2025 Recap
1,165 total flying hours Q 1,118 community benefit flying hours
728 takeoffs & an equivalent number of runway landings!
Completed 130 people missions for 225 people, on behalf of Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, Angel Flight East, LifeLine Pilots, Angel Flight of New England, Angel Flight Central, and Elevated Access.
Transported 906 animals on 71 missions for Pilots N Paws and Seuks Army.
I couldn’t fly this much without the support of so many people and organizations! I am humbled by it.
Most deserved of thanks is my wife Sue, who has been extremely supportive of my efforts, tolerant of my numerous long absences, and more than anything, has to endure my single-mindedness/mission focused persistence, where just about everything has become secondary. I often joke it’s a good thing that I didn’t find community benefit flying when I was younger, as its quite probable I wouldn’t have a wife, job, kids, pets, etc., and would be living alone in a trailer at some airport. (And according to Sue, this is still a strong possibility!). Thank you Sue!
The many ‘Angel Flight’ organizations (which may not be named AF) and their mission coordinators, who all go out of their way to help patients find their way to healthcare access, sometimes via uber and commercial flights (when needed), but primarily private flights. It is huge undertaking to vet pilots and patients, do the paperwork, and coordinate the flights with ever-changing medical appointments. David, Madi, Avigail, Melissa, Jonathan, Anne, Jordan, Nicole….thank you, you all really put your heart into helping these passengers!
Karissa, Rebecca, and Sydney, who are the primary organizers of my animal rescue trips, and the ground crew at Culpeper Airport, Seuks Army, who all contribute in so many ways, from flight coordination, linking rescues, finding homes, paying for vet bills, assisting on the ground on flight days, etc. etc. We’d have many fewer animals to transport without the reliable flying of Jerry Stephens, who flies a large plane from the deep south almost every week! And while everyone loves cute puppy pictures, what goes unnoted are the hundreds of selfless volunteers in rural areas who are always underfunded and rescuing animals from dire circumstances, when there are literally no other options.
Kevin Woodside and Bill McCoy of WhiteHawk Aviation, who keep my planes airworthy, or at least one of them at any one time (hopefully). They run a very unique shop and have supported me in times of dire need more times than I can count, including last minute maintenance needed to conduct missions, and even helping in the middle of missions (flat tires!).
This year, a local community business owner and long time supporter, Pat Licata, graciously put together a fundraising event at a local restaurant, Clear Water Fire Grill. It was so well attended that they had to turn people away at the door! And not only did Pat plan, organize, and promote the event, she also made many of the raffle items. It was wildly successful (which was somewhat surprising, given I really only know my immediate neighbors and dog park buddies), and I can’t thank Pat and John enough, as well as Lenny Shaefer, the restaurant owner, for providing a great venue and a generous contribution, to boot!
A special mention also to Jerry Neglio who owns Navions West Inc., a huge parts inventory of all-things Navion, and has donated various parts, advice and $ to support my flying. I've never met Jerry in person but he has been super supportive and I really appreciate him for helping me as well as keeping Navions aloft.
One of the best parts of the day after a long mission is returning to Culpeper Regional Airport, which is my home away from home. Tanya Buchner Woodward, and the entire airport staff have been so supportive; this year, they even came up with the idea of having a “Runway Run/Walk” charity to raise money for Seuk’s Army.
I've flown so much and become such a nuisance (with my Dulles east side transition route requests) that many Controllers at Potomac Tracon know me by name. Its wonderful to get back to 'home airspace' and feel welcomed! Thank you Jeff Simmons, Jessica Briggs, Sarah Patten, Matthew Gray Ryan Miller, and Jason Brown to name a few. My current fav is some guy named Alan/Allen; he’s never routed me to MRB!
I wouldn't be able to fly many of these flights without the dogwalkers and dogsitters who watch my own dog, Halo, often at the last minute and odd hours. She loves each of these caregivers and there may even be a slight look of disappointment when I show up to retrieve her! Katie Yarrow, Rob Yarrow, Carole McGuire, and Mike Potts. You guys are awesome! And recently Katie has knitted up a storm and enrolled others to make quilts in various sizes that I provide to passengers on Angel Flights. She does beautiful work and the patients are so appreciative!
And lets not kid ourselves, I couldn't have flown this much without the fantastic financial contributions of many supporters, through the many tax-deductible contributions to my individual fuel fund at Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic (which now accepts checks as well as credit card contributions, although the third-party processing fees are, unfortunately, egregious). See www.Kley.com . Your donations are 100% efficient (as compared to most charities)...as 100% of the contributions go to Avgas purchases. (I cover the cost of maintenance, engine reserve, insurance, hanger space, piloting, lattes, and the numerous $4,000 engine parts that I'd never heard of before which need to be replaced). It has truly allowed me to fly many more missions to serve patient's and animals needs!
I truly thank everyone who has helped me help these people and animals in need this year. I couldn't have done it without you.
Be sure to friend me on facebook as I try to post every mission there. https://www.facebook.com/kley.parkhurst/