It's a DC-10 on the Outside; Inside... You'll Have to Take a Look

The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, a modified DC-10 aircraft, flies to developing nations around the world, working to save sight through hands-on training, public health education, and improved access to eye care.  Since 1982, ORBIS has completed more than 500 programs in 81 countries.

It has trained in excess of 63,000 ophthalmologists, nurses, biomedical engineers and other healthcare workers who, in turn, provide treatment and training in their countries. Worldwide, more than 130,000 patients have been directly treated by ORBIS eye care specialists and through the multiplier effect, more than 17.5 million people benefited from the work of ORBIS.

If you can get to Oshkosh, you'll have a chance to meet some fine people:

• Hal Biestek, United Airlines (ret), ORBIS volunteer pilot
• Ken Burnham, United Airlines (ret), ORBIS chief volunteer pilot
• Gil Chase, United Airlines (ret), ORBIS volunteer flight engineer
• Gary Dyson, FedEx, ORBIS volunteer pilot
• Dr. Thomas France, Wisconsin, ORBIS volunteer ophthalmologist
• Dr. Dale Heuer, Wisconsin, ORBIS volunteer ophthalmologist
• Mark Larson, Wisconsin, ORBIS volunteer eye banking specialist
• Dr. Kevin Lavery, Michigan, ORBIS volunteer ophthalmologist
• Jim Nugent, United Airlines (ret), ORBIS volunteer pilot
• Gordon Platt, FedEx, ORBIS volunteer flight engineer
• Jim Rosater, United Airlines (ret), ORBIS volunteer pilot
• Dr. Michael Vrabec, Wisconsin, ORBIS volunteer ophthalmologist
• Dr. Joel Weinstein, Wisconsin, ORBIS volunteer ophthalmologist
• Mark Zenner, United Airlines, ORBIS volunteer flight engineer

Not Just a Glamour Gig

Just so you know, it's not all about just glamorous flying around in DC-10s. ORBIS International is dedicated to preserving and restoring sight in developing countries, where 90% of the world's blind population lives.

In addition to the ORBIS DC-10, ORBIS conducts hospital-based medical training programs in the developing world, and sponsors long-term in-country programs in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, and Vietnam.

FMI: www.orbis.org