Friends of Tony Albanese: In the News
  • A Flight of Hope
    The Orange County Register
    (May 25, 2007)
    By Eric Carpenter
    A Flight of Hope
    A pilot paralyzed in a 2004 Fullerton air crash plans to fly solo, take up other disabled pilots.

    Friends lifted Tony into the cockpit front seat of the Sky Arrow 600, a specially designed light sport airplane with hand controls installed. In the back seat is Tony's long time friend and flight instructor Kris Larson. Together, they took to the air. Tony hopes to take his first solo flight this summer in the Sky Arrow, then begin taking up other disabled pilots. Friends and fellow pilots Kris Larson and Dick Donbrow, have founded a corporation called Fullerton Chair Force, with the goal to help train disabled pilots who are in wheelchairs. Some of the profits will help Tony pay for costly medical bills that average $5,000 a month more than insurance covers. His family has picked up most of that extra cost.


  • A Return to the Skies Tony Returns to the Skies
    The Orange County Register
    (January 25, 2007)
    By Eric Carpenter


    • Tony takes to the air for the first time since his 2004 plane crash in Fullerton. He realized his goal to fly again this week after 28 months. Late last year, Tony had the last of his surgeries, allowing him enough range of motion to work a plane's hand controls. Seen here with his friend and fellow pilot Mike Blackstone, Tony took control of the flight stick while Mike worked the foot pedals of the Marchetti SF-260.


    Tony Speaks at Charity Event on Behalf of Burn Survivors
  • Tony Speaks at Charity Event for Burn Survivors
    www.friendsoftony.com
    (November/December 2006)
    By Steve Albanese


    • Tony was invited as a guest speaker at the third annual motorcycle Burn Out Ride and Poker Run. He spoke to hundreds of participants and supporters at the October 1, 2006 fundraiser. The words poured from his heart when he told the Orange County crowd about his story as a burn survivor.

    The multi-city event benefited the Orange County Burn Association (www.ocburn.org) as they support burn survivors throughout Orange County.



    Airport Day 2006 and Fundraiser for Tony Albanese
  • Seeing Blue Skies Again
    The Orange County Register
    (September 16, 2006)
    By Eric Carpenter


    • Family and friends of Tony Albanese celebrate his public return to Fullerton Airport as he heads "home" again with a return to the same event that altered his life two years ago.

    Airport Day 2006 is planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tony plans to arrive around noon and talk to other aviation enthusiasts about his story and about the joy he still has for flying. The event also functions as a fundraiser for Tony to help pay for medical costs not covered by his insurance.




  • My Good Friend Tony Albanese Needs Your Help!
    DragCars.com
    (Summer 2005)
    By Phil White

    DragCars.com "Tony was in a terrible plane crash (Tony was a passenger) last September which left him seriously injured and paralyzed from the waist down. Tony is an accomplished pilot, drag boat racer, TRD master engine builder and so much more. You can help Tony by making any size contribution to help pay his mounting medical costs and day to day living expenses. Thank you for your contribution and for helping my friend Tony get through this ordeal. Thanks again, Phil White."


  • Home and Healing
    The Orange County Register
    (May 26, 2005)
    By Eric Carpenter


    • Tony Comes Home, May 25 Tony comes home in a power wheelchair, eight months to the day after the plane crash that rendered him paraplegic. Since mid March, he's been in rehabilitation at St. Jude's Medical Center in Fullerton. Prior to that, Tony was at UCI Medical Center's Burn Intensive Care Unit in Orange, where he was being treated for third and fourth degree burns over 70% of his body. Tony is an outpatient at both facilities at this time, he's scheduled for further medical procedures and additional rehab. He is very happy to be home at the moment, where he is being cared for by his family, a full time care giver and an evening nurse to oversee his immediate medical needs.


  • Squadron 68/Activities
    USAF Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol
    Press Releases and Articles;
    A hyperlink to Friends of Tony Albanese (April 28, 2005)



  • Helping hands honored
    Long Beach Press Telegram (Published Thursday, April 7, 2005)
    By Karen Robes


  • American Red Cross Hometown Heroes Breakfast Kris and Amy with Tony's Mom and Dad
    On April 7, 2005, the American Red Cross honored Kris Larson with a Hero's Breakfast.

    Kris had pulled Tony out of the burning airplane shortly after it crashed. In the picture on the right, Kris and his fiancé Amy at the Hero's Breakfast with Tony's Mom and Dad. Kris displays his medal and plaque from the Red Cross.



  • Hundreds Turn out for
    Fullerton Plane-Crash Victim
    The Orange County Register
    (October 18, 2004)
    By Jeff Rowe
    • Mary Alice at the Airport Barbeque Fundraiser 2004


  • Benefits set for air-crash victim
    The Orange County Register
    (October 15, 2004)
    By Eric Carpenter



  • Pilot fund-raiser
    Fullerton News Tribune
    (October 14, 2004)
    By Eric Carpenter
    • Airport Barbeque Fundraiser 2004


  • Blood Drive for
    Fullerton Airplane Crash Survivor
    UCI Med Center
    (October 4, 2004)



  • Air Show Crash Injures Four
    AVWeb Story
    (September 30, 2004)
    By Russ Niles. Newswriter/Editor



    • Tony Albanese
  • Airport Day Cut Short By Plane Crash
    -Plane narrowly misses crowd of hundreds and control tower at Saturday event
    The Hornet
    Fullerton College
    (September 30, 2004)
    By Julie Anne Ines. News Editor



  • Probe Begins As 4 Recover After Plane Crash
    The Orange County Register
    (September 28, 2004)
    By Eric Carpenter



  • Two Critical in Small-Plane Crash
    The Washington Times
    (September 27, 2004)
    • Tony Albanese at TRD


  • Brief Mention of Tony's Name in
    Dragcars Directory Links
    Look under the directory heading (in the middle of the webpage)
    "We at Dragcars.com wish Tony Albanese the very best, and a complete & speedy recovery."



  • Plane Crashes at Show
    The Orange County Register
    (September 26, 2004)
    By James B. Kelleher and Mark Rightmire



  • Ford Tri-Motor crash at Fullerton Airport
    Grant Henninger's Personal Blog Space Posting
    (September 25, 2004)

  • Ford Tri-Motor crash at Fullerton Airport
    Metroblogging Orange County
    Posted by Grant Henninger
    (September 25, 2004)



  • Ford Tri-Motor Crashes at "Fullerton Airport Day"
    Air Show Photo Gallery and Discussion Forum
    www.pbase.com/fletchaka/plane_crash
    By G.M. Hattrup






    • LAX04FA330
  • NTSB Aviation Accident Database
    NTSB Identification: LAX04FA330
    14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation

    The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

    • "...the inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot-in-command, where the pilot failed to remove the makeshift gust lock attached to the rudder and left elevator of the airplane. As a result, the airplane veered off the runway surface during the takeoff roll, became airborne, and immediately began an uncontrolled descending left roll until impacting vehicles and the ground."

    A full narrative is also available on the NTSB website.



  • Cal State Fullerton Aviation Club Raises Funds for Tony
    Titan Visual Flight Rules (or TVFR), an aviation club at Cal State Fullerton, provides advocacy work on behalf of Fullerton airport. They are currently involved in raising funds for Tony through Pampered Chef (a premier direct seller of high-quality kitchen tools). Contact: Shelley Alongi (with TVFR Fund Raiser in the subject line) for more information.



  • Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
    500 Morris Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081
    (800) 225-0292
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Whether by Water, Wings or Wheels ... Life Is A Journey, Not A Destination.