Local News Founder Receives Funeral Fly-Over

    Roger Swanson, a World War II veteran and founder of the Orlando Local News, passed away May 7, 2020 in a Winter Garden nursing home. Despite an exemption existing for end-of-life issues, visitation was curtailed to the family until after he died. First broken in The Orlando Local News, the story spread to broadcast news and public outraged mounted. The primary response however came in the form of sympathy and support to the family. Due to constraints on military funerals placed by the government, the family might be alone for the funeral without any honor given to their loved one--- or so they thought. But then the community sprang into action.

    When Thom Richard heard about the tragic death of Mr. Swanson at the Nursing Home, things really started to take off (literally). Richard owns and operates the Warbird Adventures Museum and Flight School in Kissimmee, Florida. The museum consists of an entire fleet of aircraft from WWII and has restored many over the past several years. Several of the planes witnessed combat or were shot down. Richard's efforts brought not only one aircraft to the memorial service, but four T-6 planes to honor Swanson's service. The planes executed a maneuver known as the "Missing Man Formation" which consists of a single fighter leaving the formation. The spirit of the airman who passed on then occupies the space of vacancy in the formation or so the legend tells.

    You can catch a video of the flyover below. For over 20 years, Warbird Adventures in Kissimmee, Florida has presented incredible, once in a lifetime experiences from the front seat of the T-6 Texan in the sky. They allow guests the ability to do something they have always dreamed of doing and take flight in the “The Pilot Maker” themselves. But guests to the museum don't need to be pilots to fly. Warbird Adventures is also a flight school. Their hands-on flight training packages range from introductory flights, thrilling aerobatic maneuvers, to full check out courses. 

    Warbird adventures just added a new addition to their fleet as well--- the worlds only limited TP-40 Warhawk known as "American Dream".  The dual seat, dual cockpit controls offer guests an exhilarating venture into the eyes of heroic World War II Fighter Pilots.

    You may now visit their Kissimmee location to take a walk through time inside the on-site aviation museum with each exhibit having a history of their own.