Carl and Sharon Baker of Lancaster Township admire the 1974 Piper Warrior airplane they won in a raffle from the Wings of Hope. They received the plane Wednesday.

PENN TWP — Carl Baker of Lancaster Township had never won anything in his life.

“I guess I was saving up for this,” said the recent Texas transplant.

Baker sported a soaring grin Wednesday as he watched the vintage 1974 Piper Warrior airplane he won in a charity raffle lightly touch down on the sun-baked runway at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.

“Suh-weet!” he exclaimed as the plane taxied to a stop.

Baker won the white plane with orange detailing and plaid 1970s seats through a nationwide raffle operated twice per year by Wings of Hope in St. Louis.

The organization earns about $325,000 per raffle for its mission to provide transport — free of charge — to those who need medical treatment or surgery within a 900-mile radius of St. Louis.

Wings of Hope and its 16 volunteer pilots also use aviation to provide medevac flights and access to health care to remote communities in 10 countries other than the United States.

Read the full story in Thursday's Butler Eagle.