The Aero Experience Week In Review: Current and Future Aviation Stories Take Shape

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience wraps up another week visiting our Midwest Aviation Community partners to gather media for future stories and videos. In this week in review post, we include our visit to Creve Coeur Airport and a review of the new story on the Wings of Hope Navajo aircraft flight following the year-long avionics upgrade.

Wings of Hope Flies Medical Relief and Air Transport Patient In Updated Piper Navajo Aircraft 

Wings of Hope recently flew a Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program patient aboard their updated Piper Navajo, the newest addition to the domestic medical transport fleet. The flight ushers in a new era for the MAT Program that currently flies over 200 patients per year nearly 120,000 miles to health care facilities around the Midwest. The Navajo is based at the Wings of Hope World Headquarters at Spirit of St. Louis Airport where it serves with two Piper Senecas in the MAT Program. 

The Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program provides air transport services, including provision for lodging, without cost to patients in need of treatment at specialized medical facilities. Most of those served are children with congenital or serious health conditions that require a series of treatments away from home. Volunteer pilots, nurses and ground crews are highly experienced and committed to making the flight experience as safe and comfortable as possible.

(Photo courtesy of John Heilmann)

Creve Coeur Airport, Maryland Heights, MO

The Aero Experience visits Creve Coeur Airport regularly as we work with our sponsors and aviation industry partners. This week, we are working on several long-term projects, including:

Planning for Youth Aviation Day, June 4, sponsored by the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation and the airport, continues. Similar to last year's event, Youth Aviation Day will feature aircraft and exhibits from area aviation organizations, Young Eagle and Discovery Flights and other fun activities. Check the link above for more information throughout the spring.

Gateway Flight Training welcomes CFII and Commercial Pilot, Devin Horn, to their flight instructor staff. He completed his CFI and CFII flight training at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ and taught there as well before coming to St. Louis. The Aero Experience will post his story and video in the coming weeks.

While visiting the airport, we spotted some very interesting aircraft that will be featured later in our March General Aviation (and More!) monthly review. Also included here is a KC-135R Stratotanker from nearby Scott AFB passing overhead in the landing pattern for St. Louis-Lambert International Airport.