Freedom's Wings International (FWI) is a non-profit organization run by and for people with physical disabilities. We provide the opportunity for those who are physically challenged to fly in specially adapted sailplanes, either as a passenger or as a member of the flight training program.
 
The purpose of Freedom's Wings International is to bring the world of soaring to disabled persons by:

• Exposing persons with disabilities to the soaring experience
• Teaching qualified persons with disabilities to soar
• Providing facilities for soaring to those persons with disabilities able to soar
• Providing training for instructors, ground crew, and flying students
• Providing a non-profit educational and fraternal organization
• Serving as a resource and model for other organizations with similar intent

FWI works closely with local and national organizations for people with physical disabilities and encourages organizations to learn more about our programs.

Please email, call or write Freedom's Wings International:

• president
• (800) 382-1197
• Freedom's Wings International Inc.
  324 Charles Street, Apt #25
  Coopersburg, PA 18036

See the Links page for contact information about Freedom's Wings Florida and Freedom's Wings Canada.

Freedom's Wings International is an all volunteer organization utilizing the skills of both disabled and able bodied members. We welcome the participation of all interested, caring people.

• Inspiration flight pilots
• Ground operations
• Fundraising
• Community Outreach/Education
• Volunteer recruitment
• Scheduling

Freedom's Wings members share their experiences.

• Richard Fucci recounts his start with Freedom's Wings International.
• Krzysztof (Chris) Lapinski writes about his return to aviation.
• Jennifer Branda recounts her instruction flight with Freedom's Wings founder Irv Soble and visit the Video Gallery section below to view her video "Chair".
• Santina Muha gathers her courage to go for her first glider ride. Read about it in her article reprinted from SCILife.
• Marlowe Horn writes about her experience with a sister organization - Freedom's Wings Canada.
• Tom Cannalonga details his flight with FWI in 2001. Here's a link to his fantastic article with photos on every aspect of his experience. And be sure to visit his website if you're a skier!
• NBC News correspondent, Mike Taibbi wrote a beautiful piece about accompanying FWI on one of our outreach events at Mid-Atlantic Soaring. Go to our Video Gallery section below to view the videos of Mike's interview featured on the NBC Nightly News.

The mission of Freedom's Wings International (FWI) is to provide soaring opportunities for persons with disabilities. FWI depends entirely upon the generosity of our members and the organizations and friends who support our activites.

There are many ways that you can help.

You can volunteer your time.

You can provide a financial donation.

You can support us by using GoodSearch and GoodShop in your day to day activities on the internet. Here is how:

You can help us a lot by using Good Search instead of your usual internet search engine. Every time you search the internet, Freedom’s Wings gets a penny. It’s not much, but it adds up. So far this year, we made $30.00. If you contribute, this will accumulate even faster. Here’s how:
1) Click on this Link: GoodSearch.
2) Follow the directions to add Good Search to your browser’s tool bar.

If you shop on the internet, use Good Shop to link to your favorite sites. (Freedom’s Wings is working on getting some of your favorite soaring suppliers on Good Shop).
1) Just go to this link GoodShop.
2) Follow the directions to add Good Shop to your browser’s tool bar.

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A special plea for your financial support.

Your financial support of FWI is more important than ever before. We urge you to be generous in helping us. Your contribution, in any amount, will be most gratefully appreciated. Every dime that we receive goes right back into the FWI program and into the maintenance and operation of our fleet of two aircraft.

Persons already making donations to the United Way Campaign, can designate FWI as a recipient.

For those of you who have enjoyed flying with us, we suggest that you provide information about FWI to the various organizations you do business with. Perhaps they would be inclined to support us as well. Don't forget that we are a non-profit organization, recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, any contribution you make to us is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Thank you from all of us who care so deeply about Freedom's Wings International and for helping us meet our obligations and future objectives.

 

Soaring is the adventure into the world of silent flight. Sailplanes, or gliders, are special aircraft which have no engines. Sailplanes are towed into the sky by a regular airplane and then released for a quiet glide back to the airport or when conditions permit, sailplane pilots challenge gravity using natural currents in the air. An introductory flight generally lasts 20 minutes while an instructional flight, where pilot and student are working to gain altitude by riding rising thermal currents, may last for as long as two hours.

Freedom's Wings International operates their fleet of sailplanes out of Van Sant Airport in Erwinna, PA and Blairstown Airport in Blairstown,NJ. Please contact us to schedule a flight. At that time, you can discuss any special requirements for assistance on the ground or when transferring to the aircraft. An introductory flight for persons with disabilities is free. For subsequent flights or flights for able-bodied companions, all you pay is the airport's flight tow fee.

Click here for an online ride-release waver form.

Flying sessions are scheduled seven days a week, weather permitting. Freedom's Wings International operates several specially adapted sailplanes in it's entry-level and graduate level flying program. Potential students are screened by flight instructors certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and receive ground instruction using FAA approved curricula. The flying season runs from April 1 to December 1 each year. Students from coast to coast and and other countries have participated in our program. In addition, a limited number of scholarships are available upon approval of the board of directors.

Membership is open to all applicants without regard to a person's race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual persuasion, national origin, handicap, or medical condition. Membership is renewable March 1st of each year.

Click here for an online membership form. Click here to review the minutes from our last board meeting.

Our sailplanes can be partially disassembled for easy transport in a special trailer. In concert with various organizations serving people with disabilities, we pack up our equipment and co-host "Freedom Flight" events at other soaring clubs and airports. Our mission is to provide the opportunity for people in the surrounding area to experience glider flight and to encourage the local soaring clubs to equip themselves to welcome participation of people with disabilities. Contact us to explore the possibilities.

2009 Board Meetings

Members welcome to attend.
April 18; July 18; October 17
All meetings are on Saturdays, beginning at 10:30 AM and will be held at the Warren County Library, 4 Lambert Road, Blairstown, NJ 08725. Phone Number: (908) 362-8335 Click here to visit the website.

 

General Membership Meeting

The next General Membership Meeting will be held March 20, 2010 - same place and time as the above.

 

The Freedom's Wings Picnic

This years picnic will be September 12, 2009 at either Van Sant or Blairstown... to be announced.

2009 Introductory Glider Ride Events

These events offer introductory glider rides to persons with disabilities. They are scheduled as follows:

• Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7 - at Philadelphia Glider Council in Hilltown PA
• Friday September 11 at Van Sant or Blairstown for Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital
• Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25 at Mid-Altlantic Soaring Association in Fairfield, PA

The Rain dates for all events are the following week.

Freedom's Wings is over 20 years old and has hosted many events in the past but until now we have not documented them. We look forward to sharing them with you on our website in the future.

• Freedom Flight May 20th & 21st 2006
• Freedom Flight June 2nd & 3rd 2007

Freedom's Wings member newsletter.

• March 2009

Videos featuring Freedom's Wings.

• NBC Nightly News recently featured Freedom's Wings in their "Making a Difference" segment. NBC News correspondent, Mike Taibbi interviewed FWI officers Richard Fucci and Bill Murphy at an outreach event co-hosted with Mid-Atlantic Soaring. The links provided here will take you to the MSNBC video website but you'll need to be patient while a very brief advertisement plays first. Click here to view the video broadcast nationally on the NBS Nightly News with Brian Williams and click here to view a companion piece with Richard explaining the operation of a glider and how pilots with disabilities operate FWI's specially modified gliders. Mike's NBC blog entry for the event can be viewed here.
• Freedom's Wings member Jennifer Branda shares her passion for flying in her inspiring video "Chair". Click here to view it.