He had one last wish--a plane ride ( Vid)

Bob Bement

Bob Bement

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Bob Bement
Got a call from a lady that was the activity director at a care facility. She explained to me that she had a program called " Forget Me Not", where she tried to fulfill wishes of her residents. She told me that some one had given her my name as someone having an airplane. She went on to explain that she had a 80 year old man that was a pilot in his younger years. He had suffered a very bad stroke and was in a wheel chair. His wish was to get back in the air one more time. Well Vale Oregon is a 600 mile round trip from TTD Troutdale Or. She told me she couldn't find anyone that would help. She was crying and said one pilot told her " that is expensive lady I gave at the office" Well I told her sure I would help her with his request. So, I flew up to TTD and took Francis Hoopes on this flight. We flew from Troutdale to Cascade locks. We shot a landing and taxied back for a takeoff. I let Francis fly and he had a great grin on his face.
Francis died the following June and I couldn't attend the funeral as I was on my way to Gastons to meet some of you folks.
I think these are the things we need to do, like I know some of you fly angel flights. I think these give GA and us, as pilots, a good image. (Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI
 
Dang it... don't show these things! I can't read through the tears!

The only thing missing was the look on his face as he took the controls.
 
Bob you are the MAN!
Thanks for sharing that - I think I have just as big a grin as that man.
 
Bob,

You are a saint. Thank you
 
Wow .. absolutely awesome Bob. What a wonderful thing for
you to do.
 
Bob,
Thanks so much for your selfless act of kindness. I know we say that flying, and sharing flying makes us feel as good giving it as those who receive it, and perhaps that is true. But, ... awe crap, I'm at a loss for words and can't see through my smudged up glasses right now anyway. I guess all I can say is "atta boy" and "well done".
Greg
 
gkainz said:
Bob,
Thanks so much for your selfless act of kindness. I know we say that flying, and sharing flying makes us feel as good giving it as those who receive it, and perhaps that is true. But, ... awe crap, I'm at a loss for words and can't see through my smudged up glasses right now anyway. I guess all I can say is "atta boy" and "well done".
Greg
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Greg---- Don't feel bad about the tears. This happened going on three years ago and when I was writing up this story and watching the video again I had the same problem. This flight made me double happy. Happy to be flying and happy to see Francis so happy. It doesn't get any better that double happy. Life is good. Others have told me I wish I could do something like that. I'll pass on a saying someone once told me: " replace your wish bone with your back bone". Thanks Greg .;) Bob
 
Good-on-ya, Bob! Hopefully someone like you will be around to take me up for one last hoorah many moons from now.

Thanks for sharing!
 
Hey Bob, not only thanks for sharing the video and recollection, but thanks for your kindness and making the world a better place.
 
AdamZ said:
Bob I recall this post from a few years back. As I said then Good On you.
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Yes Adam I did write a story up on this flight once before, but I didn't have the know how, or the video at that time. That is why I decided to run it one more time. I don't think a lot of pilots saw it, the first time, due to the response that I have gotten. Bob
 
Bob, Thank you for posting this, I know the feeling you felt then and now. i do young eagles flights at our Special Needs Fly-in . And YES the Smiles are PRICELESS. I just wish there was a way to got the video shown to the general public so they know We Do Care about Others. Live Long and FLY SAFE
Dave G.
P.S. here is a poster we made up of some of the Kids we fly.
 

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Shipoke said:
Bob, Thank you for posting this, I know the feeling you felt then and now. i do young eagles flights at our Special Needs Fly-in . And YES the Smiles are PRICELESS. I just wish there was a way to got the video shown to the general public so they know We Do Care about Others. Live Long and FLY SAFE
Dave G.
P.S. here is a poster we made up of some of the Kids we fly.
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Dave --- I have had the opportunity to fly some of those special children and I too know the feeling. Thanks for your reply. Bob
 
Thanks to all of the rest of you for your great comments. You made my day brighter. I only hope that we could get the message to the world that we are not spoiled rich guys, and all we do is whine about losing our freedoms. We can't wait for Phil to do every thing for us, I believe we all have to step up and be Phil. Bob
 
Shipoke said:
Bob, Thank you for posting this, I know the feeling you felt then and now. i do young eagles flights at our Special Needs Fly-in . And YES the Smiles are PRICELESS. I just wish there was a way to got the video shown to the general public so they know We Do Care about Others. Live Long and FLY SAFE
Dave G.
P.S. here is a poster we made up of some of the Kids we fly.
Click to expand...



I ground crewed one time for the CFI with the empty right sleeve in your poster. That was SOME day watching those kids light up at their airplane rides. I WILL get back to Cap City some day to help you guys out with that.

Bob, way to pay it forward man. I took up a 99 who is no longer actively flying last summer. When she started talking about taking her training over at Reading, in 1943, it just blew me away. You get way more than you give taking an elderly pilot or a disabled kid up. WAY MORE.

Jim G
 
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