By Angela Satterlee
The pink airplane that can be spotted from around the grounds is the first of its kind, making its world debut at AirVenture 2024. With a fresh pink paint job only 1 week old, the L-39 Albatros is already attracting many viewers on the runway.
On Friday, Make-A-Wish sponsored a young 8-year-old boy to meet Heather Penney and for a cabin climb in the pink Albatros.
“The Pink Jet” is not just a pretty airplane; it is also a symbol for every woman struggling with breast cancer. Steve Oakley, EAA 1417153, is the founder of Aerial Angels out of Burbank, California, with his wife, Jamie Oakley, EAA 1417154. The nonprofit organization supports awareness for breast cancer and encourages early detection and screening for young women.
The inspiration for the organization sparked from a client Steve had while working as a trust attorney who was a breast cancer radiologist for 25 years. “One day she said, ‘I’ve checked and examined thousands and thousands of women. I found out today I have Stage 3 breast cancer,’” Steve expressed. “She went through a double mastectomy.”
Steve said it would be impossible for him and his wife to do this alone. They have been blessed with donations and are supported by countless volunteers who dedicate their time to the cause. The pink paint job was donated by Barbara Baldwin from Dean Baldwin Painting, and a line of women pilots were eager to help as well, including Heather Penney, Vicky Benzing, and Stephanie Goetz.
“A lot of people put in a lot of love, talent, skill, and time, and they’re bringing this to life,” Steve explained. “We’re just so proud of all the people who have helped and its mission. If we can save one life, then it’s all worth it.”
Stephanie was in charge of flying the jet to Oshkosh for the grand debut and is inspired by the cause it is supporting. The Pink Jet is for breast cancer awareness, but it’s also a symbol to young women in aviation that you can be girly and still be strong.
As a pilot, Stephanie is proud to fly in the air shows and to “show this as really a beacon of hope and strength and inspiration for those who are struggling with breast cancer, those who have loved ones who have it, or those who know someone who does,” she explained.
“A lot of young girls (and boys) are drawn to this,” Stephanie said. “I see them running across the ramp over here (saying), ‘Pink, Mommy, I want to see that.’”
“We have two daughters ourselves, and we’ve always tried to empower them, let them know that there’s no roadblock,” Steve said. “You can do anything you want. The only block is in (your mind), and you’re the only one who can remove that.”
To repurpose the airplane from a typical fighter jet, a weapon of war, to a weapon of peace was an obvious choice for Steve and Aerial Angels, making something for young girls to believe in. “Now it flies as a symbol of strength, hope, compassion, and resilience, which personifies people who are battling breast cancer,” he said.