Air Therapy for Veterans

When veterans come home, what can they do with the excessive amounts of stress-induced chemistry?

We have taken hundreds of veterans into the sky over the past 6 years. Flying sharpens the mind and feeds the soul.

After returning home therapeutic adventures are needed.

Open cockpit flying is healing. The sky reaches out and touches you.

Leonardo Da Vinci

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things…

William Langewische

I ask people who don’t fly, “How can you not fly when you live in a time in history when you can fly?”

Orville Wright

The exhilaration of flying is too keen, the pleasure too great, for it to be neglected as a sport.

Wilbur Wright

More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination.

Richard Bach

Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s a reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly! (Jonathan Livingston Seagull)

Amelia Earhart

Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not knows no release from little things.

From Wizard of Oz

Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me, Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away, above the chimney tops, that’s where you’ll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can’t I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can’t I?

RESERVE YOUR FLIGHT

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The amygdala region of the brain is responsible for the emotional reaction to fear. This adaptive mechanism becomes overused with continued response to combat and life threatening situations. The brain activates adrenaline and cortisol production, for hair-trigger readiness. The brain’s hippocampus also shrinks in size under the duress of PTSD and yet returns to original size when healing occurs. Go figure.

Relaxation becomes difficult to achieve without a focused path through the fear/thrill conditioning.

Self-medicating temptations are numerous; drugs, alcohol, high-risk activities, depression, suicidal ideations, fights, fast motorcycles etc. etc. More healthy and exciting alternatives are needed.

“Learning to fly stimulates a whole new activity for the brain.”

This adventure commands full presence brought alive with an ever present thrill. It requires left-brain learning (flight systems, FAA rules, meteorology, aerodynamics), blended with the right-brain-dominant art of flying. Trike flying also provides more of a full body dynamic than with flying other types of aircraft.

Stress is draining . . . flying is therapeutic. Vets experience flying as an enjoyable re-inspiration.

ATA offers a substantial 34% price break for veterans.

So grab a friend in need. . . and let’s FLY!