Capuanos complete epic journey

TRACY KENNEDY, Register Citizen Staff
June 24, 2001

BURLINGTON -- Cheers of exhilaration greeted Ralph and Bill Capuano when they exited the cockpit of their single-engine plane Saturday evening at Mountain Meadow Airstrip in Burlington.

Broad grins stretched across their faces as they hugged family members and friends who sprayed them with champagne and handed out cigars. "This has been an experience of a lifetime," said Bill Capuano of Harwinton. "We are tired, worn thin, and at the end. We are happy to be home." His brother, Ralph Capuano of Torrington, said he couldn't wait to take a hot shower and a long slumber. The brothers have spent seven days flying a 300 horsepower Cherokee "SIX" airplane across the country on a journey to raise money for Darlene Clarke, 25, of New Britain, who is struggling in a battle against leukemia and ever-increasing medical bills. Clarke, and her husband, Chuck, were there to congratulate the pilots on their success, and extend their gratitude. "I'm glad they came back safely," said Clarke. "I can't thank them enough. No one, except my mother giving birth to me, perhaps, has ever done anything so wonderful for me before." By selling maps of their itinerary, they raised over $10,000 to help the Clarke family. The brothers paid for their own expenses. The Capuanos met Clarke through her father, Gary Jones, who is a sales manager at Ralph Capuano's Torrington automobile dealership. He and Bill Capuano, who is the owner of TEC Control Systems in Torrington wanted to do something "big" to help Clarke. They spent 55 hours in the clouds, touching down in the 48 continental United States on a record-setting journey. However, it seemed no matter how much they planned the trip, Mother Nature had the last word. "It seemed like every day we looked at a map, that's where the storms were," said Bill Capuano. Several times they had to change their flight plan to adjust for the weather. "One person could never do this alone," said Bill Capuano, "You really need one person to fly and the other to navigate." Every evening they updated family and friends after being in the clouds for eight to ten hours a day. They said they received nearly 30 e-mail messages a day from local residents and some scattered supporters across the country that found their Web site. "I don't think we will be doing this again, any time soon, anyway," joked Bill Capuano. The Capuanos were impressed by the tremendous amount of support from local residents who helped them prepare their plane and good will from people they met along the way across the country who learned of their mission. "Everyone has been phenomenal," said Bill Capuano. Before they left Kentucky, a fellow flier filled up their gas tank for free. While flying just ahead of a storm into the controllers in a Tennessee airport told them to fly directly into the hanger for safety. In another state a hail storm threatened to damage their plane and in the middle of the night an airport worker drove to the airstrip and pushed their plane into a hanger for protection. "That's the way the aviation community is," Ralph Capuano said. "It makes me feel good that we can do something like this for Darlene," said Bill Capuano. "That's what it's all about." Donations can still be made to the "Leukemia Fund Darlene Clarke". Posters that chart the flight itinerary are available for $48 at Capuano Buick, Cadillac, GMC, at 790 Main St., in Torrington or the Cadillac Ranch on West Street in Southington or by e-mail at capuanosales@snet.net.

©The Register Citizen 2001