Take Off Talk with Angel Flight East

Volunteer flying: where every mile we fly becomes a bridge of hope for those in need, reminding us that the skies hold the power to change lives and heal hearts. Join us as we soar through the skies of compassion, dedication, and collaboration with a remarkable guest, Mark Hanson, a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight East . He shares his 'why' in providing essential flights for those who are in medi...

Life's most extraordinary stories are born from the courage to defy the odds and the strength to embrace every moment. Today, we have the privilege of hearing Angel Flight passenger Christine's survival journey. Ten years ago, Christine received a life-altering diagnosis of a rare form of brain cancer, and the doctors gave her just two to three years to live. Against all expectations, Christine no...

Where the stage meets the sky, we find our wings of compassion – reminding us that in our darkest hours, the light of humanity shines the brightest. In this episode, we take off with David Turner, a Broadway and television actor who takes his passion for flying to new heights by volunteering his time with Angel Flight East. David shares how he finds solace in the cockpit, where he discovers the ma...

Traveling from state to state on a commercial flight while dealing with a health condition can be extra challenging. Extending their arms to provide a valuable service, Angel Flight East takes that burden off for many patients. Today, we hear from one of the passengers as she takes off with Angel Flight while battling with colon cancer. Shani Billings shares how grateful she had been with the prog...

In this episode, Jess Ames and Maddy Beck chat with volunteer pilot Earl Burkholder, who bought a plane a couple of years after his retirement. He shares his deep love of passenger interactions that captivated him to work in Angel Flight East. Earl also talks about his previous job as a nuclear engineer and how he underwent commercial training to improve his flying.

Tim Barr had his first kidney transplant 23 years ago. The second transplant happened just recently. In this episode, Tim Barr shares his healthcare journey and the emotional rollercoaster he dealt with. Through the Navy Reserves connection Tim had, he was able to discover Angel Flight East . Overall, he had seven flights so far which gave him major convenience. Tim shares a piece of advice for pa...

Volunteer pilots are willing to help strangers with their service. Today's guest is no different. Bob Blouin, a volunteer pilot, shares his experience flying with Angel Flight and the personal impact it has had on him. Although Bob retired from two aviation companies, he still runs around doing many things in his life. His brother advised him to do something purposeful every day because everything...

How great your medical journey would be when someone takes you to your destination safely and securely? At the very least, it takes all the stress around commuting. Today, Matt Hemker shares how grateful he's been taking off with volunteer pilots and keeping a secure and safe medical journey for him. David, the flight coordinator, had a great help in taking care of Matt's flight. He describes his...

Enter the heartwarming realm of Angel Flight East and join us on an adventure alongside Harry Morales , the visionary creator of this extraordinary organization. Join Maddy and Jess as they sit down with Harry to uncover the remarkable origins of Angel Flight and its profound impact on countless lives. Harry shares his story of hearing the call to help those in need back in 1992. Angel Flight East...

Seeing a person you love suffering, unable to hold them can be heart-wrenching. That is what Lynn Omohundro felt when her granddaughter, Kara, suffered from severe burns, calling for her to touch her but can't do anything. In this episode, Lynn shares their flight journey for the first time and how grateful she is to Angel Flight for the support they provided. Over the years, Angel Flight has been...

Fly with purpose and soar beyond limits, for in the sky lies the extraordinary power to transform lives and ignite hope. Join Jess Ames and Maddy Beck as they sit down with Lawrence Gaulkin, a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight East . Lawrence shares his personal experiences and motivations for becoming a pilot, and how his retirement opened up a whole new world of meaningful service. As the discus...

For our senior patients, getting to and from medical appointments can be challenging. When you add living alone to the equation, it becomes even more of a struggle. Our episode's guest is all too familiar with this. Living alone at 73 years old while battling salivary gland tumors, Sabra Wood finds it very difficult to drive the four hours from home to Rochester for her appointments. Thankfully wi...

Nothing is more rewarding than being part of the passenger's medical journey. Today, Andy Chen shares how he became a volunteer pilot and recounts his rewarding journey of transporting and transforming passengers throughout their medical journey. He shares the relationship maintained between pilots and passengers. Also, Andy reveals the Facebook group he joined and why " this IS an airport, please...

Getting treatments can be difficult, especially when you have to travel miles and miles away for the treatment. It is even more difficult when your health condition makes commuting insufferable getting on a bus or train. Yvonne Fenster graces this episode with her experience as a flight passenger with Angel Flight East  and how the organization helped her with her medical journey. She explains why...

The passengers' gratitude after the flight can be rewarding and is enough for most volunteer pilots. Today, behind the yoke is not just a volunteer pilot but also a commercial real estate broker. Brad Neihouser , the volunteer pilot of  Angel Flight East , shares the virtues of being a volunteer pilot and helping people take off. He recollects the different experiences he had with flying and the c...

Above anything else, it's the touching stories from passengers that keep us alive and inspired here at Angel Flight East. And Tami Gaines has one heck of a story to tell. Her son, Trey, is a twin preemie who had a lot of complications that need special care for his whole life. An ultimate super mother, Tami would do anything in her power to provide for her son's needs, but it's a very challenging...

Today's guest is Jeremy Bennington, a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight East for five years. He joins Jess Ames and Maddy Beck to share how someone from the communications industry decided to spend some of his time doing medical flights. Jeremy talks about his most memorable experiences as a volunteer pilot, particularly when flying a kid with severe disabilities who found going up on the skies ext...

Battling a genetic disease in a rural area with no access to care can be challenging. In this episode, we meet little Declan and his mom, Elisabeth Wheeler, who shares their extraordinary journey flying with Angel Flight. Born with a rare genetic disease, Declan faces health challenges and requires regular medical care in New York City, far from their rural home. Thanks to Angel Flight, they now h...

Why would a volunteer pilot spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to put someone in need on a much-needed flight free of charge? Most people would not understand this upfront, but pilots who are really passionate about what they do would immediately get it. Who would not be excited by the prospect of being able to do their hobby while making an impact on someone else's life? That is what fuels Mi...

A patient deserves to be cared for, even beyond the hospital walls. At Angel Flight, patients receive VIP treatment on air! This episode's guest, Sandy Smith, testifies with her experience. Sandy has not had the easiest medical journey, having had to go to multiple facilities. Driving across great distances is just not an option. Then she found Angel Flight, and her journey has never been the same...

Get ready to buckle up and hold on tight as Jessica Ames and Maddy Beck launch the inaugural episode of Take Off Talk with Angel Flight East! Joining them in the pilot's seat for this pilot episode is none other than the indomitable John Greco, their beloved adopted father in the aviation industry and a true icon. Prepare to be blown away as John shares his awe-inspiring path to Angel Flight East,...

Distance can be a major barrier to accessing quality healthcare in a timely manner. For patients, access to air transportation can make all the difference in getting the treatment they need. However, flights can be expensive, and putting off medical care because of costs can put you or your loved ones at risk. That's where Angel Flight East comes in. Welcome to Take Off Talk with Angel Flight East...