Not everyone is able to fly across the country in a private plane. There is something truly thrilling about the freedom of taking off into the wild blue yonder. Sitting in the cockpit of Bob Logan’s Beechcraft Debonair is surreal. With a big smile on his face, Logan skillful zips his craft over Brookhaven and across the United States.

Logan has always been fascinated with flying, but did not learn until he was 48 years old. When he went into business for himself he was able to buy his plane and has been about the Home Seeker’s Paradise ever since. Last December, Logan was able to use his plane for more than just business and personal travel. He began using his skills to give back to the community. He decided to join Angel Flights.

Angle Flights is a non-profit charitable organization of pilots who provide free air transportation typically for those who are in a time-critical, non-emergency medical situation due to their medical condition or distressed situation. Angel Flights is financially supported by the pilots who fly the missions. They donate the use of their airplanes and expenses. There is no financial aid from any government entity and there is never a fee of any kind for the family.

Their philosophy is “the cost of travel should never stand in the way of people receiving medical care.”

“I am grateful that I am able to use my love of flying to provide safe and convenient long distance transportation, at no cost, to families (especially those here in Brookhaven) that are dealing with the burden of medical conditions,” said Logan.

Logan has been able to help transport many several patients from across the states. He has flown 8 Angle Flight missions for a total of 52.4 flight hours.

Logan began flying with the organization by giving a local resident free trips to the Cinnnicinati Hospital for muscular dystrophy treatments.

Through Angle Flights Logan has also connected with another young man from Brookhaven who is dealing with muscular dystrophy. He has regular appointments at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Logan has transported him four times round trip.

It just so happened, along with being able to give him a lift, Logan is able to visit his daughter Kelsey Logan who works in the hospital and her three children while waiting to make the return flight to Brookhaven.

Another local resident who has been given a lift by Logan is Owen Douglas, 14, who was burned badly in 2008. He received treatments in the Jackson area, but needed follow up surgeries in Augusta Georgia, which is a ten hour drive from Brookhaven. The Owen’s mother Michelle Douglas said she was dreading the long drive.

The burn unit in Georgia put in Douglas’s name for an angle flight and Logan was there to the rescue.

“When I got the call I just cried,” said Owen’s mother Michelle Douglas. “It was a blessing for us.”

Michelle said that being able to fly out of Brookhaven meant that Owen would not have miss as much school as he would if they had to drive.

Logan was able to take Owen and his mother on two flights. He ferried the two to Birmingham and to Atlanta, where they were transferred to other Angle Flight pilots for the rest of the trip.

“When you meet Mr. Logan it’s like you’ve known him forever,” said Michelle. She said that when they returned to Atlanta after their first treatment, seeing Mr. Logan waiting for them at the airport was a welcoming sight. Seeing the cheerful pilots smiling face would put any patient at ease.

“Mr. Logan is a wonderful man, a wonderful pilot and flying with him was an awesome experience,” said Michelle. “We’re both so appreciative of Mr. Logan and angle flights.”

Logan will be flying the two to Augusta in November for an overnight procedure and return them to Brookhaven.

Logan is married to Jill Burns Logan, Dean of Academic Instruction at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and has two children and six grandchildren.

Although flying in a private plane is associated with movie stars or politicians, pilots like Logan who fly with Angel Flights has soared through the stereotype. Logan’s warm demeanor and willingness to give of himself has made the lives of patients a little easier.

If you would like to donate to Angel Flights call 1.877.426.2643 or go to angelflights.org/annual fund.