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Jim and Karen Reynolds
Laurel Springs
For a pair of pilots with countless flights under their belts, flying a 1946 airplane from coast to coast proved to be their greatest adventure yet.
After being diagnosed with cancer in , Jim Reynolds wanted to do something big. So, for their 50th wedding anniversary, he and his wife, Karen – both longtime pilots – traveled from their Ashe County home to Port Townsend, Washington, and bought a 1946 Taylorcraft, a tiny two-seater that they intended to fly across the country. After 53 days, 3,900 miles, 19 stops, and 193 gallons of gas, they finally flew out over the Atlantic Ocean, completing their most difficult journey to date. Weather, plane maintenance, schedule conflicts with local airports, and the limited capabilities of the 70-year-old plane often caused setbacks for the Reynoldses. But the kindness of strangers gave them strength to finish what they started, teaching them that if God could get them through this trip, he could get them through Jim’s cancer. “As long as he holds my hand and guides me through it,” Jim says, “I’m OK with whatever happens.” – Katie King
Photographed, Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at the Wlikes Co Airport in Wilkesboro, N.C. JERRY WOLFORD and SCOTT MUTHERSBAUGH / Perfecta Visuals
Laurel Springs
For a pair of pilots with countless flights under their belts, flying a 1946 airplane from coast to coast proved to be their greatest adventure yet.
After being diagnosed with cancer in , Jim Reynolds wanted to do something big. So, for their 50th wedding anniversary, he and his wife, Karen – both longtime pilots – traveled from their Ashe County home to Port Townsend, Washington, and bought a 1946 Taylorcraft, a tiny two-seater that they intended to fly across the country. After 53 days, 3,900 miles, 19 stops, and 193 gallons of gas, they finally flew out over the Atlantic Ocean, completing their most difficult journey to date. Weather, plane maintenance, schedule conflicts with local airports, and the limited capabilities of the 70-year-old plane often caused setbacks for the Reynoldses. But the kindness of strangers gave them strength to finish what they started, teaching them that if God could get them through this trip, he could get them through Jim’s cancer. “As long as he holds my hand and guides me through it,” Jim says, “I’m OK with whatever happens.” – Katie King
Photographed, Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at the Wlikes Co Airport in Wilkesboro, N.C. JERRY WOLFORD and SCOTT MUTHERSBAUGH / Perfecta Visuals
- Copyright
- Perfecta Visuals
- Image Size
- 6720x4480 / 4.7MB
- Contained in galleries
- Higher Ed Portfolio, Z Smith Gallery
