It was one of those days that Ronnie Powers, owner of Atlanta Air Exchange in Griffin, Georgia, will remember for a long time to come. A group of Mercy Flight™ Southeast pilots, earth angels and EAA 690 pilots were standing there looking at this ... this ... what was it? A salvaged plane? And they were smiling.

The only thing Ronnie couldn't understand was why a charity organization that flies people seeking specialized medical treatment wanted this ... aircraft. He soon found out. They were going to build a magnificent float to represent Mercy Flight™ Southeast in the 25th Annual Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade!

Mr. Powers was convinced.

“Take Merlin and do anything you want with him,” he said. And the volunteers with the North Georgia Wing of Mercy Flight™ Southeast certainly did that and more.

After a little work, Merlin turned out to be a very special Mercy Flight™ Southeast Plane ... complete with Angel Wings and Halo.

And his mission for Mercy Flight™ Southeast was like no other. Merlin carried excited children, pilots, earth angels, and the aviator bear mascot through the streets of downtown Atlanta with pride.

And we've got the pictures to prove it.