The wind blows sharply across the runway as I approach the Sidney Municipal Airport, also known as Lloyd W. Carr Airfield. I have arrived early and am happy to go inside the office and speak with Kelly Nelson, the daughter-in-law of Leonard Nelson, the man I was coming to see. Leonard is 92 years old and is about to take flight in a PT19 aircraft. The same type of aircraft that he use to train pilots in World War II. As I walk in the office, I notice the usual array of aeronautical shwag and regalia. Photos adorn the wall and a cat sits comfortably on what appears to be a leather chair. Kelly is on the phone with her husband, Ed, who had driven to Kimball to pick up his parents, Leonard and Laura, when I arrive. I wait patiently for her to hang up before introducing myself. As my curious nature takes over, I begin asking her questions about the PT19.Kelly said they-her and her husband Ed- acquired the '19 in a trade for one of their aircrafts. The reason they wanted it was because of sentimental value. Not only is it the same type of plane that her father-in-law flew for training in WWII, it was also the first plane that her and Ed owned. "Ed thought it would be nice to have one again," said Kelly.As is true with older planes, the PT19 needed work when they got it, she said. As we talk, her son, Chris, is getting things ready for his grandparents arrival. Kelly said this isn't the first time that Leonard and Ed have attempted to fly this craft. The first time out, the made it to the runway when Ed decided to scratch the flight. There was a magneto problem and he didn't think it was safe to take up. Kelly said that although there is no radio communications between to the two occupants, it was obvious Leonard was upset. She is confident though that there is going to be no trouble today."Ed took me up in for about an hour yesterday, so everything should be fine," said Kelly.Soon Ed arrives with his parents. Chris immediately goes to help them inside. Kelly, meanwhile, is on the radio talking with planes that will be landing soon with passengers wanting to take a trip to Cabelas's.As Leonard and Laura make their way inside I introduce myself to them. I have met them both before but held no hopes that they would remember me, Although Laura seemed to.Seeing an opportunity to talk, Leonard begins to tell me how it was he got into flying. "I had a cousin who would come back to Potter every now and again," said Leonard, "He brainwashed me in to believing that everyone in California flew an airplane."In fact, Leonard was so brainwashed, that he hitched a ride with a Gypsy caravan hauling cars from back east, and headed west. Although he couldn't remember the exact year, Leonard said he was just out of high school and he was about 17 years old. Doing the quick math I realized that it must have been around 1934. Just one year after the beginning of The Great Depression. When he got to California, he quickly found out that it wasn't what he thought it was going to be. Not everyone was flying. But he was undeterred.Leonard said he did his best to find work, but sometimes it was hard to come by. When he did find work, he would use as much of the money he earned as he could to get flying time at the Oakland Airport. One wet and rainy spring morning as he was walking up a hill in San Francisco, the name of the street slips his mind but it truly has no relevance, he saw a large gathering of people under an awning. Curious, he walked over to see what was going on. Leaning against a window he noticed that everyone was looking in his direction. Confused, Leonard began looking around and saw a sign next to him that read "Golden Gate Exhibition" - a show that portrayed the history of the west, South America, and Mexico. And they were hiring. Dressed in "town clothes" and wearing shoes that he had worn holes in, Leonard took a form and began filling it out."I filled out the front and then turned it over," he said, "On the back they wanted us to list 20 things that we could do."Being a farm boy from Nebraska, Leonard said he thought for sure these California guys would beat him. But he knew he had to try.So he listed everything he could think. When he came to the last line, he figured he would draw on his ranch experience."It hit me like someone had tapped my on my noggin, I wrote down expert horseman," he said with a laugh.He handed the application to the receptionist and was told there was about 45,000 people trying out. But Leonard knew he had to get a job. Eventually he got his chance and of course they wanted him to ride a horse. "I went up to the horse and hopped on it just like we did at home, threw myself over its back and then flung my right leg over," said Leonard.Looking, around he noticed that there was a ring of people watching him."They were looking to see where we would land after we fell off the horses, " he said. But Leonard didn't fall. After all, he had been riding horses for a long time. Eventually the boss waved Leonard over and told him he wanted him to perform as an Aztec warrior. He was also to perform in other scenes. The boy from Nebraska had beat the boys from California and found himself a job. The show lasted until the fall of that year. During his time with the exposition, Leonard said he did many reenactments, including the Battle at Little Big Horn."I don't know how many times I shot Custer, but he was always there the next time!" he exclaimed with a warm laugh.By the time the fall rolled around, he had received word that his father had broken his leg and needed Leonard to come home and help on the ranch. So he stuck out his thumb and headed home. A few years after getting home, President Theodore Roosevelt instigated the Civilian Pilot Training Program. The Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) was a flight training program (1938-1944) sponsored by the United States government with the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though having a clear impact on military preparedness.Leonard had his chance to fly again. He trained in Holdridge, Hastings, Kansas and other stops along the way before finally becoming an instructor himself. As we near the point in the conversation that Leonard is going to tell me about how he trained pilots for WW II, I notice that Ed is preparing Leonard's flight gear, a leather helmet, vest, and goggles.Ed is being very patient while Leonard and I talk but lunch is fast approaching and it is time to take to the sky. Finding a break in the conversation, I say to Leonard that it is time to get in the plane. I ask him if he is is excited to fly in it again. "I guess," he said, masking his enthusiasm, "but I have done this more than a 1,000 times."I ask him what it is like being able to fly with his son?"Very satisfying," he said," people are very complementary of him (Ed) and I think it is because he is thorough."Leonard gets his walker and prepares to head out onto the runway. Chris and Ed help Leonard to get up on the wing of the '19 and then to get settled in the seat. Chris takes the time to secure his grandfather and then asks his dad to double check everything, which he does. The helmet, and goggles do well to obfuscate Leonard's age, as he looks similar to what he must've once looked as a trainer all those years ago. Ed tells me he doesn't know how high they are going to go, nor does he know how long they will fly for. The decision is up to Leonard. As they taxi to the runway, Chris asks if I would like to head out and watch them take off, excited I say yes. We jump in his Cutlass Cierra and speed to a good watching point. The humm of the engine can be heard as Ed maneuvers the plane onto the runway. Soon they are off, into the sky and turning to head north towards Sidney.I ask Chris what he thinks of his dad and granddad flying together. It's pretty cool, he said. But he adds that he is used to it. Although it doesn't happen as often as it used to, it has still been a frequent occasion in his life. Chris needs only to pass the written test to be a pilot himself. The younger Nelson and I chat for more than a half an hour as his dad and grandfather fly around. Soon the '19 can be seen soaring back towards the airfield. Ed and Leonard have taken a lap around the city of Sidney and are flying overhead. Eventually the plane begins to make and approach to the runway. I position myself to get some photos as they make their approach. The camera struggles to focus on the oncoming plane but still I snap away. As the plane seems ready to touch down, the pilot lifts it back into the air and heads towards the grass runway. Again they make a false landing and Chris keys in to what is going on.They are going to land on the grass runway, he said. We quickly hop in the car and head over there. Sure enough, Chris has read the signal correctly as Ed and Leonard make their final approach. The plane touches down with ease and Leonard appears to have a smile on his face as they rush past us. We head back to the hanger to meet them as they taxi in. I walk up to the plane to try and talk to Leonard but the altitude and the sound of the engine have made it difficult for him to hear me.Ed relays my questions to him as he works to unbuckle his father. I ask him if he enjoyed the flight?"Oh yes," he said, " It was nice.""Dad took over soon after lift off," said Ed, "We were up around 7,000 feet."Leonard's face has a red ring from where the goggles were sitting. He doesn't seem to care though.Knowing that Nelson's were wanting to get to lunch I thanked Ed for letting me share a moment of their time. I extend my hand to Leonard and thank him as well. Although he is still struggling to hear me. As I start to walk away, Leonard says something that sends me scrabbling for my notebook. " "Very few people understand the life of a pilot and the precision and detail that they live by."Leonard Nelson, still flying after all these years.