Article (with annoying auto-play ad).
The music is Over The Rainbow, performed by Israel ‘IZ’ Kamakawiwo’ole.
Thank you.
(Pass the tissues, please.)
There’s something in my eye.
Very cool, it looks like she had a blast!
I’ve always liked that Israel Kamakawiwo’ole was o.k. with being called “Iz” . . . because, yeah, it’s his first name that we can’t pronounce. Thanks, Iz.
That was a great video, Johnny L.A.. Thanks for sharing.
Oh god, she has such a wonderful family. Great video.
I’d like to be ‘that guy’, the pilot who fulfils wishes like this. I’m sure there are people in hospice, or terminally-ill children who have never been in a helicopter and want to. But until I win the lottery, I have to rent a helicopter. And I can’t afford to do that.
Dorothy. Kansas. Over the rainbow.
Wow!
That was very cool.
I’m plane-less at the moment, but I do have some bikes, and one with a sidecar. It’s a Ural, a Russian POS that garners a great deal of attention wherever I park it.
I have to stop and explain it to everyone, all the time, and I give people rides around the Home Depot or Publix parking lot all the time. A lot of WWII widows and kids whose husband or dad had one after the war.
I once met a couple who brought their severely MS-disabled son in a wheelchair over to see the bike. The boy was about 12, and pretty uncommunicative, unable to move himself in any way, but he was staring at the bike something hard. I suggested to his parents that perhaps he’d like a ride, and after a bit of reassuring, Dad set him in the sidecar, and off we rolled.
Sorry. Something in my eye.
I wish I could describe the mother’s face as we rolled by her, with her son smiling and actually laughing. Both parents were crying when we were finished, and when she told me she had never seen her boy smile or laugh, I lost it too.
The immeasurable joy they got from such a simple thing has remained with me for years, and drove me to get some friends together with their rigs and do the same for other disabled kids a couple of times a year. They all have fun, and everyone is grateful, but I’ve never seen another reaction, nor given as precious a gift as that first time I did it. His mom told me that it was surely the highlight of his life, and she could never repay me.
I told her honestly, there’s no need.
My maternal grandfather had an aunt I remember visiting. As a 90+ year old woman she expressed a desire to ride on a motorcycle, so my dad took her out.
I love stories like that.
Wonderful video. The sparkle in the lady’s eye after landing was pretty special. She obviously had a wonderful time that day.
Awesome story, ducati. You rock.