"A Wing And A Heart" Coming May 22 To Farmingdale Airport

Angel Flight, a network of over 1,500 pilots with over 70 of those pilots based on Long Island, will hold its third annual Long Island benefit -- A Wing and A Heart -- at the American Airpower Museum at the Farmingdale Airport, NY beginning at 1730 EDT on May 22. 

The charitable event is for the benefit of Angel Flight NE, an organization dedicated to providing no cost transportation to children and adults in need of life saving medical treatment far from the place they call home. The event-A Wing and A Heart-is aptly named to raise awareness and funding to keep "Angel Flights" soaring for those in critical need.

This year's event will be unlike any other to date, say event organizers... with a new "flight plan" that somehow was filed shortly before D-Day. When guests arrive, they will be transported to a time shaped by the sounds, machines and heroism of a people and a nation reaching for its proudest moment-WWII. The American Airpower Museum is the perfect venue to recreate this great era.

The squadron - "Warbirds Over Long Island" has already received its orders and will be on a mission that evening to perform an exciting and special air show that is not to be missed. The flyboys will be piloting a Boeing PT-17 Stearman, a Curtiss-Wright P-40 and a North American P-51.

Founder of AFNE, Larry Camerlin will bring the assembly together in the mess hall for a special presentation with heartfelt stories from Angel Flight families and debrief of several missions flown by AFNE volunteer pilots and their earth angel ground crews.

Entertainment will bring the feeling of WWII to the forefront-with music, dancers and the museum's VIP tours throughout the evening. A silent auction and a variety of raffle prizes will keep the energy high and the spirit of giving alive.

Angel Flight NE-AFNE, is a member of the nationwide Air Charity Network of more than 7,000 general aviation pilots that are called on to fly ambulatory children and adults to various treatment centers for access to life-saving medical care, free of charge.

"Our Long Island Angels are made up of over 60 Angel Flight Pilots and a growing corps of Earth Angels," says Rudy Holesek, Volunteer Pilot and Committee Chair for A Wing and A Heart. Holesek continues, "We couldn't ask for a more suitable location and time for the benefit -- the American Airpower Museum that replicates the historic 1940's era situated at Republic Airport. Everyone will go home with something -- especially a new sense of compassion and respect for our patients, their families and the volunteers of Angel Flight."

FMI: www.angelflightne.org