Two members of a family with deep roots in Montana and a shared love of flying recently enjoyed the trip of a lifetime.

Whitefish High School class of 1998 graduate and now Delta pilot, Captain Coleman A. "Coley" King, had long dreamed of being able to take his grandfather flying. This summer he made that dream come true. 

King knew he wanted to be a pilot when he was in high school, after heeding teacher Ray Boksich’s suggestion to become an exchange student. King flew to Norway for his senior year. It was his first time in an airplane, and it made a big impression. 

When he returned, he told his parents, “I want to become a pilot and travel the world.” 

King is now a pilot based in New York City. He bought a 1959 Cessna 182 last year and has been in the process of restoring it.  

This summer, he came to town, picked up his Cessna, and flew to Missoula to pick up his grandfather, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard "Dick" Moore, who will be 101 years old on Nov. 4. 

Moore is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He flew a B-24 over Italy in World War II. He learned to fly when he was 18 years old in a Vultee BT-13 Valiant, one of the most widely used training aircraft during World War II. 

When King met his grandfather in Missoula, Moore thought they were going to take a short flight around the Missoula valley.  

Rather, King flew the duo to Crystal Lake, a private golf course near Eureka. There, the two toured the Air Museum, where Moore posed before a 1941 Valiant. They also took a ride in a golf cart to see the Stonehenge replica on site. 

The pair was joined in Eureka by King’s parents, Tricia and Tony, who drove from Kalispell. 

“Grandpa Dick was so thrilled,” said Tricia. “He is so proud of Coley and that they share a love of flying, and Coley is so proud of him and all his amazing life accomplishments.” 

    Retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard "Dick" Moore with the 1941 Vultee BT-13 Valiant at the Air Museum at Crystal Lakes. (Photo provided)
  

    Delta pilot and WHS grad, Captain Coleman A. "Coley" King, and his grandfather, retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard "Dick" Moore, in midflight. (Photo provided)
  

    WHS grads, Coleman King and Clayton Collins were neighbors while growing up in Whitefish and are Delta pilots based in New York City. Recently, they had the opportunity to fly together. (Photo provided)