Lillian Lewis waited anxiously on the ground Wednesday as her husband of 65 years was strapped into a 1940 Boeing Stearman biplane soaring high above Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie.

Jesse Lewis, 85, taking a break from his chemotherapy treatments for throat cancer, put on his flight suit and jacket for a rare chance to relive his years as a Navy pilot.

"He wouldn't have missed this for anything," Lillian Lewis said.

Jesse Lewis and 10 other seniors took to the stormy skies as part of the Ageless Aviation Dream Flights, which offers nostalgic flights to veterans and seniors. The nonprofit organization provided flights to residents receiving long-term care in the Benedictine System Health facilities and New Perspectives-Lighthouse communities. Just a couple weeks ago, the foundation celebrated its 1,000th flight with veterans at the Lakeville airport.

With the support of donors, the foundation helped the seniors live out their flying dreams.

One participant was a bit hesitant to board the biplane. Before Anita Pearson was helped out of her wheelchair into the plane, she was jokingly trying to convince spectators to take her place.

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Anita Pearson, 98, was a riveter in Chicago during World War II.

The 98-year-old was used to working on planes, but not flying in them. She worked in the 1940s as a mechanic on planes delivering mail to the South Pacific. Pearson arrived to the event wearing a red bandanna that her granddaughter had tied around her head to suggest the iconic American World War II symbol, Rosie the Riveter.

Her great-grandchildren took the day off school to see their "grandma-great" fly.

After about a 20-minute flight around the Eden Prairie airport, the pilot returned to the hangar with Pearson, who gave her family a thumbs up.

When asked what she liked most about the flight, Pearson jokingly said it was the landing.

"She was a little apprehensive, but when we got up there I could see her relax," said Darryl Fisher, the pilot and founder of Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation.

Fisher said flying the seniors and veterans was an emotional experience. A veteran teared up when he told Fisher that he couldn't believe he was able to fly in a historic airplane again.

For Jesse Lewis, the moment is a gift that tops them all.

"He's not going to shut up the whole way home," his wife said.

Beatrice Dupuy • 612-673-1707