Angel Flight Continues To Distinguish Itself With Its Service To Our Nation

ANN Reader (and all-around cool guy) Robert Maier has been a pivotal participant in the GA effort to mitigate the misery of Hurricane Katrina. A member of the extraordinary Angel Flight South Central relief effort, his note and pictures are included  below to give you another look at the amazing work done by these amazing aviators... some of the best of us all, for sure.

From Robert Maier:

Two missions for Friday. 1st, the Lago Vista TX (5R3) Slidell LA (ASD) food run. Another 600 pounds carried in 34J, more than a ton so far. My front seat pax was 4 50# bags of rice, 1 bag is 586 servings!  (picture 2) (yes, it was hot!)

Jim.. you really have to do a story on Bob & Diane and the crew doing this food airlift out of 5R3. They have done wonders! Had a Pilatus behind me in line at 5R3, he was Baton Rouge outbound as I arrived in the area, over Houston that guy was at FL240. (jealous)

3rd picture between BTR and ASD at 7000 feet, clouds at 7000ish. As I was watching the chopper line from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, a perfect rainbow circled the ground, and moved in reference to 34J. Thought to myself... it's the Angel Flight Halo, representing my ATC IFR cleared airspace! Rare Sight.

4th picture... USMC unloads 34J in her taildragger configuration. Thank God! Hot & muggy, and this pilot couldn't have quickly moved that 600# by himself.

5th picture: I keep running into famous moments at Baton Rouge Aviat (Angel Flight area)
Who would have thought this famous WWI Sopwith Camel pilot would be sitting around waiting for a mission!

6th picture- Priceless. Courtney B. and her 2yr daughter, 1 yr son, 3 days in the Ninth Ward before helo evac, then shelters, churches in Baton Rouge. They couldn't get out before Katrina hit.. ATM's out of money, no gas, and they had cars. (now ruined.) I took them to friends and family living in Houston. They intend to return to New Orleans and rebuild. The stories she told... they also went thru living hell.

10.6 flight hours, 1070 nm flown $433 in gas, 16 hour duty day.
 
(Not-so-subtle hint to friends.. www.angelflightsc.org donate!)
 
"In the Air, Because We Care"

FMI: www.angelflightsc.org