Idaho Falls Man Wins Cessna 172 From The Charity

Twice each year, Wings of Hope raffles off an airplane to raise money for its mission of providing free air transport service. The most recent raffle raised some $330,000.

The winner is Kelly Howell of Idaho Falls, ID, who according to the Idaho Post Register has been entering the contest for more than 10 years.

Howell recently took delivery of his prize, a 1965 Cessna 172. While waiting at Blackfoot Airport, Howell used an app on his phone to track the plane's progress as it flew west from St. Louis.

Howell has been away from flying, at least as Pilot in Command, for some 43 years, according to the report. But that didn't prevent him from entering the raffel each year for the past 10 years simply because he believes in the mission. But this year, he said he was not going to buy a ticket, thinking that being in his 60s he was too old to try flying again. Howell said his wife talked him into buying the $75 chance at winning the airplane.

Howell never earned his pilot certificate. He was a checkride away when a natural disaster in 1976 wiped out the airport where he was taking lessons, and all his records. By the time it was all sorted out, the requirements for obtaining a PPL had changed, and he was simply not in a financial position to go back and fulfil the additional requirements.

Now, with an airplane of his own, he hopes to fulfill that lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. According to the report, he already has an instructor lined up and is ready to get back into the left seat.

We wish him well.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report