Clovis kids go on unforgettable flight aboard grandfather's vintage plane

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two Clovis kids have quite the story to tell this summer after traveling across the country in their grandfather's vintage plane.

Ken Andrews and his grandkids Zachary and Trevor now a share a common passion for aviation.

"Once you start flying, it's in your blood, and you just can't get away," Andrews said.

The longtime pilot has now passed that love over to his grandkids after taking them on a journey across the country.

Grandson Zachary still remembers the sights from his co-pilot seat. He said, "You got to look down and see all the cows, and you could look at the mountains, big giant lakes."

But getting off the ground took some time. The retired firefighter spent the past two years restoring the vintage 1941 Taylorcraft plane, which he bought when he was 18. Then, he decided to cross an item off his bucket list by flying to the mecca of U.S. air shows -- Oshkosh.

"The excitement of going in with all that traffic, and I've always wanted to do it," Andrews said. "As it so happens, my grandkids are here, 10 and 8, and I said this would be an awesome trip for them, and Charlotte says, 'There's no way I'm going that far in that Taylorcraft.'"

The grandkids happily accepted the trip. In July, Zachary and Ken left Reedley, and Zach navigated along the way to Wisconsin. When they arrived at Oshkosh Air Show, grandmother and brother met them.

After a fun filled week, the boys switched roles, and 8-year-old Trevor got to get a bird's-eye view of the country. He said, "It was fun."

Trevor enjoyed his time in the cockpit, seeing the country, the terrain and all the crazy weather. He even got to help fly the plane. He said, "I've never done that with him, and I've never been to anything, and it was just super awesome."

It was a trip that took two different generations on a flight they will always remember.