From behind the controls of his Cessna, Steve Wendling scanned the skies for a break in the clouds above.
"We'll punch up through there," he said, pointing to a gleam of blue beyond his propeller.
His mask mission was a go.
Wednesday, Wendling flew a load of 3,000 reusable fabric facemasks up to Chillicothe, a town of 9,515 northwest of Fulton, for distribution to area military veterans. On wheels, it's about a 2.25 hour drive - but it's just 35 minutes away on wings.
This flight was his second with the new "Mask A Vet" initiative. With help from Fulton's Kingdom Pilots Association, "Mask a Vet" aims to deliver at least 150,000 reusable facemasks to veterans all over the state. The mission is Columbia-based United States Exercise Tiger Foundation's (USTF) largest-ever humanitarian effort. USTF National Executive Director Susan Haines has described it as an "air war against COVID-19."
The first forays in this "war" occurred Sept. 14 and 15, with three flights to Hannibal, Lee's Summit and Poplar Bluff.
"By the end of this week we'll have distributed 70,000 masks," Haines said Wednesday. "20,000 were distributed to the Truman VA Hospital Monday morning. Dave Hollabaugh delivers 3,500 to Springfield Thursday; another 3,000 will be delivered to Rolla on Friday and 2,500 to a veterans group in Branson on Saturday."
The KPA got involved through its connections to Haines, who's the association's treasurer and knew KPA's pilots were tired of being grounded. When she reached out to request help delivering the masks, multiple members of the KPA All Volunteer Group jumped at the chance.
Wendling made the Lee's Summit delivery.
"They were so pleased with it, they wanted to let (the KPA) know to contact them when we do our annual pancake breakfast, and they'll be there," Wendling said. "In fact, anyone I've mentioned it to has thought it was a great idea."
He added after hearing about the program, Vantage Realty in Columbia pledged to donate $250 toward the KPA's scholarship fund - each year the club helps pay for area youths to take flying lessons.
Taking flight
While waiting for the sky to clear up (Wendling's still working on his instrument rating, which will allow him to fly in heavy clouds, rain and fog), Wendling chatted about his history with flying.
"Any excuse to fly is pretty nice," he said. "I've wanted to fly since I was a little kid, just being able to go places and take people."
Wendling earned his license in 2001, when his two kids were old enough and his various Columbia-area businesses stable enough for him to get away for flying lessons. For most of the two decades since, he primarily flew around family members and friends. His current plane seats six (as long as the six people are relatively small) and has enough room for his wife's shopping finds in the back.
But Wendling also thinks about how he can use his plane to help others.
Three years ago, Wendling was diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer. His doctors warned him he'd need assistance to breathe and might only survive 3-5 years. He and his wife moved to New York for treatment, and today Wendling is cancer-free, breathing and talking with ease - though he still makes regular trips to New York for check-ups, as he did this weekend.
Because Wendling's well-acquainted with the headaches of travelling for medical care, he's flown patients to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota; he also hopes to fly kids for treatment at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee. These flights can cut a full day of travel down to a couple of hours.
"It makes a big difference," Wendling said.
Flying missions for "Mask a Vet" is another way he can help - though not a veteran himself, Wendling says he has great respect for them.
At last, Wendling got word the fog in Chillicothe had burned away in the sun, and he spotted some promising breaks in the cloud ceiling in Fulton. A few instrument checks later, he was in the air.
As Wendling put it, there's one difference between a good day to fly and a great day to fly. On a good day to fly, the conditions are perfect, with friendly breezes and miles of visibility.
"A great day to fly is any day you actually get to fly," he quipped.
Chillicothe
After touching down, Wendling met representatives from the local American Legion and VFW at Chillicothe Municipal Airport.
George Laprade, VFW Post 858 commander, Larry Warren of American Legion Post 25 and Warren's wife, Sue - president of the American Legion auxiliary and secretary at the VFW - were excited to receive the masks.
"A lot of the guys aren't using the masks," Larry Warren said.
"Thank you for bringing them - hopefully they'll reach many veterans that will benefit from them," Laprade added.
Larry Warren is a retired brigadier general of the U.S. Air Force, and Laprade a retired Army sergeant. Both served during the Vietnam War. Warren said he flew more than 140 missions in Vietnam, and he's kept flying since then, racking up more than 26,000 flight hours.
According to Laprade the local VFW and American Legion in Chillicothe get along quite well, so they're happy to share the masks. In fact, members of both organizations have teamed up to form Livingston County Veterans Association. Any Livingston County veteran or active duty military member may join the group, unless they were dishonorably discharged, and LICOVA plans to break ground on a new facility sometime next week.
The 3,000 masks Wendling delivered Wednesday will spread throughout the area, because both the VFW and American Legion are having district meetings in the next couple of weeks. Larry Warren and Laprade plan to distribute boxes and packages of masks to post commanders at each meeting.
Laprade said he thinks Missouri has taken care of veterans during the pandemic.
"Governor (Mike) Parson's done what he's supposed to do - he's kept things calm here in Missouri," Laprade said.
After swapping flying stories for the better part of an hour, and inviting the Warrens and Laprade to lunch next time they're in Columbia, Wendling started his plane and headed back to Fulton. He said he's eager to fly more missions for "Mask a Vet."
"If some veterans get out and share with people where they got their masks from I'm hoping more and more people will call Exercise Tiger and ask to get some masks shipped up there," he said.
To request masks on behalf of a veterans' organization, city or county, contact USTF at 573-356-0529 or [email protected].