VIDEO: St. Michael Veteran Lives Out an Aviation Dream

When the vintage, World War II-era biplane made the pass across the midfield of the Princeton Municipal Airport, Earl Wold’s fan club could see him smile from the front seat of the craft. 

“What an experience,” Wold said minutes later, with his feet planted firmly on terra firma. “I wish everyone could see the world like that.”

Wold’s trip was made possible by the mission of one man and a family’s love of flying.

Darryl Fisher, a former corporate officer with an assisted living organization, decided was born to be a pilot.

He is the third generation in a line of Fishers to fly, and the third generation to fly a PT-17 Boeing-Stearman. The old “Kadet” was the premier training aircraft for the Army Air Corps before and during the early stages of World War II.

The Fisher family has a long relationship with the aircraft. Bill L. Fisher flew the aircraft back in the 1940s. Thursday, his sons Bill and Dave, flew a PT-17 painted red and white, arriving in Princeton moments before Darryl and his son, Zack, landed in a blue and yellow biplane.

Part of that mission is for the whole family to share the experience of flying in these vintage crafts with America’s heroes. Darryl dubbed it “Ageless Aviation Dreams.”

“I’ve actually known Darryl for years, and he let me know about this opportunity,” said Rick Huntington, executive director of The Legacy at St. Michael. “I thought Earl was just a perfect fit.”

Wold is an Air Force veteran, but he wasn’t a pilot. Enlisted from 1950 through 1955, AFC First Class Wold was part of a very covert operation that guarded and tested the new era of atomic bombs developed by the United States after World War II and prior to the Korean Conflict.

“We tested the same kind of bombs they dropped in Japan, but then we worked on a lot of the newer ones at that time,” Wold said. “It was very classified. To this day, I don’t feel comfortable talking about it” (because of the security).

Wold is no stranger to flying, but the last time he was in a small aircraft was “probably about 1947.”

“The experience is totally different,” Darryl said. “Flying in a biplane, open-air. You can’t beat it. At 3,500 feet, it was so nice and comfortable today.”

Fisher started Ageless Aviation Dreams partially due to a need for change, and partially due to simple timing.

His aircraft, which is a PT-17 restored to factory standards, was renovated last year. His father, Bill, also had his plane – a red and white PT-17, done, but overhauled it for crop dusting. Bill’s has almost double the power of Darryl’s.

“It’s one case where the dad is a little bit faster than the son,” Bill said with a smile.

On the way back from picking up the planes, Darryl used some of his contacts and an idea to start giving veterans the ride of their lives. It worked, as retirement home directors from southeastern states all the way to the Fishers’ home state of Washington worked with the crew to set up short plane rides.

“The reaction has just been amazing. We’ve taken up World War II vets who haven’t flown in decades. They can’t believe it,” Darryl said. “And the feeling it gives us, to share that experience, is just amazing.”

For Earl Wold, that experience was picture perfect. After a week of heat, and even high wind, Thursday was a picture-perfect day.

His “Fan Club” included his 6-year-old granddaughter, Anna, decked out in Grandpa’s Air Force jacket and officer’s hat. His daughter, Kim, was also on hand. They also live in St. Michael.

“The gang [in St. Michael] wanted me to do a fly-by, but we just flew over this area here. It’s so green. Just amazing. Pictures can’t do it justice,” Earl said.

Turning his attention to the Fisher family, Earl’s voice cracked a bit.

“There’s no way in the world I can possibly thank you enough.”