Able Flight celebrates milestone, new leadership

Five new Able Flight pilots were recognized July 22 at Theater in the Woods during EAA AirVenture, a group that included the 100th certificated pilot to graduate the program that Stites founded in 2006 to enable people with disabilities to "challenge themselves through flight and aviation career training, and by doing so, to gain greater self-confidence and self-reliance."

The five scholarship recipients were Ronny Ahmed of Florida, Ryan Berndt of Wisconsin, Brandi Fields of Missouri, Chris Karadjov of California, and Domenico “Nick” Lazzaro of Pennsylvania. They have overcome obstacles such as spinal cord injuries, gun violence injuries, cancer, and amputation. The class also included one U.S. Army National Guard veteran, Lazzaro, who retired after a training accident with the rank of major.

Following the class’s recognition, Stites announced his retirement. A certificated pilot and a nonprofit executive and aviation media figure, Stites formed partnerships with various universities, including Purdue University which trained members of Able Flight's 2023 class, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2024. Sites said SIU will take over management of the Able Flight program.

The new pilots celebrated on the AirVenture stage all trained at SIU in an intensive eight-week program that began on May 23 and culminated in their checkrides in early July. The students trained in two adapted Vashon Ranger training aircraft.

Since 2006, Able Flight has provided more than 130 scholarships—including flight and career training scholarships—and has helped more than two dozen wounded and/or disabled veterans earn their pilot certificates.