Disabled children get to soar in the clouds in flying program in California

From the San Jose Mercury News: In the picture, Skip Getz lifts his son Galen, 8, who has cerebral palsy, into the front seat of a Cessna 180 during the second annual "Take Flight for Kids.''

Carried aloft in small planes, 750 South Bay children, their friends and family soared August 8 on flights of fancy that transformed vistas, introduced new sensations and perhaps opened up possibilities.

After 20-minute flights in two- to four-passenger planes, the children returned to Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose with reactions that gratified parents and volunteer pilots: They laughed. They recalled gazing at tiny houses and cars below. They marveled at the feeling of flying, as they cruised either southeast to Anderson Reservoir or northeast to Calaveras Reservoir.

The passengers were mostly special-needs children, who have afflictions ranging from attention-deficit disorder to autism to Down syndrome. Some were disadvantaged youths.

Mark that as mission accomplished for Take Flight for Kids, which put 44 generous pilots together with special-needs families and caregivers. Foremost among multiple sponsors of the daylong event was the Valley Medical Center Foundation.

"I saw soccer fields and dirt and mountains," said Robert Tafoya, 16, of Santa Clara. His friend Felicia Clark said that flying with the plane's door open was "scary but fun."

Robert, who has Down syndrome, snagged a ticket through Angels on Stage, a San Jose theater group for special-needs children.

They and other children waited patiently in line amid the takeoff roar of planes like the V-tail Bonanza, Grumman Tiger, Cessna 172 and even a Stearman bi-wing, a model that once trained World War II pilots.

Earlier, the would-be fliers sat through "flight school," where instructor Peter Sharrock explained parts like the rudder, aileron and elevator, which control turns, ascents and descents.

"Are all the pilots expert fliers?" asked Robert's friend, Stephen Freehart, 9, of Santa Clara.

Answer: yes.

In its second year, Take Flight For Kids is the dream of Lisa Bickford and Dean McCully of San Jose. It has a dual purpose: to inspire and empower children and families, and to bring together resources for parents and build a sense of community.

In that respect, the volunteer-run day was a resounding success. Parents could browse among more than 200 diverse booths, from health services, child care and robotics groups to NASA and the South Bay Soaring Society. In addition there were free hot dogs and burgers, performances of dance and music and a raffle.

Still, the highlight was the flying.

Aravind Saminathan, 8, of San Jose, who is nonverbal, was so thrilled he didn't want to get off the plane, said his mother, Lakshmi Avanasippan.

Many pilots let their passengers steer or raise the plane's flaps. "They get a kick out of it," said pilot Michael McDonald, 42, of Sunnyvale. "I have them look out to make sure the landing gear is down, and look to find the airport."

The pilots said they found it rewarding to share the thrill of flying with those who may seldom experience it.

Allina Boyd, 8, lives just behind Reid-Hillview's control tower but never imagined that she'd actually be talking with someone in it. On Saturday, she and her grandmother Carmen Navarro were the guests of Allina's cousin, Serena Lopez, 6, in a red R44 helicopter. "We went on top of mountains and saw a bunch of black cows!" Allina said excitedly.

"I'm kind of nervous," said Jesse Gonzalez, 17, one of several boys from the James Ranch juvenile detention facility in Morgan Hill who were offered a chance to fly. His grandmother, Connie Casillas of San Jose, said she wasn't too worried.

"The planes have been coming back, so that's a good sign," she said.

Then one of Jesse's friends returned from flight. "It was cool," he said, adding, "Who knows, maybe one day I can fly on my own."