Air Force Academy takes Wounded Warriors up for glider flights

The U.S. Air Force Academy welcomed a group of Wounded Warriors to take part in glider flights over the Front Range.

“These are people who went above and beyond in their service and we want to share our passion for flying as a way to pay them back and say, ‘Thank you,'” Air Force Academy flight instructor, Glen Whelan, said.

It’s the first time that Wounded Warriors got the bird’s-eye view from an AFA glider. At 12,500 feet, the veterans saw Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy, the Palmer Divide and Cripple Creek.

Eddie Roberts, who was wounded while fighting in Iraq, said the experience was like any other.

“My favorite view was… I don’t know! That’s not a fair question; it was all amazing,” he said. “I think seeing the range for miles and miles was amazing.”

The 94th Flying Training Squadron partnered with the Soaring Eagle Foundation and Wounded Warriors to provide the flights.

Organizers hope that the veterans loved the experience so much, they’ll get into aviation.

The Soaring Eagle Foundation is now working on getting funding to provide scholarships for free flight training for the veterans.