Grounded No More is an Arizona-based nonprofit that offers free flights to veterans in Amazing Grace, a 1943 Fairchild PT-26. Started more than eight years ago by Anthony Anger, EAA 1127334, Grounded No More has now given almost 600 veterans a day filled with recognition, camaraderie, and, of course, a fun flight in a classic WWII trainer, all thanks to an amazing group of volunteers.
Anthony’s inspiration to start offering free flights came during his time flying B-17s for the Commemorative Air Force. A young man wanted to memorialize his grandfather who had passed away while he was deployed in Iraq; his grandfather flew in B-17s during WWII. The young man realized his misunderstanding, though, when he saw the price tag for a flight was $425 rather than $42.50! Anthony felt for the young man and offered him a ride in his own airplane. Anthony, who is a minister, thought back to that inspiring flight, “I said it was an accidental ministry… I was so moved by it. We got back to the hangar, and he was telling me stories about his grandfather, and I was telling my dad’s stories… I said, ‘I want more of this.’”
Many veterans that visit Grounded No More struggle with depression or PTSD, so the flight is an opportunity to show them some fun, and the rest of the day to remind them they are not alone. “[Much of] PTSD comes from an adrenaline rush… but an adrenaline rush can be for something positive as well,” Anthony explained. He always asks if his passenger likes roller coasters, and if he gets a yes, he shows them maneuvers that WWII pilot trainees would have experienced on their first day of flight training. On top of the maneuvers, Anthony gives the veterans a tour of the Superstition Mountains and shares the rich history of Amazing Grace while in the air.
When a veteran comes to Grounded No More, it’s not just the flight that offers healing. “We do a little ceremony before the flight, and we usually have a flag line for them to walk out and we do the Pledge of Allegiance. We say a prayer before we go and make it almost like a miliary mission,” Anthony shared. “Then we go do the flight. We come back and we usually have a little buffet set up… and basically just sit around and talk.” Many volunteers are veterans themselves, so their guests usually feel more comfortable talking about their experiences. At the end of the day, veterans are sent home with gifts put together by volunteers including a “package from home,” among others like thank-you letters from local Girl Scouts and a hand-crocheted American flag.
Many veterans reach out after their day at Grounded No More with stories of how the experience helped them. Some think about their flight when they are having a bad day. Some were reminded that people care about them in a time when they desperately needed it. “It’s overwhelming the changes you see in people when they come out and experience this, and the families as well,” Anthony expressed. “I call it an accidental ministry because I just felt God working in my life. … We’ve had miracle after miracle, and it blows me away. We’ll be right down to our last $10, and then somebody will donate a thousand dollars, and that pays the hangar rent and the food we give.”
In addition to veteran flights in the PT-26, Grounded No More hopes to have their IAR-823, a four-place Romanian military trainer, airworthy soon to offer free flights to Gold Star families. Anthony would love to see Grounded No More grow and go nationwide, but for now he feels blessed with the hundreds people he has been able to help. “We give all glory to God for everything that we’ve done, and it’s just amazing what we have accomplished through him.”