Marines Take Flight With Valley Pilot

PALM SPRINGS – A Coachella Valley pilot is using his skills to help local Marines get where they need to go.

Over the past couple of months, Charlie Sweet spends his Sundays meeting U.S. Marines in Palm Springs and giving them a ride to Twentynine Palms, near their base. But not just any ride. Sweet packs them into his four-seat Beechcraft Baron — and they fly the friendly skies.

“I never though it could be so gratifying,” says pilot Charlie Sweet.

Sweet, a Palm Desert resident and pilot for 37 years, got the idea for his aerial taxi service when he was asked for a donation for S.O.S. — a local organization that gives free rides to Marines.

“I responded that I’d create a flight department for them instead,” says Sweet.

“It was one of those last-minute, spur of the moment things. I was looking for a shuttle ride back from Palm Springs and they said ‘Would you mind flying?’ That sounds more exciting than riding in a shuttle, so sure, why not?,” says Lance Corporal Jamison Richards.

Sweet says soon after he started flying with the Marines, he wanted other flying buddies to get involved. He says he has about 25 pilots ready to go.

“We’ll be able to have seven-day-a-week service here within another few weeks.”

Sweet donates his time and money. He says two round-trip flights cost about $100 in fuel. After a brief 15 minute one-way flight, both pilot and passenger end their trip, thankful for each other’s service. “I think it’s absolutely phenomenal how people like that are going to come through like that and support us. It’s great the USO is there for us at the airports and that people are willing to give us rides. This is just a step further. Something that a lot of us wouldn’t dream this is available to us. It’s absolutely fantastic, I love it,” says Richards.

“I want to become pals with them in the short period I can. This guy may go to Afghanistan or Iraq. I might never see him again,” says Sweet. “It’s a life-changing experience for me. These guys are willing to lay down their lives for us. This is the least we can do. It’s a great thing. Makes me feel real proud of these guys.”