DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Some Central Illinois veterans got the chance to see the world from 1,000 feet up in the air on Wednesday.

Dream Flights honors senior veterans by taking them on plane rides and this week, they took veterans that live in Decatur for flights.

The joy there was tangible and the pilot said that the flights are like time machines, not only because they are in World War II era bi-planes, but because veterans go in the plane at 90 and come out with the energy of a 40 year old.

Dream Flights has been taking veterans in the air and bringing smiles to their faces for 11 years. They fly veterans who live in nursing homes and assisted living centers in World War II, in open cockpit, bi-planes.

“Our mission is simple, and it hasn’t changed. It’s giving back to those who gave,” President and pilot for Dream Flights, Darryl Fisher, said.

Since the non-profit began, it’s taken almost 8,000 flights. Every single one has been free for veterans. The average age of a veteran that flies with Dream Flights is 90. Fisher said that flying them is their way of showing gratitude.

“We’re thanking them for everything they’ve done for us, the sacrifice, the service they’ve given us, our freedoms that we have today,” Fisher said.

A “First Special Service Force” logo is displayed on each plane. They were the original Special Forces unit in World War II.  

Fisher said that they were a small, specialized unit that did big things. Dream Flights have flown four members of that unit.

Another special thing you’ll see on each Dream Flight plane is on the tail. You can find the signatures of World War II veterans who have been on them.

“It almost chokes me up. It’s so special,” Fisher said.

The signatures are fading, but Fisher said that, in a way, it makes sense.

“It’s symbolic of that generation, they’re fading out. It breaks my heart, but we’re losing them fast,” Fisher said.

Less than 1% of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are still alive. Dream Flights has a century flyer’s club. After a veteran turns 100, they get to fly every year. A member of this exclusive club was there on Wednesday.

“I’ll be 101 on October 16th,” Edward Paine said.

He’s a World War II veteran who’s lived in Decatur since 1957. Paine served in the Navy for three years. He was a pilot for the majority of the war, but as it went on, he served wherever he was called to.

“They didn’t need any more pilots. They needed people to run small boats,” Paine said.

He’s been on two dream flights before and knew a thing or two about the planes.

“Both of them were fun because I had flown the planes in training and I thought I could fly it again if I had to. It’s good thing I didn’t though,” Paine joked.

Paine, who has seen it all and survived the unimaginable, gave a gentle reminder that every day is a gift.

“It’s nice to be here, it was nice to be alive after the war, and it’s nice to be alive today,” Paine said.

In the pilot’s words, he said that the “secret sauce” to giving to senior veterans is what comes back to you — and that’s priceless. Fisher encourages everyone to volunteer with and give back to the nation’s veterans.