Lindy Resident Wins Aircraft Tour at Republic Airport

One year ago Patricia Brandt, a Lindenhurst resident, was hoping the 2010 at wouldn’t be her grandson Logan’s last one. This year, her hope came true.

Prior to last year’s show, then four-year-old Logan, who was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, was about to embark on an 11-month chemotherapy and radiation program which meant he wouldn’t be able to go anywhere for months.

So Brandt and her husband took their grandson Logan to the air show last year on the Friday, and it seemed memories of that day sustained him through the treatments that led to remission.

It also led Brandt to share Logan’s story on the Facebook wall of the Bethpage FCU air show page where the bank – which sponsors the show – was holding the Bethpage Air Show Rocks! Facebook contest this year. It asked people to upload special photos and meaningful stories from any of the previous seven air shows.

The powerful story not only won Brandt and Logan support, but it also won Logan a chance to be a part of a private runway meet-and-greet and aircraft tour with air show participants, the GEICO Skytypers, at East Farmingdale’s in Town.

Bethpage FCU announced the winners in a recent release and shared Brandt’s story that she posted to the Facebook wall as part of the contest. She was one of 10 winners who also received four VIP tickets to the air show reception held at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, four VIP tickets to the air show and Centennial of Naval Aviation commemorative merchandise.

“[Logan] possesses an indomitable spirit which in turn has given us the strength to persevere through these difficult times. Many times through the year Logan would bring up how he loved the Bethpage Air Show,” said Brandt in her Facebook post. “We promised him we would go again this Memorial Day weekend…Best news of all is that Logan is now in remission.”

“We were delighted to be able to partner with the GEICO Skytypers to extend this special invitation,” said Linda Armyn, senior vice president, Bethpage FCU, in the release. She also thanked all those who participated in the Facebook contest “for supporting the show and for sharing their personal stories for all to enjoy.”

The winners were who shared their experiences about flying for the Skytypers and performing at air shows across the country, including the Memorial Day weekend air show.

The pilots then took the winners and their families aboard their SNJ-2 WWII-era vintage aircrafts for a special runway tour.

Besides Brandt, Logan and their family, other contest winners at last week’s planeside reception included Jane Cooley and her family from East Islip, Bill Chachkes and his family from Hicksville, Amy Grace Beach and her family from St. James, Cliff Peters and his family from Melville, Dan Koch and his family from Holbrook, Jeanette Corey and her family from Massapequa and Craig Reutzel and his family from Coram.

“The GEICO Skytypers have performed in the Bethpage Air Show since its debut year at Jones Beach in 2004. We’re proud to be able to participate in the show again this year, and couldn’t be more thrilled to host this special group of fans at the planeside reception,” said Larry Arken, commanding officer, flight lead, GEICO Skytypers, said in the release.

The GEICO Skytypers, based out of , are known for their low-level, precision-flying formations. The team utilizes six SNJ-2 WWII aircraft to type giant messages in the sky.