Greetings!

Challenge Air lost one of our heroes this month. Former Program Director, Theron Wright, lost his battle to complications of pneumonia.

Theron was a champion for our kids and will hold a special place in our history. He was a special pilot who changed the lives of so many children and young adults with special needs and their families.

Please keep Theron’s family in your prayers.

Rest well sweet friend. Fly high and watch over us as we continue to share the legacy of you and Rick Amber.


Best Regards,
April Culver, CEO/Executive Director
"The magic is when you put them in that co-pilot seat, and you let them take the controls, and you challenge them to challenge themselves, say, 'look, you're flying this airplane, what can't you do?"
-Theron Wright
Mesquite, TX here we come!
The next Challenge Air fly day is schedule for October 30th in Mesquite, TX.

Co-pilots are encouraged to wear costumes to this event providing it does NOT interfere with flying and won't need to be removed in order to fit inside the aircraft.

Although this event is FULL for participants, we are still in need of 3-4 more pilots and volunteers. You may register on the website below.
Challenge Air has flown over 170 Co-pilots this year in Kansas City, Denver and Tulsa. An additional 110 children with special needs are expected to earn their wings in Mesquite at the end of the month. You can catch a recap of Denver and Tulsa events below.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!
Challenge Air has the best sponsors in the world. Thank you for the constant help and support. The lives of children, families and volunteers are changed forever.

Aviator Showcase

The Challenge Air team worked hard at this year's AOPA Aviators Showcase in Fort Worth, TX on October 1st.

It was a fun-filled day of networking and spreading the word about our mission of building confidence and self esteem in children with special needs.

Congratulations to Keith Douglas from Austin who was the lucky winner of the whiskey decanter drawing.
Welcome New Board Member Lizeth LoCicero!

Lizeth has been an active member of the community since 2009 through National and Texas PTA, local and Frisco Independent School District (ISD) Council of PTAs, and as a member of the Transition Advisor Group and the first Parent Ambassadors for Special Education Committee within Frisco ISD.  
 
She has been an avid advocate for children with disabilities. She is constantly striving to promote awareness and help others see that children with different abilities can accomplish tremendous feats with the proper support. She has also lent her business, linguistic, and customer service expertise to all her volunteer efforts. As a native of Mexico, Lizeth is keenly aware of individuals who are not native to the United States. She brings a diversity of thought and a voice of our Latino community to the conversation. 
Congratulations Troy Whistman!
Congratulations to one of our amazing volunteer pilots, Troy Whistman for receiving a 2021 Public Benefit Flying Award!

Troy Whistman is a volunteer pilot, board member, and wing leader for Angel Flight South Central (AFSC). He also volunteers for Pilots N Paws and Challenge Air, flying any type of mission that is needed, with his compassion and devotion evident during every
flight. Troy strives to build a sense of unity among volunteer pilots and is committed to growing AFSC’s presence in the community. He has coordinated and participated in fly- ins, organized Facebook fundraisers, served on the planning committee for AFSC’s gala, helped to streamline the organization’s communications strategies, and partnered with a well-known YouTube channel to produce a video featuring AFSC. Troy’s infectious enthusiasm for charitable aviation has benefited the public benefit flying community as a whole and those they serve.
"So thankful for the pilots that donate their time and aircraft for these kids!"
- Kristina
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