On Laughter Silvered Wings
Giving kids hands on to fly and build airplanes

Kids often dream of becoming a pilot when they grow up, but not all of them have access to the know-how. This week's 7 Everyday Hero shows kids how to make their dreams take flight.

Gilbert Wheeler teaches a class about flying and following your dreams. The class is called On Laughter Silvered Wings -- a phrase from the famous poem about pilots called "High Flight."

The class is free and designed for inner-city students.

"Looking at the kids in the inner city -- all they get to see is what their environment is. They never get to see something different like flying. All kids love flying," Wheeler said.

Wheeler is a private pilot, a dream he almost gave up on as a child. He wants to make sure others don't give up on their dreams. So for more than 10 years, he has taught this class for free.

"As a result we have approximately 10 kids who are going off into aviation," he said.

"It's awesome because you get to learn about stuff that you don't regularly don't learn about in school," said one student.

"I've learned so much and I'm thinking about being a pilot when I grow up," another student said.

Denver's Northeast Women's Center provides the space for the class, and Wheeler provides the know-how and enthusiasm.

Company Name: On Laughter Silvered Wings
Phone Number: 720.297.8515
E-mail address: olsw@msn.com
Metting Time: The 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at:
37750 Astra Way unit 6W
Wakins Colorado
Call for details: 720.297.8515

Gilbert F. Wheeler Jr. ,President As an active member of the Tuskegee Airmen organization, Gilbert F. Wheeler Jr. has had the privilege of working closely with some of the original members. As CEO of "On Laughter Silvered Wings", he has had the thrill of providing over 2,000 children the opportunity to fly an airplane, experiencing the joy of flight. Mr. Wheeler’s enthusiasm for his work is obvious and has very personal origins. "As a kid growing up in the projects of Washington, D.C., all I ever wanted to do was fly. In those days and even today, not many Blacks flew. I was told by many people, ‘Black people do not fly airplanes’ but the passion for flight never left my dreams. Now…I have my pilots license.”

The "On Laughter Silvered Wings" organization was started to give children with less economic means the opportunity to become involved in aviation. They are presently building a full scale airplane which when completed, will be used to teach children how to fly. The organization is also preparing a group of children for the Reno air races. For the first time ever, the children will be helping with airplanes in the pit. Mr. Wheeler would like to see "On Laughter Silvered Wings" eventually become a foundation.

As for the challenges facing the African American community, he commented, “The rich and the poor need to help one another…We need to make a louder noise in praising our past and becoming mentors to our kids.” Further, he feels that neither the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, nor the 10 members living in the Denver community get the recognition they deserve. He strongly believes, “There should be a permanent bronze statue or some prominent monument for their contribution.”

He would like to be remembered as “the man who inspired kids to accomplish their dreams. I want to instill in them that whatever they want to do in life, they can as long as they learn to set goals and stay focused.”