Dream Flights Brings Joy To Some Havasu Veterans

By Becky Maxedon

On a bright, sunny morning at Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport, some of America’s heroes were honored with special Dream Flights.

Roz Naylor, 103 years old and a World War II veteran, and 101-year-old World War II veteran Judd Lotts and Korean War veteran John Heubinger, took to the air in an open cockpit airplane.

Darryl Fisher, founder of Dream Flights, was Wednesday’s pilot.

“I gave the first Dream Flight March 29, 2011. We’re giving our 8,000th tomorrow in Phoenix.

“What we are doing today is just profound. We have two World War II veterans. They’ve given us so much and now we have an opportunity to say thank you in a really special, unique way by offering them a flight honoring them,” Fisher said.

Daryl Fisher of Dream Flights signs a hat for Veteran Roz Naylor Wednesday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

He said the three flying Wednesday are heroes.

“When I fly this airplane, I’m going to be in the presence of greatness.”

Fisher said his founding of Dream Flights was a long story.

“When people have given so much in their lifetime and they’re living in senior living communities and things like that and as they get older they’re losing things like health, family, spouses. They think their life isn’t exciting anymore.

“And so we come along. They come out to the airport they get to fly. They’re not thinking of flying in an open cockpit but we open their eyes to that.

“Many times they go on to do other things that they didn’t think they could do and it changes their life forever. We get to give them that gift and it’s really special.”

Lake Havasu Dream Flights RiverScene Magazine Jillian Danielson Photography

John Huebinger waves before takeoff in the Dream Flight plane. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Veteran Roz Naylor and Vista Pointe Assisted Living resident said after her flight, “I enjoyed that very much.”

Jim Dahl is the Team Leader with Sport Clips in Mohave County.

“Sport Clips and a couple of other companies sponsor the Dream Flights for veterans. What we do is they reach out to retirement homes and places like that and schedule between Dream Flights and where the veterans are living.

“Then they bring veterans on flights as a reward for being veterans and retired. I’m a veteran myself, so this is special.”

Judd Lotts prepares for takeoff in the Dream Flights plane on Wednesday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

The Sport Clips crew comes out to the airport to support the effort.

“We just like coming out. We bring donuts and coffee and we get to see the guys load into the plane and watch them come out. It’s just a fun time. I just enjoy that so much,” he said.

The American Legion Auxilliary were also on hand to do a flag line for the Veterans Wednesday and the Velocity Team was available to assist throughout the morning.

Dream Flights operates throughout the country. They have been offering the opportunities in Lake Havasu City for a few years.

For more information about Dream Flights, visit dreamflights.org.