Dan Keller experienced the ride of a lifetime during Community Days at Lancaster Airport on a Sunday morning in August 2015, and it wasn’t in a Ford.
Keller, co-owner of Keller Bros. Ford in Lititz, took an adrenaline-pumping flight aboard the L-39 Albatros jet known as “Vandy-1,” courtesy of Warrior Aviation, a charitable organization that he and his wife, Suzy, support.
At the controls
Keller didn’t just hitch a high-speed ride. He actually flew the jet under the watchful eye of Lt. Cmdr. Mark Burgess, U.S. Navy (retired), who also piloted the aircraft in the aerobatic demonstration at the air show.
“It was amazing,” Keller said. “The takeoff was kind of like you felt like a little stone in a slingshot, and after that, it just got better. I had a great instructor, of course, and we did some amazing things up there too.”
During his turn at the controls, Keller performed a flyby, spins and rolls.
Warrior Aviation
Vandy-1 tours the country to support Warrior Aviation’s mission: connecting wounded veterans with opportunities in aviation through flight and career training and job placement. The jet’s appearances at air shows help raise awareness and funds for the program.
The L-39 Albatros
The L-39 Albatros is a Czechoslovak-built jet trainer that first flew in the late 1960s. Thousands were produced, and it became one of the most widely used military jet trainers in the world. Today, many L-39s are flown by civilian owners and demonstration teams in the United States, prized for their agility, reliability and relatively economical operation.
With tandem seating, the L-39 is ideal for a ride like Keller’s: an instructor in one seat and a guest pilot in the other.
Community Days
Community Days at Lancaster Airport, located in Lititz, is a free, family-oriented weekend event that has long been one of the region’s summer highlights. The 2015 event featured a daily parade of planes and air show, rides aboard the B-25 bomber “Panchito,” and ATV rides.
Keller Bros. Ford served as platinum sponsor, partnering with local businesses to give away community baskets packed with local perks and prizes each day. Admission was free, with a suggested $5 parking donation.
A local family business
Keller Bros. Ford is a longtime Lititz dealership, and the Keller family has been active in supporting community events and charities. Its sponsorship of Community Days, and Keller’s personal support of Warrior Aviation, reflected the dealership’s ties to the area and to veterans’ causes.
Why it matters
For wounded veterans, aviation can offer a meaningful path forward, using skills and discipline gained in the military in a new career. Programs like Warrior Aviation provide the training, mentoring and connections that make those careers possible, and demonstration flights like Keller’s help introduce the mission to new supporters.
For Keller, the morning offered an unforgettable view of Lancaster County, and a firsthand look at what the charity he supports can do.
About the L-39 Albatros
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a jet trainer built in Czechoslovakia and flown by many air forces from the 1970s onward. Today, privately owned L-39s are a familiar sight at air shows across the United States. Their agility, tandem two-seat cockpit and relatively forgiving handling make them popular for demonstration flights and for giving guests a taste of jet flying.
Air shows and community days
Airport open houses and community days give the public a close look at aircraft, pilots and the people who keep airports running. For many visitors, especially young ones, the events spark a lifelong interest in aviation. Flights like this one also help charities raise awareness and support for their work.
This article was originally published in August 2015.