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Name: Broadus M. (Bo) Bowman, EAA 398367

Affiliated Organization: Angel Flight of Georgia - volunteer pilot and Director of the South Carolina Branch of Angel Flight of GA

Type/model aircraft operated in mission or public benefit flying? Where is most of your flying activity?
I own and fly a 1976 Piper Cherokee Archer (PA28-181). My missions to date have been in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee, with most of these in Georgia and South Carolina.

When did you become involved in mission or public benefit flying and why?
I volunteered as an Angel Flight pilot in February of 2008 and have been flying one to two missions per month ever since. I have loved airplanes and flying most of my life and I thought this was a wonderful way to use what I love to do to give back and help others. I was immediately so enamored with the program that I also volunteered to help spread the word about Angel Flight by giving presentations to local clubs and groups. This eventually led to my becoming the part-time director of our first satellite office in South Carolina, in January 2009.

What is the most memorable flight you have ever had and why?
Every one of my mission flights have been unique and special because of the people I have been helping, their specific needs, and their destinations, so it is difficult to pick on as most memorable. Forced to pick, I would say my first mission is probably the most exciting and memorable simply because it was my first mission, my first opportunity to provide transportation to a person in need of it. On this mission I transported a burn patient from Greer, South Carolina, to Augusta, Georgia, for treatment. My third mission, also to Augusta, was especially memorable because of the moving letter of appreciation that was left in my airplane for me from my patient's wife.

What would you like EAA members to know about the type of flying you do?
I would like fellow EAA members to know that we are just ordinary, everyday pilots using ordinary, everyday airplanes to help persons in need of transportation - for medical treatments or for other compassionate reasons that present a real financial hardship to them.

Why is the Fly for Life program important to EAA AirVenture 2009 attendees?
Fly for Life gives those of us serving in these organizations a way to show EAA AirVenture attendees just what we do and why we do it. It is also a great opportunity for us to spread awareness of our programs and to recruit for participation and support. This includes awareness of our programs should people ever need our services, or should they want to join our ranks.