The Aero Experience is a celebration of Midwest Aviation and aerospace achievement. We invite you to join us as we tell the story of Midwest Aviation through first-hand, immersive media presentations. Check in with The Aero Experience frequently to see where we land, and then go out and have your own aero experiences!
Showing posts with label general aviation on a mission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general aviation on a mission. Show all posts
Pilots N Paws, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting volunteer pilots with animal transportation needs, is sponsoring a mass flyway of over one hundred dogs from St. Louis to Lakeville, MN on March 1. General aviation pilots from around the region are invited to fly these rescues for adoption into loving homes. Pilots N Paws and the host airports have made it as convenient as possible to participate in this General Aviation on a Mission opportunity. The plan for the event includes:
Sunday, March 1 Pilot briefing at 7 A.M. Dogs arrive 8 A.M. Aircraft depart for Airlake Airport (KLVN) Lakeville, MN
Most current, certified pilots will qualify for a Pilots N Paws mission, and detailed guidelines for flying animals are provided on their website. Those interested in the St. Louis to Lakeville flyway may register with Mission Coordinator Rachel Jouppi at the number below. Check back with The Aero Experience for our full coverage of flyway weekend activities.
Wings of Hope, the global humanitarian aviation nonprofit organization based at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, continues to serve those in need around the world and here in the Midwest. For over sixty years, Wings of Hope has provided aircraft and supported aviation programs to sustain and improve the lives of people in Central and South America, Africa and Asiana through partnerships with local non-governmental organizations, churches and healthcare providers. Here in the U.S, the Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program provides a critical airlift mission for those needing regular treatments at specialty facilities in 26 states within 900 miles of St. Louis without charge to the patient.
The first MAT Program flight was made in 2003 using the single-engine, high wing Cessna 206 aircraft shown here in the Wings of Hope hangar. This aircraft type is frequently used in humanitarian operations around the world due to its high useful load and ability to operate out of smaller airstrips. The current aircraft fleet consists of two Piper Senecas and a Piper Navajo, twin-engine aircraft flying with two pilots, a flight nurse and/or doctor along with the patient and accompanying family member. Patients are usually ambulatory, but they can also be transported on a medical bed in the aircraft if necessary.
Each volunteer flight crew brings a wealth of commercial flying experience and a servant's spirit to every MAT flight. Current and new patients can apply for flights by contacting the Wings of Hope Flight Operations Department. Most treatment plans require repeated flights to specialty cancer, orthopedic or cardiology centers over months or years, and the MAT Program covers the transportation and lodging for each trip. Flight schedules vary from week to week, with some days launching two flights. Here we show the hangar crew pulling the aircraft out of the hangar to position one of the Senecas for an MAT mission before returning the others to their places. The mission aircraft took off shortly thereafter.
Along with the MAT fleet, the Wings of Hope hangar contains donated aircraft being prepared for raffle and for sale to fund the non-profit's operations. The current raffle aircraft is a Socata TB-10 Tobago that is currently undergoing panel upgrades before it is awarded to the winner.
Several aircraft are currently offered for sale, including this beautiful Ercoupe 415C and a Cessna 150L with 150HP engine upgrade. Others will be available after they receive inspections and any needed maintenance and repairs.
The Aero Experience thanks Wings of Hope for "Changing and Saving Lives Through the Power of Aviation" and serving as an excellent example of General Aviation on a Mission. Check back for our regular stories featuring Wings of Hope throughout the coming year.
The Aero Experience has launched a new series of feature stories, called General Aviation on a Mission, to celebrate the positive impact of general aviation on our society. As mentioned in the previous post, a wide range of examples of this theme can be found in our story archives. This brief pictorial review of those special moments will illustrate the generosity and ingenuity of the general aviation community.
Growing Aviation: Leading by Example
General aviation aircraft owners regularly participate in STEM education programs to promote career opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industries. These efforts are often voluntary participation in regional or national programs sponsored by non-profit organizations. Here we feature Amelia Rose Earhart raising funds for flight training scholarships; AeroCareers sponsoring the appearance of the Lancair Columbia The New Spirit of St. Louis used by Erik Lindbergh to recreate his grandfather's famous solo transatlantic flight; EAA Young Eagles free first flights for youth aged 8-17; Jill Rempala's Cessna 150 employed as a pre-flight training aid for the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation'sIntro to Flight class; Piston Aviation's Future Pilots Fund scholarship airplane raffle; Elite Aviation hosts the Red Tail Cadet Program providing flight training and youth mentoring to area high school students; and John Fester gives an incentive flight in his T-28 warbird to Red Tail Cadet D.J. Beal.
Humanitarian Aviation: Meeting Needs Where They Live
Non-profit aviation service organizations leverage their resources to fund humanitarian air operations in the U.S. and around the world. In these examples, we show how general aviation aircraft types are the best choices to gain access to both American airports and austere landing strips and harbors in undeveloped nations. Here we include the Medical Relief and Air Transport Program from St. Louis-based Wings of Hope; Flying Medical Service in Arusha, Tanzania; Arusha Medivac also in Tanzania; Samaritan Aviation in Papua, New Guinea; MiracleAir in Fiji Islands; Hands of Compassion in Guatemala; and the Civil Air Patrol.
Honoring Our Heritage: Celebrating Veterans and Their Families
We include these flights in our coverage of General Aviation on a Mission to celebrate the service of our military veterans and their families. Three non-profit organizations are represented here, each providing flights in warbirds by volunteer pilots who devote their own time and resources to remain current and available for what are often called Heritage Flights. Included below are the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force with their B-25 Show Me and Stearman trainer; Dream Flights Stearman; and Gateway Chapter of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Huey helicopter.
Other Amazing and Fun Missions
General Aviation on a Mission can be as personal as each individual contributor. We conclude our pictorial with a look at some highly creative and satisfying flights: Cathy Babis becomes the first female seaplane pilot to circumnavigate mainland Australia; a LifeLine Pilots crew stopped at Mount Vernon Outland Airport on a cross-country journey to deliver their canine passengers for service dog training in Cedar Rapids, IA; Paul Voorhees flew The Aero Experience on our photo mission around St. Louis with ExtremeFlight airshow pilot Patrick McAlee; and Gregg Adam donated his time and Airbus helicopter to deliver Santa Clause to the National Museum of Transportation to kick off the Christmas season.
This is just a small sample of the General Aviation on a Mission stories we have covered over the years. Check back frequently for more Midwest Aviation content here and on The Aero ExperienceFacebook and Instagram pages. Also check out @fly_with_alexisfor even more amazing content!
