Nine new Able Flight pilots will be honored at the nonprofit’s annual wings pinning ceremony at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
This is the largest class to date for Able Flight, which provides scholarships to people with physical disabilities, according to Charles Stites, executive director.
Andrew Daigneau, Jake Simmons, Natallia Mirashnichenka, Ian Azeredo, Tyler Pugeda, Omar Duran, Jake Robinson, Jordan Sprague, and Tim Riney, Jr. earned pilot certificates during an intensive training program at Purdue University and Southern Illinois University between late May and early July 2024, he said.
The pilots will be honored individually at the ceremony as recipients of scholarships provided by ForeFlight, Tempest Aero Group, Muncie Aviation, and Cirrus Aircraft.
Also being awarded are scholarships honoring Zack Reising (Blue 7 Scholarship), Adam Kisielewski (U.S. Marine Corps-retired) and charity volunteer pilot Mark Hogan.
2024 marks the 14th year of Able Flight’s partnership with Purdue University, and its first year partnering with Southern Illinois University to provide training for scholarship recipients. It is Able Flight’s 18th year of providing full-ride flight training scholarships and aviation career training scholarships.
Able Flight has 98 certified pilots, including several who have earned multiple pilot certificates.
For more information: AbleFlight.org