14-05-2025
Veterans get free flight on WWII plane
BETHANY, Okla. (KFOR) —Senior veterans had the chance to fly high in the sky Tuesday morning as part of the non-profit group, Dream Flights.
The plane is a restored WWII-era biplane. It's the same type of plane that aviators used to train with.
LOCAL NEWS: Catholic Charities works to help affordable housing crisis
Ben Robinson, Leaman Harris, and Judith Harris are three Air Force veterans who've never flown in a plane like this before.
'Never flown an open cockpit in a fixed wing. I've flown a lot of open cockpits in helicopters, so this was a real treat. First time I've flown for a while,' said Ben Robinson, a Retired Air Force Brigadier General.
'It's an opportunity I've never had. I like to try different things…obviously if I went to the Air Force, said Judith Harris, a Retired Air Force Lieutenant.
Judith and Leaman Harris have been married for almost 60 years, and both served in the Air Force. They were excited for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
'He wasn't really sure, and I said, look…we're never gonna get the chance to do this again. And not everybody gets to do this,' said Judith.
'To be able to be in the cockpit and look out see things. It'll be great,' said Leaman Harris, an Air Force Captain.
The flight is part of the non-profit group, Dream Flights, which gives veterans the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of these high-flying machines.
These three Oklahomans are joining the more than 7,000 veterans who've also had the chance to fly on a dream flight.
'The wind blowing by. It was the most interesting thing. It was just 'whoosh' all the time,' said Leaman.
It's a flight, they'll never forget.
LOCAL NEWS: OKC, Palomar break ground on Family Justice Center
'Oh, it was fantastic. Everything was so beautiful and green. I loved it,' said Judith.
'The fact that they're doing this for veterans that's what's really cool about it. More than just the flying, it's the recognition and the honoring of the veterans…so it's just wonderful,' said Robinson.
The three Oklahomans who flew in the plane are from Touchmark at Coffee Creek and are the first veterans from that community who got to do the free flight.
Representatives from Dream Flights and Sport Clips were at the event Tuesday morning, celebrating the exciting moment for the veterans.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
