ABOUT TEENS IN FLIGHT

A 501(C)3 Organization Formed to Support Our Youth of Military, First Responders, and At-Risk.

Mission Statement

Through the modem of aerospace education, we open the doors of opportunity. Teens-In-Flight provides flight training to teens of our Military, First Responders, selected teens that are considered “at risk”, or financially underserved within our community by providing a positive aviation intervention experience.

Our Story: Transforming Loss Into Lift

At Teens-In-Flight, our mission is to give hope wings—one flight at a time.

Founded by Colonel Jack Howell, a decorated educator and retired military officer, Teens-In-Flight was born from a deep understanding of the silent struggles faced by children of military families. Colonel Howell’s unique background—serving as a Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) and working as a teacher in inner-city high schools—gave him a first-hand view of families contending with sudden, life-altering tragedies. He saw too many teenagers coping with loss, trauma, and challenges beyond their years, especially those grieving the injury or death of a parent in military service.

Why Teens-In-Flight?

Military children often carry invisible burdens. According to a major RAND Corporation study, they face more emotional and behavioral difficulties than other American youth—especially girls and older children—when a parent is deployed for extended periods. The longer the deployment and the more the family struggles with emotional health, the greater the impact on the child. Many teens suffer quietly, showing signs of PTSD, withdrawal, distrust, and negative behaviors that can set them on a troubled path.

Teens-In-Flight was created to change that path—by harnessing the life-changing power of aviation. Founded in 1994 as a high school magnet program in Jacksonville, Florida, Colonel Howell—together with aviation supporters Steve Price and Joel Weaner—expanded the concept into a non-profit 501(c)(3) in March 2008. Headquartered in Palm Coast, Florida, Teens-In-Flight offers free and low-cost flight training to teenagers whose parents have been injured or lost in military service.

Flying Forward—With Your Help

By taking to the skies, our teens find more than just flight hours—they find confidence, purpose, community, and a reason to dream big again. Many past participants describe their first solo flight as a turning point: a moment when pain and uncertainty transformed into hope and direction.

But we cannot do it alone. Each flight lesson, every hour of tuition and mentorship, is made possible by the generosity of donors like you.

Your support helps cover fuel, aircraft maintenance, instruction, and crucial resources for youth who need it most. In a time when military children face growing emotional challenges and fewer opportunities for guidance, your donation isn’t just a gift—it’s a lifeline and a launch pad.

Help us keep these incredible teens on course. Help us give hope wings.