We all have to deal with trial sand tribulations unique to us...
but few will ever deal with the kind that Alan Henley has been
facing for t the last year. A consummate aviator paralyzed
while a simple act of playing with his kids went awry, Alan is
having to rebuild a life that once meant unlimited freedom of the
skies into something a bit more constrained... but knowing Alan,
he's going to push those limits as far as he can.
Hence, the reasons that dozens of performers, hundreds of
industry personnel and tens of thousands of people came together to
honor and support a single flyer... one they care for, in the
consummate act of "family" we've seen from the aviation world in
many a year.
The airshow community rallied to the cause with incredible
passion and organization. Nearly 3 dozen 35 aerobatic performers
committed to flying in the North Florida airshow April 18-19, with
the able aid of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA). Everyone
flew both days, and along with a number of ground and aviation
static and support displays and activities, the event made for a
feature-packed weekend that drew attendees form all over North
America. The airshow had everything... from skydiving to
wing-walkers to military tactical demonstrations, to warbirds, to
some of the best precision aerobatic pilots and planes in the
world.
It was a spectacle. The performers list was a veritable "Who's
Who" of the airshow world. Performers include (but are not limited
to) The AeroShell Aerobatic Team, the Aerostars, Corky
Fornof, Dale Snodgrass, Announcer Danny Clisham, Greg Poe, Jim
Peitz, John Mohr, Lee Lauderback and Stallion 51 Mustang, Glider
Pilot Manfred Radius, Patty Wagstaff, Announcer Rob Reider and
Steve & Susanne Oliver -- and that barely covers a third of
those who flew! And yes, ANN and Aero-TV were there to cover every
exciting moment!
Proceeds from this event benefitted Fly, Drive and Ride for
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Research and The Alan Henley Foundation.
The Alan Henley Foundation is a charitable organization whose sole
purpose is to benefit his treatment and his family. Alan and his
wife, Jennifer, have two young children, Skylar and Brandon.
Alan has served admirably, for a number of years as the lead
pilot for the AeroShell Aerobatic Team (tough duty, he used to tell
us... and we never believed him... grin). He was injured last July
in an accident while playing with his children at his home in
Birmingham, AL. A chin-up bar gave way while Henley was on it,
resulting in a fall which caused severe injuries to his neck and
head. Alan is making progress... but it's a slow expensive process
that is not being all that well supported by Henley's medical
insurer -- so it became up to us, his aviation family to pick up
the difference.
Alan has undergone a number of surgeries and battled collateral
infections and complications that resulted from his injury. At the
moment, we regret to note that he is still paralyzed from the chest
down, and will undergo extensive rehabilitation 'on a long journey
to an uncertain recovery.' But Alan promises to fly again... he may
need hand controls or other devices to aid the process, but this is
an aviator who will NOT be denied the skies... and judging by the
chat we had with him at Cecil Field, we'd be foolish to bet against
him. Mark our words, Alan will fly again.
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