Aviation Community Salutes Career of Pilot Dick Horowitz, Part 1

By Carmelo Turdo

The aviation community salutes the career of pilot and humanitarian Dick Horowitz, who recently completed his final flight as Chief Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) pilot at Wings of Hope. Horowitz, still an avid pilot and mentor to many current and future aviators, will be featured in a series of stories and an upcoming video on The Aero Experience in the coming weeks. In this series, we will explore the adventures and insights of the consummate corporate aircraft captain and world traveler who never lost his perspective as a generous and compassionate human being along the way.

In Part 1 of this series, we look back on Dick Horowitz's retirement as Chief Pilot for the Wings of Hope Medical Relief and Air Transport Program last November. The traditional water cannon salute was provided by a Monarch Fire Protection District crew as the Piper Navajo taxied to the Wings of Hope hangar. Horowitz and other MAT volunteer pilots provide air transportation for patients needing specialized treatment in facilities around the Midwest within 600 miles of St. Louis. The MAT program served 218 patients and flew nearly 117,000 miles in 2019.

The Aero Experience thanks Dick Horowitz and Wings of Hope for all they do to serve others in need through aviation, and we will feature Dick Horowitz again in an upcoming interview and video presentation.