Able Flight’s Class of 2025 and 100th Pilot Awarded Winged Pins

The founder of non-profit organization Able Flight, Charles Stites, honored five new pilots during their annual Wing Pinning Ceremony at EAA’s AirVenture Oshkosh, marking a major milestone as they recognized their 100th pilot. The honorees, Domenico “Nick” Lazzaro, Brandi Fields, Ryan Berndt, Chris Karadjo, and Ronny Ahmed, received their winged pins in front of friends, family, and colleagues.

Able Flight is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering aspiring aviators with disabilities a path to challenge themselves through flight and aviation career training. The nonprofit was created by pilots who believe that the experience of learning to fly is best shared; The Able Scholarship was designed to enable people with disabilities to pursue that experience.

Each recipient overcame various obstacles, such as gun violence injuries, cancer, spinal injuries, and amputations. Lazzaro, for example, was a U.S. Army National Guard veteran who retired after a training accident with the rank of major. Every new pilot underwent an 8-week intensive program to earn their wings.

Post pilot recognition, Stites shared a heartwarming gesture as canine companions Ahri and Wallace were awarded their unofficial wings alongside their owners, Karadjo and Ahmed.

Able Flight has been collaborating with Southern Illinois University (SIU) to conduct their training courses. Now, as of next year’s class, SIU will be taking over responsibility for the entire program. As a result, Stites announced his retirement from Able Flight, as SIU personnel step into his position.

Since Able Flight was founded in 2003, 103 people have earned a pilot’s license through the program, and 29 scholarships have been awarded to wounded and/or disabled veterans.

FMI: https://ableflight.org