Greetings!

Greetings from the Challenge Air for Kids & Friends office in hot Dallas, TX. I hope you and your families are doing well and staying healthy. I am so happy to report that we hosted our first Fly Day since January 2020 in Spokane, Washington on Saturday, August 14th!   Besides having to only taxi due to lack of visibility due to smoke from nearby fires, 49 kids with special needs and their families enjoyed the experience of taxiing down the runway, talking to the tower on their headsets and receiving their official wings and co-pilot certificate! Special thanks to the Spokane Fly Day Committee and Historic Flight Foundation for organizing a top notch event for their first time. We can’t wait to come back in 2022!
 
As many of you know, the Covid-19 variance is hitting some of our communities at an alarming rate. Challenge Air is moving forward with our fall event calendar planning while at the same time following all local health and safety protocols for outdoor events.  Our goal is to hold each scheduled event this fall but safety is and will always be our number 1 priority!
 
Thank you to all our donors and sponsors for allowing us the opportunity to change the life of a child with special needs by allowing them the chance to fly a plane!
 
With much appreciation,
April Culver, CEO/Executive Director

P.S. You can catch a recap article regarding our Spokane event in the news by clicking here.
Fly Days... Fun Days!
Fall Fly Day events are well under way.

We invite pilots, volunteers and families who have children with special needs between the ages of 7-21 to sign up on our website.

Never been to a Fly Day event? Visit the website to learn more, read FAQ's or watch this video here on what to expect.

Space is limited on a first come, first serve basis for our participants so don't delay.

Sign up today!
Challenge Air takes the health and safety of our pilots, co-pilots, family members and volunteers very seriously. Challenge Air follows local and national guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at all events. All event participants will meet outside when appropriate, and maintain a social distance to mitigate the spread of COVID. We also ask all pilots to sanitize cockpits before and after each mission. The hangar will be cleaned periodically throughout the day in high-traffic areas. Access to hand sanitizer and restrooms for hand-washing will be available. If a community is experiencing a COVID breakout, the event would be postponed to a safer date.
SAVE THE DATE

This year on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021, Challenge Air is kicking off a one-day online giving extravaganza.

Since its founding in 1993, Challenge Air has been building confidence and self esteem in children with special needs through the gift of flight.

"Nothing compares to the experience of flying with a child who is challenged in life; to see the expressions of delight, to watch the feeling of being able to control their emotions, to rejoice at being free and to watch the parent or guardian see emotions they had never seen before." - Jeff M (Volunteer Pilot)

We invite you to join us and help us reach our goal of $30,000 on September 23rd.
Challenge Air provides an unforgettable growing experience that opens the door to possibilities while allowing the children to see if they can fly a plane they can do anything!
EAA AirVenture Osh Kosh

April Culver, Executive Director, attended the 2021 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July for the first time.  Better known as “Oshkosh” to those who love aviation, the event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin showcases many incredible aircraft for one week each summer to over 600,000 enthusiasts who fly in from across the globe to witness or participate in the showcase of planes. Over 10,000 aircraft flew into Wittman Regional Airport with over 5,000 volunteers helping to run the event!

On Wednesday night, WildBlue Aircraft Sales hosted a meet and greet for Challenge Air. Over 30 attended and learned more about Challenge Air and ways to be involved as a volunteer, sponsor or pilot. Thank you Chris & Erica Kirk for hosting April on her first visit to Oshkosh. She will definitely return in the future!
Last Chance To Win A
Challenge Air Prize Pack!
Want to WIN a Challenge Air Prize Pack?

Share your summer photo with us for a chance to WIN. Here is how to enter:

1) Snap a picture of your child wherever your summer adventures take you and send it to Challenge Air for a chance to win.

2) Send your photo to Bailey.cole@challengeair.org and/or tag us at #GiveKidsWings. Be sure to include what exciting place is your destination. Note, by sending in your photo you are giving permission for Challenge Air to share your photo with the Challenge Air community via website or social media.
3) On August 20th, we will choose and announce on Facebook a winning photo. One lucky Co-Pilot will win a Challenge Air Prize Pack.

We can't wait to see your smiling faces. Good Luck! (Void where prohibited)
Co-Pilot Spotlight
Meet Co-Pilot Heather Jo
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"She was so excited to fly even virtually. ⁠
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Heather Jo loves flying of any kind and Challenge Air gives her the opportunity to actually fly the plane. ⁠

Words cannot express our gratitude to the pilots and volunteers of this fantastic organization for what they do.

We love you Challenge Air!"

- Fredia⁠⁠
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"You haven't seen a tree until you have seen its
shadows from the sky." - Amelia Earhart
Let's Be Social
#Givekidswings