, Good Conduct Medal and 2 Overseas Service Bars

Pilot: Darryl Fisher, AADF founder

Aircraft: Spirit of Wisconsin, a 1943 Stearman biplane once used to train military aviators during WWII

Eddie Lamken’s first Dream Flight in 2016 at Stevens Point Municipal Airport inspired a family and a community to raise just over $125,000 on behalf of AADF to purchase the Spirit of Wisconsin, AADF’s 4 th Stearman. Read Eddie’s story below:

When Dave Lamken initially discussed with Eddie the possibility of doing an AADF Dream Flight, Eddie was indif-ferent and showed no enthusiasm. Eddie had pulled away from life, resigned himself to a wheelchair, and according to Dave, Eddie “basically gave up.” When it came Eddie’s turn on the day of the flight, Dave apprehensively pushed Eddie’s wheelchair toward the Stearman.

Darryl Fisher, the pilot, and the ground crew helped Eddie out of his wheelchair and into the front cockpit. While the ground crew helped Eddie get settled and strapped in, Darryl got into the rear cockpit to get ready for the flight. Watching his father in the front seat, Dave saw Eddie with a huge smile on his face, giving a thumbs up and waving to people.

Unbeknownst to Eddie, Dave had arranged for Darryl to fly over Eddie’s boyhood farm about 20 miles from the airport. About half an hour after take-off, the blue and yellow Stearman appeared over the horizon and made a smooth landing. Taxiing back to the hangar apron, Dave could see that Eddie was still waving and smiling ear-to-ear.

Then, with very little assistance, Eddie climbed out of the cockpit, down the wing, down the stepladder and, as he stood there with his cane, he was so happy he started to cry. “I had the wheelchair there so he sat down and spoke with the newspapers, did TV interviews and remarked that he was overwhelmed by getting to fly over his boy-hood farm.”

The Dream Flight proved to be a life-changing event. Fol-lowing his Dream Flight, Eddie got out of his wheelchair and has walked with the assistance of a wheeled walker or a cane ever since.

Eddie and Dave are both Army veterans and, following Eddie’s flight, they began talking about their respective Army careers and sharing their memories in ways that only fellow veterans can.

Eddie also become an active family member once again, looking forward to going places and spending time with his daughters. “The big smile, tears of happiness and

www.agelessaviationdreams.orgMedia Contact: Wendy D’Alessandro | wendyd@dreamflights.org | (561) 251-3151

SPIRIT OF WISCONSIN: INAUGURAL DREAM FLIGHT RECIPIENT

overall joy my father displayed when he landed were things I will remem-ber forever.”