88-Year-Old Wisconsin Grandmother Takes First-Ever Flight with Grandson as Her Pilot
At 88 years old, Frances Dahlke had already lived a full life surrounded by family, faith, and decades of memories. But one experience had always eluded her: flying on an airplane.
That changed last Sunday when Dahlke boarded a flight out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the very first time. Sitting in first class and gazing out at the clouds, she wasn’t just another passenger. The man in the cockpit was her grandson, Alex Shupe.
The heartwarming story was first reported by ABC News and quickly resonated with families across the country. Dahlke had made a simple promise years ago. She would only get on a plane once her grandson earned his pilot’s license.
“I said, ‘Well, I’ll fly when Alex gets his pilot’s license,’” she recalled.
Shupe spent years training and working toward that goal. Now an airline pilot, he was finally able to fulfill his grandmother’s condition. Using his employee flight benefits, he arranged for her to travel on standby and secured first-class seating for the special trip.
“As an airline employee, you do get some flight benefits,” Shupe explained. “I was able to put her name on the standby list.”
The journey began at La Crosse Regional Airport, where family members gathered to support Dahlke on her milestone day. Though she had never flown before, she approached the experience with humor and preparation.
“They made sure they told me to take Dramamine first,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve never taken Dramamine in my life either.”
After clearing security, there was little left to do but wait for boarding and take in the moment. For Dahlke, the anticipation was mixed with excitement rather than fear.
Once airborne, she was captivated.
“The sensation and, of course, watching the clouds out there,” she said. “It’s very, very nice.”
For someone experiencing their first flight at nearly 90 years old, the view above the clouds felt almost surreal. She described feeling “like a spoiled celebrity,” seated comfortably in first class while her grandson guided the aircraft through the skies.
The flight, which lasted about an hour and a half, landed in Chicago. But for both Dahlke and Shupe, the true destination was something deeper than a city. It was a shared memory decades in the making.
For Shupe, piloting the plane with his grandmother on board added a new layer of meaning to his profession. Every pilot remembers certain flights for weather challenges or technical precision. This one stood out for personal reasons.
Family members say Dahlke has always supported her grandson’s ambitions. Watching him take command of the cockpit and knowing she trusted him enough to make him her first pilot made the experience even more emotional.
Stories like this resonate because they capture something simple and universal: the bond between generations. Dahlke’s first flight was not about crossing something off a bucket list alone. It was about celebrating family, perseverance, and timing that felt just right.
At 88, she proved that it is never too late to try something new. And for Shupe, the day served as a reminder of why he pursued aviation in the first place.
When asked about the experience, both agreed on one thing. It was a moment they will never forget.