CENTENNIAL, Colo. — The olive-green flight suit was older than many of the family members gathered on the tarmac at Centennial Airport. Robert “Bob” Fleak tugged at its zipper, smiling faintly. “Yes,” he said, when asked if it still fit.

"I wore this when I was 25 years old," said Fleak. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added: “Over 55 years ago”

At 96, soon to be 97, Fleak has lived enough lives to fill several volumes — soldier, helicopter pilot, coach, engineer, father of four, grandfather of 10. On this September morning, though, he was once again simply a man preparing to fly.

Fleak was one of 10 residents of The Ridge Senior Living – Pinehurst, a Lakewood retirement community, who took to the skies in an open-cockpit Stearman biplane.

The flights were arranged by Dream Flights

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