Press Releases

Redlands, CA, Saturday, July 09, 2005

Redlands is Lift Off for African Aids Awareness
- Next stop Bangor, Maine

The “Flight of the Spirit of Charles Kean” departed from Redlands Airport, Saturday July 9th, at 10 a.m. on their eastbound journey that will take them around the world. A crowd of nearly 500 supporters gathered to meet the pilots, see the plane and wish pilot Ron Maines, and navigator, local Redlands businessman, David Maupin, Godspeed. The Redlands Community band, conducted by Curtis Allen, provided a colorful and rousing medley of patriotic music, including the “Navy Hymn”.

The departure ceremony, hosted by immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Redlands, Cal Boothly, included the Rotary Charge of "Service Above Self", delivered by Doug Baker, President of the Downey Rotary Club; "Greetings from Kenya" from Doug Millham, CEO of The Shepherd's Home; a description of the "Unique Partnership of Rotary and the Shepherd's Home" by spokesperson Stephanie Edwards; "The Spirit Continues", delivered by the daughter of Charles Kean, Nicola Kean; introduction of the flight crew, David Maupin and Ron Maines; and the Benediction given by Rotary Club member Orve Nease.

After embraces, well wishes, and photos, the crew climbed into their small 1980 Cessna Turbo 210, and started the engines. Marshaled off the ramp to the taxiway, by American Airlines pilot and longtime friend, Mike Kobold, they taxied onto the runway, turned west into a slight breeze, paused briefly to rev their engines, received clearance, and then began a slow and laborious takeoff. The Cessna, fitted with an internal 200 gallon fuel tank, to augment its standard 50 gallon tanks, was close to overweight. Read more about the plane and the project at www.Quartersforkenya.org.
The pilots have targeted Bangor, Maine as their next stop, and jumping off city for their trans-Atlantic flight.

Return to the www.Quartersforkenya.org website as we provide daily updates to the progress of the flight.

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