WhenPigsFlyCFI.Com
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| "But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint" Isaiah 40:31 |
| The Angel Flight Organization is a leading aviation humanitarian effort that provides much needed transportation to individuals who lack the ability or funds to tend to their medical needs. Angel Flight West is based at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) in Southern California. AFW provides air transport services to Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. This outstanding organization is supported by a Staff of terrific people who arrange Pilots, Ground Crews and Volunteers to support those in need of medical transportation. AFW Pilots are truly to best of what the aviation world has to offer in terms of those who are fortunate enough to have the ability, financial stability and desire to serve others. AFW Pilots donate their time, their aircraft and all the related expenses to support this outstanding cause. The Angel Flight Organization is supported by Doctors, hospitals and social workers who work together as a team to provide the necessary services to our clients. I am proud to be a Command Pilot and strong supporter of AFW. Please click on their logo to learn more about what Angel Flight provides. Please remember AFW in your prayers and in your financial support. Any donation is tax deductible. Click Here to Make a Donation to AFW |
When I first began flying for AFW, I decided to begin a personal journal of my involvement with the people
I would meet along the way. I never knew how AFW would impact me personally. What I discovered was
this was my opportunity to give back to others and live out the dream of aviation at the same time. I share
this personal journal with you to give you just a taste of the impact AFW has on so many wonderful people.
A Boy and His Mom
Angel Flight Command Pilot - Story #1
On Friday, March 11, 2005, I flew my first Angel Flight Mission as the actual Command Pilot. It is a day
that in all of my life's travels has gone down as one of those Significant Emotional Events that ranks in
the top 10, so far, in my short life history.
This was hop #2 of a two-legged mission that originated in Eureka, CA. I had made previous contact with
the first leg pilot who agreed to meet me in Visalia at noon. He was coming from the Eureka area with
our passenger and he was concerned about the fog in the Central Valley area of CA. and wanted to make
it later in the morning. Our passenger's name was Penny and once she arrived in Visalia, we learned
more about her story (more in a minute).
I had recruited my best friend Mark Foster to fly with me as the Mission Assistance for this hop. Mark is a
better Pilot than myself, I have a lot of dual time with him and we fly together in complete tandem. This
was Mark's first exposure to AFW. We met at the airport at about 0945 and quickly got through our
pre-flight and got ready to launch. Our goal was to be wheels up by 1015 hours. We made it. I had
previously filed an IFR Flight Plan and Mark flew left seat all the way up to Visalia. It was uneventful
flight. Mark did an excellent job. It was a little hazy with some low overcast in the Bakersfield/Fresno
area and we eventually landed in marginal VFR conditions at KVIS, which is an uncontrolled field. We
had a 20 knot + tailwind and made great time to our destination. The only snafu was when the
knucklehead co-pilot forgot to dial in the correct VOR frequency and sent us a couple of miles past our
turning point. The knucklehead co-pilot would be me!
We landed about 1130 hours, Mark cleaned the bugs off the plane and I took out our lunch that Julie
made for us and headed for the Pilot's Lounge (quick stop by the little boy's room). I filed our flight plan
for the return trip through Rancho Murrietta Flight Service Station, who was kind of short and rude with
me, until she found out we were an Angel Flight Mission and she suddenly became so much more
cooperative. Mark joined me in the lounge and we ate lunch and chatted for almost two hours waiting for
the first leg pilot to show up with our passenger. At about 1330, they showed, explained they were delayed
due to weather and Penny was anxious to get to her final destination in Riverside.
Penny is the Mom of 12 year old Dustin. Dustin is disabled and had bladder enlargement surgery on
January 16, 2005. Mom had to get back to Eureka to work and go to school to keep the insurance going
for Dustin and she left her son with her parents in Riverside. Penny became emotional when she told me
that she hadn't seen Dustin in nearly 6 weeks. She called him from the Airport and told him we were on
our way. Dustin was crying and told his Mom he wanted her to hurry up. I told Penny to tell Dustin, we
were on our way....Code Three.
I flew left seat for the uneventful trip to Riverside. It was a nice flight and N2843T was transformed for
the next 1.8 hours to "Angel Flight 843T." It was pretty cool. As we stepped down out of altitude over
the Pasadena area, Approach Control cleared us to intercept the localizer for Riverside and we had an
nice long final approach to Riverside-Arlington Airport. We were precisely on time when we told Dustin,
Mom would be there at 1530 hours.
As we touched down at Riverside, I looked toward the terminal building and saw these two crutches
waving back and forth over the top of a four foot retaining wall in front of the main doors. As we got
closer, the crutches began bouncing up and down and then I saw a little head poking over the four foot
wall. As we taxied up to the terminal, I saw the tears streaming from Dustin's face. Mom got out and ran
to Dustin and Mark took some once in a lifetime photo's of their reunion. What an unbelievable sight to
see. Dustin shook our hands and thanked us many times...if he only knew that it was I who needed to
thank him for the privilege of playing such a small part in his oftentimes difficult life.
This is what AFW is all about. The Lord has blessed me with the finances, the plane and a little bit of
talent to give back to people who are less-fortunate than I can ever attempt to understand. Not being an
emotional kind of guy, this day really touch my life. I prayed that day...that the Lord would heal Dustin
and protect his Mom. I also thanked him for the blessing he gave me to impact the lives of others.
Mark and I flew back to Chino and spoke about what an awesome experience it was and we look forward
to the next "Mission" that we are able fly.
I realize this is a bit lengthy...but thanks for listening.
God Bless Dustin, Penny, Mark and the awesome folks at AFW.
Russ.
I would meet along the way. I never knew how AFW would impact me personally. What I discovered was
this was my opportunity to give back to others and live out the dream of aviation at the same time. I share
this personal journal with you to give you just a taste of the impact AFW has on so many wonderful people.
A Boy and His Mom
Angel Flight Command Pilot - Story #1
On Friday, March 11, 2005, I flew my first Angel Flight Mission as the actual Command Pilot. It is a day
that in all of my life's travels has gone down as one of those Significant Emotional Events that ranks in
the top 10, so far, in my short life history.
This was hop #2 of a two-legged mission that originated in Eureka, CA. I had made previous contact with
the first leg pilot who agreed to meet me in Visalia at noon. He was coming from the Eureka area with
our passenger and he was concerned about the fog in the Central Valley area of CA. and wanted to make
it later in the morning. Our passenger's name was Penny and once she arrived in Visalia, we learned
more about her story (more in a minute).
I had recruited my best friend Mark Foster to fly with me as the Mission Assistance for this hop. Mark is a
better Pilot than myself, I have a lot of dual time with him and we fly together in complete tandem. This
was Mark's first exposure to AFW. We met at the airport at about 0945 and quickly got through our
pre-flight and got ready to launch. Our goal was to be wheels up by 1015 hours. We made it. I had
previously filed an IFR Flight Plan and Mark flew left seat all the way up to Visalia. It was uneventful
flight. Mark did an excellent job. It was a little hazy with some low overcast in the Bakersfield/Fresno
area and we eventually landed in marginal VFR conditions at KVIS, which is an uncontrolled field. We
had a 20 knot + tailwind and made great time to our destination. The only snafu was when the
knucklehead co-pilot forgot to dial in the correct VOR frequency and sent us a couple of miles past our
turning point. The knucklehead co-pilot would be me!
We landed about 1130 hours, Mark cleaned the bugs off the plane and I took out our lunch that Julie
made for us and headed for the Pilot's Lounge (quick stop by the little boy's room). I filed our flight plan
for the return trip through Rancho Murrietta Flight Service Station, who was kind of short and rude with
me, until she found out we were an Angel Flight Mission and she suddenly became so much more
cooperative. Mark joined me in the lounge and we ate lunch and chatted for almost two hours waiting for
the first leg pilot to show up with our passenger. At about 1330, they showed, explained they were delayed
due to weather and Penny was anxious to get to her final destination in Riverside.
Penny is the Mom of 12 year old Dustin. Dustin is disabled and had bladder enlargement surgery on
January 16, 2005. Mom had to get back to Eureka to work and go to school to keep the insurance going
for Dustin and she left her son with her parents in Riverside. Penny became emotional when she told me
that she hadn't seen Dustin in nearly 6 weeks. She called him from the Airport and told him we were on
our way. Dustin was crying and told his Mom he wanted her to hurry up. I told Penny to tell Dustin, we
were on our way....Code Three.
I flew left seat for the uneventful trip to Riverside. It was a nice flight and N2843T was transformed for
the next 1.8 hours to "Angel Flight 843T." It was pretty cool. As we stepped down out of altitude over
the Pasadena area, Approach Control cleared us to intercept the localizer for Riverside and we had an
nice long final approach to Riverside-Arlington Airport. We were precisely on time when we told Dustin,
Mom would be there at 1530 hours.
As we touched down at Riverside, I looked toward the terminal building and saw these two crutches
waving back and forth over the top of a four foot retaining wall in front of the main doors. As we got
closer, the crutches began bouncing up and down and then I saw a little head poking over the four foot
wall. As we taxied up to the terminal, I saw the tears streaming from Dustin's face. Mom got out and ran
to Dustin and Mark took some once in a lifetime photo's of their reunion. What an unbelievable sight to
see. Dustin shook our hands and thanked us many times...if he only knew that it was I who needed to
thank him for the privilege of playing such a small part in his oftentimes difficult life.
This is what AFW is all about. The Lord has blessed me with the finances, the plane and a little bit of
talent to give back to people who are less-fortunate than I can ever attempt to understand. Not being an
emotional kind of guy, this day really touch my life. I prayed that day...that the Lord would heal Dustin
and protect his Mom. I also thanked him for the blessing he gave me to impact the lives of others.
Mark and I flew back to Chino and spoke about what an awesome experience it was and we look forward
to the next "Mission" that we are able fly.
I realize this is a bit lengthy...but thanks for listening.
God Bless Dustin, Penny, Mark and the awesome folks at AFW.
Russ.
