Angel's Wings Transport a Public Benefit Corporation

It has been some time since I posted an update so I thought that I would take a moment to explain why. My flying has slowed down a little now that my family has added a second little boy to our band of merry makers. He is quite the handful at only 5 months old so I can only imagine what the future brings.....

This isn't the only distraction that I've had in my life, I also decided that it was time to reach out to others less fortunate than myself. While my family is not exactly well off, we have a roof over our head and our share of toys to play with when we are lucky to have some free time. During the later part of 2015 I formed Angel's Wings Transport as a Non-Profit Corporation in Washington State. This non-profit exists for three reasons:

1. Animal Rescue - Provide transportation to rescued animals that have been adopted away from kill shelters or accepted into non kill shelters and rescues for adoption.
2. Patient / Medical Supply Transport - Assist financially needy medical patients so that they may receive treatment at major medical facilities; transport family members for visits during risky procedures. Transport blood, organs and tissue from hospital to hospital.
3. Military Transport - Transport members of the military to and from medical appointments at Military Treatment Facilities, assist with transportation for Military Funeral Honors teams to remote locations, assist financially needy family members so they may attend funerals for service members regardless of the deceased's period of service (war or peacetime). 

The organization is named Angel's Wings Transport or Angel's Wings for short. We are always in need of volunteers to assist with fundraising, mission coordination, overnight animal fostering, pilot duties and the list could go on forever.....

To learn more about us, head on over to our About Us page for some more general information about who we are and what we do. You can also follow our Facebook page by clicking here "Follow Angel's Wings on Facebook"

If you are a pilot looking for our requirements just pop on over to our Pilot Info page and we will answer all of your questions.

First flight in the Mooney M20E

I have finally been able to log some time in a Mooney M20 and I am impressed. The plane I flew is a 1964 M20E with original paint, interior and instrument arrangement.

The E model was the first in the M20 line to offer fuel injection and an extra 20 horse power over previous models. I will freely admit that I was nervous about sitting left seat on this flight as I couldn't even imagine how to retract the gear with the manual "Johnson" bar while managing more speed than I'm used to, dealing with cowl flaps and flying from a busy field under the Sea-Tac Bravo.
 

It was easy to look past the non six pack instrument layout and I quickly realized that the Mooney wouldn't be drastically different than the Piper Arrow that I've been flying for the last 25 or so hours.

My first indication that my initial evaluation might be incorrect presented itself during the run up. Every bit of the run up was as it had been in every other plane that I've flown except the part about checking that the controls are free and clear.

I discovered that the controls only moved a fraction of what they did in the Cessna and Piper planes I was used to. At this point I began to worry about over controlling, under controlling and just looking like an idiot in front of the plane's owner. The takeoff was smooth as silk and retracting the gear was much easier than I would have thought. Unlock the gear handle, pull back, rotate hand to push the bar to the floor, push the nose over briefly and "thunk", the gear is up and locked.

The climb rate was a beautiful 1000 feet per minute from sea level to our level off altitude of 3000. This is when I began to really like this airplane. The controls were smooth and responsive with a sports car feel. I found little difficulty flying with relative precision except when transitioning to straight and level flight. I constantly failed to let the plane stabilize at it's cruise speed before trying to trim. It just seemed to keep accelerating. 110, 130, in to the yellow arc, 160 mph..... Holy Cow!

 

The plan was to fly to a small strip (W10) and grab some coffee. What I didn't know was that this strip is 2,500 feet long and 25 feet wide. That makes it a little challenging for a first landing in a plane that is known to require the kind of speed control that I hadn't developed yet.

I struggled a little getting into slow down to pattern speed and had to go around twice. The second go around was about 5 feet before the wheels touched but I had floated about half way down the runway due to some excess speed. When we departed W10 I was a little worried about the short field and tall trees but the plane handled it beautifully. I decided to try some steep turns and was quickly impressed with the roll rate and pitch stability.

We had to get back to Renton (KRNT) and I experienced another first... I was actually over taking a plane in the pattern! A quick left 360 provided the spacing needed but put me back on the downwind even with the approach end of the runway. I figured that if my landing was going to be messed up, this is where it was going to start going wrong. Dropping the gear was quick and easy, add two pumps on the flaps and I'm turning base on speed. Add two more pumps for full flaps, pull a little power and turn final both configured for landing and on speed. I'm beginning to really feel comfortable now.

 I've heard that Mooneys can be difficult to land because of how low they sit to the ground but I don't think that it caused me any issue. I crossed the numbers at 80 mph and leveled off a few feet above the ground. It only required a squeeze of the fingers to make the required adjustments and I made one of the smoothest landings ever. To be honest, I wasn't sure that we'd touched the ground at all. I really think that the plane made me look good.

 This plane feels solid, handles like a dream, is fast and efficient and is now on a very short list of airplanes that we will be considering for our dedicated rescue plane.

Let's Fly WA Destination Videos

Let's Fly WA will begin releasing videos, slideshows, downloadable information and other items to help showcase some of Washington's attractions.

Pilots love to explore new areas but it can be difficult to find that special place sometimes. In this day and age of high priced fuel it is even more important to have all of the information you can in an effort to get as much fun and adventure out of your trip as possible.

Along with attraction information we will include airport info and in flight videos showing the approach to some of the more interesting airports in the state. We all hate going in to an airport without having access to some local knowledge.

View a quick preview below and then subscribe to either our Patreon page or our YouTube feed so you don’t miss an episode. 

Support Lets Fly WA Through Patreon

One of our goals has always been to provide our readers with more than something to browse and forget or a cute little video of blue sky and a propeller spinning.

We are currently filming short segments that highlight one or two reasons to fly to a particular airport. It could be an on airport cafe, beach access, local attractions or simply the wonderful customer service on the field.

All of our videos are free but if you like, we do have a donation page at Patreon that would help acquire better cameras and sound equipment as well as allowing us to offer more content.

Alaska Flying Video

Lets Fly WA's Patreon Page

Please follow the links above for more information or to simply enjoy a quick video of flying in Alaska.

As always, fly safe!

Support Angel's Wings

Help Angel's Wings in their mission to provide transportation to both humans and animals in need.

Angel's Wings partners with nonprofit organizations to assist with the coordination, documentation and completion of public benefit flights on a regional level. These flights provide assistance to military veterans, medical patients and animals that are being rescued from kill shelters by their adopted families or specialty, no kill shelters.

Are you a pilot looking for a good cause?

Do you have a plane that you would like to donate the use of?

Are you looking to volunteer your time to help those in need?

No amount of assistance is too small. Please contact Angel's Wings through their Facebook page or our comments section.


Angel's Wings coordinates transport of displaced animals or medical patients in need from an airport closest to the point of origination to an airport closest to the destination through the use of general aircraft.

By using private or corporate planes, we have the ability to fly into not only commercial airports, but also small local airstrips.

There is never a fee to the sending or receiving organization.

Angel's Wings Facebook page

Takeoffs and Landings: Base to Final Turn

Overshooting that base-to-final turn can be a problem. Trying to get back on course safely can be dangerous.

R.A. "Bob" Hoover Receives NAA Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

Originally from AOPA.org

David Hartman interviews Bob Hoover on his remarkable flying career as he receives the 2014 NAA Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

After 70 years of achievements in aviation, the industry honored Robert A. “Bob” Hoover with its top award, the NAA Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy. Described by Jimmy Doolittle, a past recipient of the trophy, as “the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived,” Hoover has flown, tested, and even crashed more airplanes than most any other pilot who ever lived.

Accident Case Study: Delayed Reaction

On December 20, 2011, a TBM-700 crashed onto a freeway near Morristown, New Jersey. In this case study, we piece together the events that led to the tragedy, and discuss what we as pilots can learn from them.

Bob Hoover Awarded Wright Trophy

The 2014 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy was awarded to Robert "Bob" Hoover during a dinner in Washington, D.C.

 This annual award is given to a living American by the National Aeronautical Association to honor significant public service of value to aviation. Jim Albaugh, the NAA chairman said, "For 70 years he has set the standard for skill, leadership, and bravery which may last forever."

Hoover, at age 92, has been involved in the aviation world long enough to have met Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh, James Doolittle, and Neil Armstrong. General Jimmy Doolittle called him "the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived." General Charles "Chuck" Yeager once described him as "the best pilot flying today." A documentary about Hoover's life, Flying the Feathered Edge, is now available on DVD.