Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, October 02, 2008

Loren DRAKE used to take to the skies from time to time piloting a plane.

At 99 years old, he's given up his licenses for piloting or driving any vehicle, but he had the opportunity to take to the skies at least one more time this last week.

DRAKE, a resident of Clearview Home in Mount Ayr, went for a flight with Ben ROGERS, who was back this way from his home in Colorado, and is a friend of DRAKE'S son Lloyd DRAKE of Tingley.

ROGERS, formerly of Albany, MO, took DRAKE up in his Beach Bonanza for more than a half hour flight, taking off and landing at the Mount Ayr Municipal Airport.

For Loren DRAKE it was a thrill to be in the air again.

"I just wish I could take the controls again," he said.

DRAKE got the flying bug when he helped a neighboring farmer at harvest time many years ago. The farmer, Dean CRECELIUS, was also a pilot and offered to take DRAKE up in return.

CRECELIUS owned several planes that were hangered at the Lamoni airport and Creston airport and when DRAKE got his own pilot's license, he flew CRECELIUS' planes on several occasions. In return he'd help with the harvest.

He eventually owned a share in a club airplane at the airport that the various owners could use.

It's been several years since DRAKE was up in an airplane, but it was something that he mentioned on several occasions that he would like to do again.

When ROGERS came back to the area and visited with Lloyd DRAKE, arrangements were made for his father to have another flight.

Loren DRAKE will be 100 years old next July, and though age has slowed him down, he's still ready for an adventure.

"I really enjoyed flying again, but I really would have liked to get my hands on the controls again," he said.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2012