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Fly-In fights brain cancer

By Dave Taylor, For The Southern

Saturday, June 14, 2008 11:20 PM CDT

Eyes squinted at the sky and the air smelled of high-octane aviation fuel as more than 20 light sport aircraft gathered Saturday at the Sparta Airport for the 2nd annual Sparta Fly-In an event to benefit the National Brain Tumor Foundation.

Brian "Brain" Kissinger, organizer and founder, is a brain cancer survivor himself and organized the event after his recovery.

"I always ask, 'What am I doing (to help others)?' I love aviation?it's a blast. If you can share that with somebody but also have it for a cause, it's neat."

Kissinger, with help, rebuilt a 1942 L4 Piper Cub and flew it across the United States last year, raising $45,000 to help fund a research program.

"That might not find a cure, that researcher might find that next step," he said.

Fellow cancer survivor Todd Drenkhahn understands what Kissinger went through.

"When they tell you you've got cancer, it's scary," Drenkhahn said. "And then the things they do to you are even worse ? even though it saves you sometimes, it's almost as bad as the original."

This year's event brought together aviation lovers and pitted them against each other in skills competitions like "Ace Spot Lander" and "Top Flour Bomber."

In the latter contest, fliers dropped flour-filled bags onto a target from 800 feet.

Who won? Kissinger and his daughter, Gabby, with a drop only 11 feet from the target.

To learn more about Kissinger's anti-cancer efforts, visit his Web site at www.brainsflight.com.