Dear Friends
 
As the President of the Board of Trustees of Challenge Air, let me tell you that we really want to fly kids but we still have to wait on the virus to stop infecting people. Even so, we are excited about a new program that we are working on to fly by virtual means without the fear of getting the virus. The method is safe and lets you use a mobile device at home with a pair of 3D virtual glasses. You get to enjoy the gift of flight without leaving your home. It is a program that is still in the process of getting put together but it is something that will be really fun for you to use. As this gets working, we will reach out to you. In the meantime, stay with us, stay safe, and stay tuned. For now, over and out.
 
Griffin W. Collie
President, Board of Trustees
Challenge Air for Kids and Friends, Inc.
Autism and a Love for Aviation
We have teamed up with Dallas based flight attendant @jettingjulia as she shares our story of how Rick Amber founded Challenge Air and the amazing experience of two of our co-pilots, Tommy and Jimmie Crisp, now 19 year old freshman in college. Watch to see Julia's perspective on Challenge Air.
Pilot Spotlight: David Newton
David has been flying since 1975. He started in General Aviation, flew corporate and on-demand charter, but for the last 33 years, he has been an airline pilot.

He and his wife, Diane, own a Piper Saratoga. It is a 6-seat, retractable gear, single-engine aircraft.

He has flown all over Texas and has been as far as the Bahamas, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire/Vermont. But their favorite places to fly are to visit family in St. Louis and to Hammond, LA to visit their favorite Pilots-N-Paws Coordinators when saving the lives of innocent dogs.
Stories from the Cockpit
"In 2005 on perhaps my second Challenge Air fly day I flew Joshua, a 7-year-old, in the right seat and Dad was in the back. For whatever reason, I didn’t get his medical condition or simply forgot. It wasn’t until we were airborne and I was pointing out a few sights that Dad tapped me on the shoulder and said Joshua was mostly blind. Boy, did I feel dumb? Instead, we turned the flight into a flying lesson for Joshua. Instead of using the horizon, I told him how to use his other senses and about applying pressure on the control yoke to fly the airplane, when applying just a little bit of bank the airplane will return on its own to level flight, how the noise of the engine changed when pitching up or down, etc. Then I turned the airplane over to Joshua. I didn’t touch the airplane for the next 20 minutes. Joshua was flying it all by himself … and without being able to see well at all! To this day he has been the best Challenge Air co-pilot I have ever had the honor to fly with."
-David Newton (Volunteer Pilot)
Support Our Co-Pilots
Join Challenge Air in lifting up children with special needs to new heights.

Families, if you missed an opportunity to get a T-shirt this year for your child, now is your chance. As an added bonus, a portion of your purchase helps support the Challenge Air mission.

Volunteers and pilots show your support too. These T-shirts are available in both youth and adult sizes (up to 3x).

You can make a purchase through our partner's site  here .
You can now support Challenge Air for Kids & Friends in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
  1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
  2. Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
  3. Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process

If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click  here  for instructions.
We have partnered with Coach Specialists out of Texas. They are a well established, family owned and operated elite coach and RV repair service. They specialize in RV’s, Box Trucks, Food Trucks, Sprinter Vans (all makes) and Commercial Vehicles. 

For a limited time, Coach Specialists will donate $50 on behalf of you or your business for any repair or service invoiced at $1500 or more. 

To ensure Challenge Air gets credit, please reference our charity when making an appointment.

We are so grateful for this partnership. To learn more or schedule an appointment, please email leads@coachspecialists.com or call a location below:
Plano: 972-516-2222
Mansfield: 817-842-1144
Your wings already exist, all you have to do is FLY.
Meet Danielle Rodgers, Digital Marketing Manager
Danielle joined the Challenge Air team late last year in her role of marketing. She enjoys telling stories of those impacted by the organization. 
 
Prior to her role at Challenge Air, Danielle ran Brand Marketing for Angelcare, a global manufacturer within the juvenile industry, as well as working within several other industries throughout her two-decade-long career. She is a firm believer in the quote: "The things you are most passionate about are not random, they are your calling," by Fabienne Fredrickson.  
She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University with a concentration in Marketing. Danielle's secondary choice of study was Psychology. Although choosing the path of marketing, her desire has always been to work with children with autism. 

Danielle is an advocate of the Villages, her state's largest not-for-profit child and family services agency as well as, a long time supporter of the Indiana Hands and Voices, a local organization that supports families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

In her free time, you will find her enjoying time with family, gardening, and assisting her husband in remodeling their 1950's mid-century home. She currently resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Scott, 9-year-old son, Noah, and 1-year-old Springer Spaniel puppy named Josie. 
Let's Be Social
#Givekidswings