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	Dane Larsen, 16, flies one of three Hueys in the "Flying Thunder" mission from California to Washington D.C. and back. The helicopters accompanied a group of 200,000 Vietnam veterans on motorcycles as they rode to a Vietnam Memorial Wall celebration in Washington on May 25. The bikers' mission was called "Rolling Thunder."

Youthful pilot turns dreams to reality

     Dane Larsen, the Canyon Lake 16-year-old who was part of a four-man team that broke the coast-to-coast round trip speed record in an R-44 helicopter last April, has returned from yet another helicopter adventure.
     Dane, who volunteers at Wings and Rotors Museum in French Valley, participated in the “Flying Thunder” mission, which sent three Huey helicopters across the country in coordination with “Rolling Thunder,” a group of 200,000 Vietnam vets on motorcycles for a journey from California to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Their goal was to honor war veterans along the way, with a culminating ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial on May 25, attended by the President of the United States.
     According to Dane’s mom, Karma Larsen, the group had spent the last year filing forms and submitting to background searches for all involved and had been granted permission to make a fly-by during the ceremony at the Memorial Wall. Unfortunately, permission was revoked by the Secret Service just days before the ceremony.
     The group was disappointed, but their goal was still accomplished, says Karma. They visited 43 cities in 16 states over a 23-day period. They met with large groups as well as small, providing closure for many veterans, whose last memory of Vietnam was being extracted by a Huey medivac helicopter.
     Dane provided ground crew and logistic support on the trip east and assisted with flying on the trip home. Learning about the various handling differences between the three Hueys on the trip, and flying in formation, added a whole new dimension to his flying experience, he says. Working with the highly credentialed pilots who volunteered for “Flying Thunder” was invaluable as well, says Karma.
     “Flying Thunder” was supported by various groups across the states. Some provided lodging, some provided food, some provided fuel and some provided everything. Dane says that everywhere they stopped in the South, they were served what was claimed to be “the best southern barbecue.” Many in the group found they came away with a slight drawl, along with burning lips.
     Another experience unique to the South was driving through swarms of fireflies at night. Dane described it as though glow-stick liquid had been spattered all over his windshield. The success of the group’s mission is verified by the comments on their website blog. Testimonies of those who were touched by the experience are posted at www.flyingthunder.org; click on “Shayne’s Flight Blog.”

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