Money To Support Brain Tumor Research

Pilot Brian Kissinger of O'Fallon, IL is in the process of restoring a World War II-era aircraft for a barnstorming trip to raise money for brain tumor research -- a subject the 39-year-old man is intimately familiar with.

Several years ago, doctors located a cancerous tumor the size of a baseball in his brain -- it was questionable whether he would even survive. Not only did he survive, Kissinger is now healthy and planning to barnstorm the country in a World War II scout plane to raise money and awareness for those suffering from brain tumors.

Plans are for a June 1 take off in his 1942 Piper L4 Grasshopper from St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, and spending about three weeks flying around the country. In doing so, he hopes to raise $100,000 for the National Brain Tumor Association.

Dubbed Brain's Flight -- after Kissinger's nickname -- his eventual goal is to raise $1 million for the group, according to the Associated Press. Kissinger got the unusual nickname while serving as a major in the USAF. Stationed in Okinawa, everyone in his outfit received a monogrammed hat. But, Brian's hat said "Brain" and naturally, it stuck.

Kissinger spends most of his Saturdays at Hunter Field in Sparta, restoring his Grasshopper. He found the damaged plane in a hangar in the early stages of renovation. He bought a share of the plane along with Marvin Campbell, the owner/operator of the FBO.

"It needs a lot more work," Kissinger said.

The Grasshopper is the military version of the original Piper Cub. It was used for, among other things, artillery spotting and reconnaissance during World War II. This particular aircraft is believed to have been stationed in Oklahoma during WWII and was then used by the Civil Air Patrol.

The marathon runner was playing tennis in 2003 when he collapsed and was diagnosed with a cancerous oligodendroglioma. He is now in remission after surgery and 20 months of chemotherapy... and Kissinger is determined to help others with similar diagnoses.

Original plans had Kissinger in the air by now, but as aircraft restoration is a rather exact science, it's far more important to be correct than quick.

"There are a couple more things on the airplane that have to be perfect," Kissinger said. "An inspector came by the other day and gave me more items."

He has a route mapped out that includes stops all around the country -- his main goal is to raise as much awareness for the cause as possible.

"I want to cover as much territory as I can," Kissinger said. "When people found out about this, they sent me invitations to stop at different places. I'm planning on visiting the Tri-State Warbirds Museum in Ohio, and of course, Kitty Hawk, and Florida, where I grew up."

"A lot of people have been helping out," he added. "I couldn't do it by myself."

FMI: www.brainsflight.com/