Honoring a Family Pilot, One Paper Plane at a Time

Do You Have a Pilot in Your Family Tree?
My grandpa, Lynn, was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. When my cousins and I planned a family reunion, we wanted to include a nod to his service and passion for flying.

We came up with a simple but meaningful activity: folding paper airplanes. Everyone—from kids to adults—joined in. Some used classic designs, others experimented with more advanced folds. Afterward, we took our creations outside and put them to the test.

You can turn it into a contest:

• Whose plane flies the farthest?

• Which one stays in the air the longest?

• Or whose has the most creative design?

It was a lighthearted way to bring Grandpa’s story into the present—through a little friendly competition.