A Typical Angel Flight Mission

I've been involved with Angel Flight for over 10 years. Angel Flight provides transportation for people that have some medical need. Often these people live in an area not served by scheduled commercial flights, or they cannot be around large groups of people, or in some cases cannot afford commercial transportation. This is where Angel Flight can be of service. We can provide transportation at no cost to the client, the facility providing the medical care or any other party to the treatment. We cannot provide emergency transportation as our aircraft are not set up for it. Our clients must be ambulatory and be able to get into the aircraft on their own.

For more information about Angel Flight, got to the website.

I own and fly a Piper Archer II aircraft and keep it at The El Monte Airport. I've owned this airplane over 15 years and have flown it from the Los Angeles, California, USA area to as far as Niagra Falls, New York, Orlando, Florida and many places inbetween. My wife and I have flown across the United States about 10 times in this airplane.

Below are a few photos of a flight I made on June 10, 2004 when I had the opportunity to provide a service to a friend undergoing treatment at City of Hope in Duarte, California in the Los Angeles area. Kathy lives in Santa Rosa, California (North of San Francisco) and will be coming to Duarte over the next few months. My wife and I have known Kathy for over 5 years.

Getting the paperwork out of the way.

Getting the paperwork out of the way.

The paperwork is completed, the airplane is ready. A last minute photo for my records.

The paperwork is completed, the airplane is ready. A last minute photo for my records. Notice the overcast sky. This flight will be flown under Instrument Flight Rules or IFR.

We're just about ready to start the engine.

We're just about ready to start the engine.

We've been cleared to taxi to Runway 1 for IFR departure. I'll copy my clearance in the run-up area.

We've been cleared to taxi to Runway 1 for IFR departure. I'll copy my clearance in the run-up area.

We were cleared for IFR departure off Runway 1. Rotation is at 65, liftoff at 75, climbout at 85.

We were cleared for IFR departure off Runway 1. Rotation is at 65, lift off at 75, climb out at 85.

Climbing into the overcast, we made a right turn for the standard Runway 1 IFR departure. We entered the overcast at about 1.200 feet and were in it for about 5 minutes breaking out to clear skies at about 3,500 feet.

Climbing into the overcast, we made a right turn for the standard Runway 1 IFR departure. We entered the overcast at about 1.200 feet and were in it for about 5 minutes breaking out to clear skies at about 3,500 feet.

One question that is often asked of me and the other Angel Flight Pilots: "Who pays for this?" The answer is so simple that most people don't believe it. The pilot in command of the flight pays for all expenses related to the flight.

Requests for services from Angel Flight should come from a medical professional, social worker, or hospital.

For more information about Angel Flight and how we can help you or someone you know, please contact either me at billmurrell2004 at earthlink.net, or contact Angel Flight at a number on the website.