Free shipping in the U.S. — Click here for details .
Sign in Join now
Lightspeed AviationLightspeed AviationLightspeed AviationLightspeed Aviation
    0
  •   was successfully added to your cart.
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Headsets
    • ANR for Helmets
    • Flight Bags
    • Accessories
    • Survival
    • Lightspeed App
    • FlightLink App
    • Authorized Dealers
    • Trade Up Program
  • About
    • About Lightspeed
    • Programs
    • Lightspeed Delta Zulu Saves Lives
    • Awards and Accolades
    • Patents
    • Lightspeed Foundation
    • Careers
    • Associations
  • Community
    • All Posts
    • Blog Posts
    • Events
    • News
    • Sponsorships
  • Support
    • Customer Support
    • Repair Request
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Shipping and Return Policies
  • Contact
    • Contact Lightspeed
    • Authorized Dealers
    • Donation Requests
    • Media Kit
Sign in / Create Account

Veteran’s Airlift Command Pilots Serve Those Who Served

    Home Blog Posts Veteran’s Airlift Command Pilots Serve Those Who Served
    NextPrevious

    Veteran’s Airlift Command Pilots Serve Those Who Served

    By Lightspeed Aviation | Blog Posts | 0 comment | 30 May, 2023 | 14

    Service to our country can come with a high price. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than a third (1.5 million) of the nearly 3.8 million men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since September 2001 have a service-connected disability. The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) was founded to help repay our debt to these heroes. VAC provides free, private air transportation to our nation’s combat injured veterans for medical or other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.

    VAC was founded by Walt Fricke, a decorated Army aviator who flew hundreds of missions as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam. After a rocket exploded while his unit was prepping a landing zone, he spent six months in a hospital far from home, so he knows firsthand the difficulties that combat wounded face. He was flown back to the U.S. on Veteran’s Day and delivered to a hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky, 700 miles from home. His working-class family didn’t have the resources to fly out right away and spend time with him, so the wounded 20-year-old was left by himself to deal with the possibility of losing his leg and anxiety so bad he couldn’t eat. Fricke’s story had a happy ending: eventually, his family was able to come visit him, he began to heal, his foot and leg were saved, and he went on to have successful career at General Motors.

    Fast-forward almost 40 years to 2006. The U.S. was again at war overseas, this time with Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Fricke had just retired from General Motors. He says “The hospitals were filling up with wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan, and I had an airplane. I thought, ‘You know, that problem that I had as a wounded kid, getting my family there and getting home on convalescent leave, I could solve that for somebody with my airplane.’” He talked to the Veteran’s Administration and started looking for military families that needed a ride. Then a friend challenged him to take the idea national, and VAC was born. Today, VAC has 2,700 volunteer pilots who have flown over 20,000 passengers in support of wounded veterans.

    “Our pilots support veterans who, in many cases, have lifelong challenges as a result of their willingness to go and serve on our behalf. We have the freedom to fly our airplanes because of what these people have done for us over the last 100 years. Our pilots have a chance to sign a thank-you note with their airplanes to our combat veterans.”

    Walt Fricke

    VAC flights are 100% donated, mostly by pilots using their own planes, although some owners and businesses also donate the use of their aircraft. VAC missions often exceed 250 miles, so the organization looks for either multi-engine or high-performance single-engine aircraft that can seat at least 4 people. Volunteer pilots must have their IFR certification. Fricke guesses that 30–40% of VAC’s pilots are ex-military, but he points out that, “All the people that fly for us are serving their country. Clearly, they are patriots.”

    Download the FREE eBook Flying For Compassion Now!

    Fricke says he’ll never forget the first VAC flight. There was a Marine who had been wounded in Afghanistan. He was home on convalescent leave when his unit returned to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, from the desert. Fricke says, “For these young Marines, the unit becomes their family, and seeing that family again is a huge part of the healing process.” Fricke had just launched his new website when the Department of Defense called him for help. The Marine had a frequent flyer ticket, but the trip would have taken 13 hours on commercial flights, and the young man was in a wheelchair and exhausted. So, Walt put out an email to eight pilot friends, and five volunteered for the trip.  The Marine was transported in comfort, and the trip took only two and a half hours. After the flight, one of the pilots posted something on a chat list, and Walt instantly had 20 more pilot volunteers. He says, “I knew then we had something that would capture people’s hearts and they would want to do it. Sometimes I think our pilots get even more out of it than our passengers do.”

    Fricke says the dedication of VAC volunteers is humbling. “Some pilots will fly a veteran across the country and fly back deadhead. One time, we had a Marine private in D.C. who wanted to get to San Diego to see his unit before they were shipped back overseas. A volunteer who was an ex-Marine sent his Gulfstream jet with crew to fly the Marine to the gathering, flew the crew back to Tampa, Florida, on commercial flights at his own expense, and then flew them back to San Diego a few days later to pick up the Marine and take him home.” Volunteering can also be life-changing for VAC pilots. “It starts with volunteer flying, and then they find other ways to get involved. For example, one of our pilots told me he couldn’t fly a mission because he had a business meeting that he’d been trying to book for six months. I told him, ‘In 10 years, you won’t be able to tell me what that meeting was. But if you do this flight, in 10 years, it will have changed your life.’ Since then, he’s not only flown hundreds of missions for us, he’s also set up his own foundation and has raised over $20 million to build homes and provide other support for combat-wounded veterans.”

    Another early mission showed Fricke how VAC flights provide veterans with much more than transportation. An Army Special Forces veteran had lost his legs and gotten prosthetics at Walter Reed Hospital. He wanted to go to Minnesota to go fishing with his father, so VAC offered him a ride. With his new prosthetics, he was having difficulty getting up the steps into the King Air. He had to turn around and sit on the floor, with Fricke behind to make sure he didn’t fall. “This is a Green Beret with over 20 years in service, who had done nine tours in Iraq. A top-of-the-spear kind of guy, and he’s struggling to get into the airplane. A commercial airline could have provided special accommodations, and I wondered if we were doing the right thing. So, I asked him, ‘How does this compare with a first-class seat on a commercial flight?’ He broke down and a tear ran down his cheeks. He said, ‘This is a billion times better because I know you guys love me. I’m not just a number or a piece of baggage.’ Right then, I knew we were doing the right thing. These people would need transportation for the rest of their lives, and we were going to provide it.” In Fricke’s mind, there’s no greater privilege than flying combat-wounded veterans. “Our pilots volunteer out of a sense of patriotism and support for veterans who, in many cases, have lifelong challenges as a result of their willingness to go and serve on our behalf. We have the freedom to fly our airplanes because of what these people have done for us over the last 100 years. Our pilots have a chance to sign a thank-you note with their airplanes to our combat veterans.”

    ANR, Flying for Compassion, GA, philanthropy, service work, VA, Veterans Airlift Command, Veterean's Administration

    Lightspeed Aviation

    Lightspeed Aviation is a leading manufacturer of premium aviation headsets and helmet products. Since the first product was introduced in 1996 at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI., the company has established a reputation for leading innovation in the aviation headset marketplace with a number of “first to market” advances, technologies, and features. In 2022, the company launched a new category of aviation products called “Safety Wearables”. Layering life-saving technologies on top of their award-winning audio and ANR platform, Lightspeed ushered in a new era of aviation safety. With this, the company continues to live its mission of “creating products that protect and save lives”. Additionally, Lightspeed is a passionate supporter of initiatives to encourage the next generation of pilots through its support of programs like Young Eagles and Ray Scholars. The company is proud to have participated in helping countless young people experience everything from a discovery flight to getting a Pilot Certificate.

    More posts by Lightspeed Aviation

    Related Posts

    • One year anniversary of the lifesaving Lightspeed Delta Zulu safety platform

      By Lightspeed Aviation | 0 comment

      LAKE OSWEGO, OREGON, SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 Lightspeed Aviation is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its flagship safety headset, the Lightspeed Delta Zulu™ this month. Since September 2022, over 10,000 pilots have benefited from the multitudeRead more

    • EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program reaches 400 pilots

      By Lightspeed Aviation | 0 comment

      More than 80 percent completion rate since 2019 EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (September 13, 2023) — The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program continues to make a difference for young people pursuing aviation dreams,Read more

    • Profiles in Early Flight – Ray Scholar Stories September 2023

      By Lightspeed Aviation | 0 comment

      Lightspeed Aviation has been a proud supporter of the Ray Scholarship for many years. Over 300 young pilots have had the opportunity to successfully follow their aviation dreams due in part to sponsors of thisRead more

    • Q&A with World Record Breaker Dan Moore

      By Lightspeed Aviation | 0 comment

      Live from the grounds of AirVenture 2023 in Oshkosh, WI, we had the wonderful chance to talk with Dan Moore one day after he set the Guiness World Record for stopping in the most statesRead more

    • A Technical Dive into Delta Zulu: Part Two – the benefit, the future, and the surprises

      By Lightspeed Aviation | 2 comments

      Recently, we talked to Brian Frost , Lightspeed’s Executive Vice President of Product Innovation and Quality, for a behind-the-scenes look at why and how the Delta Zulu ANR headset came to be. He told us howRead more

    Leave a Comment

    Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    NextPrevious

    Recent Posts

    • One year anniversary of the lifesaving Lightspeed Delta Zulu safety platform
    • EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program reaches 400 pilots
    • Profiles in Early Flight – Ray Scholar Stories September 2023
    • Q&A with World Record Breaker Dan Moore
    • A Technical Dive into Delta Zulu: Part Two – the benefit, the future, and the surprises

    Join Our Newsletter




      Top Rated Products

      • Zulu 3 - Pilot Headset - LightspeedAviation.com Zulu 3 ANR Headset
        Rated 5.00 out of 5
        $899.00
      • Markham Flight Bag - LightspeedAviation.com Markham Flight Bag
        Rated 5.00 out of 5
        $249.00
      • Sierra® ANR Headset - Pilot Headsets - LightspeedAviation.com Sierra® ANR Headset
        Rated 4.86 out of 5
        $699.00

      Lightspeed Aviation, the leader in wearable ANR technology for pilots, operates with a simple strategy: know your customer well and remain committed to relentless product evolution. At Lightspeed, everything we do is in service to our customer and our products push performance to the edge of technological possibilities.

      Stay Updated – Sign Up Here




        Information

        • Contact
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Privacy Policy
        • Shop
        • About
        • Community
        • Contact
        © Copyright 2022 | All Rights Reserved
        • Shop
          • All Products
          • Headsets
          • ANR for Helmets
          • Flight Bags
          • Accessories
          • Survival
          • Lightspeed App
          • FlightLink App
          • Authorized Dealers
          • Trade Up Program
        • About
          • About Lightspeed
          • Programs
          • Lightspeed Delta Zulu Saves Lives
          • Awards and Accolades
          • Patents
          • Lightspeed Foundation
          • Careers
          • Associations
        • Community
          • All Posts
          • Blog Posts
          • Events
          • News
          • Sponsorships
        • Support
          • Customer Support
          • Repair Request
          • Frequently Asked Questions
          • Shipping and Return Policies
        • Contact
          • Contact Lightspeed
          • Authorized Dealers
          • Donation Requests
          • Media Kit
        Lightspeed Aviation
          0 items
        We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
        Do not sell my personal information.
        Cookie SettingsAccept
        Manage consent

        Privacy Overview

        This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
        Essential
        Always Enabled
        These cookies are necessary for the basic functioning of our website and enable you to access secure areas, navigate around the site, and use its features. Without these cookies, some services you've asked for can't be provided.
        CookieDurationDescription
        __cfruidsessionCloudflare sets this cookie to identify trusted web traffic.
        __hssrcsessionThis cookie is set by Hubspot whenever it changes the session cookie. The __hssrc cookie set to 1 indicates that the user has restarted the browser, and if the cookie does not exist, it is assumed to be a new session.
        _GRECAPTCHA5 months 27 daysThis cookie is set by the Google recaptcha service to identify bots to protect the website against malicious spam attacks.
        ci_session2 hoursThis cookie is set as default session Cookie name in config.php in config folder in CodeIgniter.
        cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
        cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
        cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
        cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
        cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
        cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
        JSESSIONIDsessionThe JSESSIONID cookie is used by New Relic to store a session identifier so that New Relic can monitor session counts for an application.
        PHPSESSIDsessionThis cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
        viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
        Functional
        These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or the region you're in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you've made to text size, fonts, and other customizable elements of the web pages. They may also be used to provide services you've asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog.
        CookieDurationDescription
        __cf_bm30 minutesThis cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management.
        __hssc30 minutesHubSpot sets this cookie to keep track of sessions and to determine if HubSpot should increment the session number and timestamps in the __hstc cookie.
        Analytics
        Analytical cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information that is used in an aggregated form to analyze trends and patterns. This helps us optimize the website's layout, content, and overall user experience.
        CookieDurationDescription
        __hstc1 year 24 daysThis is the main cookie set by Hubspot, for tracking visitors. It contains the domain, initial timestamp (first visit), last timestamp (last visit), current timestamp (this visit), and session number (increments for each subsequent session).
        _ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
        _gat_gtag_UA_28458117_11 minuteSet by Google to distinguish users.
        _gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
        CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
        hubspotutk1 year 24 daysHubSpot sets this cookie to keep track of the visitors to the website. This cookie is passed to HubSpot on form submission and used when deduplicating contacts.
        Targeting or Advertising Cookies
        These cookies are used to deliver ads more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organizations such as advertisers.
        CookieDurationDescription
        _fbp3 monthsThis cookie is set by Facebook to display advertisements when either on Facebook or on a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising, after visiting the website.
        fr3 monthsFacebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin.
        VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysA cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
        YSCsessionYSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
        yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
        yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
        yt.innertube::nextIdneverThis cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
        yt.innertube::requestsneverThis cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
        Others
        Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
        CookieDurationDescription
        ppwp_wp_session30 minutesNo description
        Save & Accept