Retirement takes flight for pilot
A St. Joseph veterinarian for 40 years, Dr. Ron Wade also loves flying. When he retired in 1997, the doctor started spending more time in the air. And he heard about Angel Flight Central, a charitable group that provides long-distance transportation for those with critical medical needs or other problems.
At a Pony Express Chapter meeting of the Missouri Pilots Association in 2006, Dr. Wade said he realized he didn’t have any excuses for not participating in the program. “So I decided to go for it,” he said.
A year and nine months later, Dr. Wade has flown 29 missions in his six-passenger Bonanza A-36. Pilots are responsible for all flight costs.
“Dr. Wade not only provides an incredible service to those Angel Flight passengers he flies,” said Brendan Sneegas, outreach director for Angel Flight, “he also takes additional time to spread the word about Angel Flight Central.”
James H. Stevens Jr., founded Angel Flight Central, Inc., originally known as Wings Over Mid-America, in 1995 with four volunteer pilots. Today, Angel Flight has 1,000 volunteer pilots, seven full-time professionals and a group of volunteers that handles everything from mission screening to raising funds.
Pilots, volunteers and supporters in the 10-state region have made more than 10,000 flights free of charge and covered more than five million miles, said Linda Sanchez, an Angel Flight spokeswoman.
Two other pilots, Clark Hampton and Anthony Scheidel, fly out of Rosecrans Memorial Airport for Angel Flight.
Marshall White can be reached
at marshall@npgco.com.
This story has 1 comment. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Smurfit workers go on strike
Cotter takes his wings to state post
Raises, insurance in doubt for county employees
Senator wants to dampen river parties
U.S. Bank robbed on Belt
- More Headlines
- Recently Discussed
I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Wade recently when he was on an Angel Flight Mission from Kansas City to our Mt. Vernon, Illinois airport. I am a volunteer ambassador for the Angel Flight Program in Kansas City and this mission he was flying was to help transport a young lady and her father to Cincinnati Ohio for medical treatment. This was a two flight mission with a stop here to transfer them to another plane that took them the rest of the way to Cincinnati. He and his co-pilot stayed overnight so they could take them back home the next day when they again came through Mt. Vernon. This is what these Angel Flight pilots do, volunteer their time, fly their own airplane, purchase all of the gas, and charge nothing for the service. He is now making plans to again help fly this family again when they need to travel to Cincinnati for more medical treatment. He volunteers for these missions on a regular basis and I want to personally thank him for his kindness in his helping people by offering free transportation to medical treatment hospitals throughout the Midwest.
Bernie Lillick
Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
Rules: We don't allow comments that degrade others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Epithets, abusive language and obscene comments will not be tolerated... nor will defamation. Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatent cutting and pasting is not acceptable.Robust, even heated debate we like. Straying off-topic or flaming, we don't. Please read our user agreement.
Requires free stjoenews.net registration.