Stephen and Joanna Bobko-Hillenaar with their trusty Aviat Husky.
Retirement advisors often break up the post-career years into three distinct periods: the go-go years, the slow-go, and the no-go. The idea is to align your life goals and expenditures with these three phases.
If you haven’t heard of this concept, here’s a quick review: The go-go years represent the first 10 years of retirement when most of us tend to be in good health, able to travel, pursue hobbies and enjoy activities we didn’t have time for earlier in life. The slow-go years are the middle period of retirement when many of us will give up certain activities in favor of those that require less energy and stamina. Many will put away the snowboard and reach for their walking shoes. The last phase is no-go years when physical activity slows down further, leisure travel decreases and medical care increases.
I am at the cusp of my go-go retirement years, and I am thinking more and more about how my flying will change for the better, meaning I will be doing more of it. The window of max continuous power in the left seat is here, and my husband and I want to make the most of it.
As some of us painfully know, insurance underwriters are taking a more pessimistic view of the aging pilot. Many find it challenging to retain coverage for their turbine aircraft past age 70 and impossible by the time they reach 80. I know many pilots still flying past age 80, and their experience in the cockpit means they are among the best sticks out there. However, insurance has dictated that they sell their turbine planes and downgrade to something slower (not necessarily safer) and with a propeller out front. For those who see flying as an indelible part of their identity, the finality of giving up the left seat will be one of the hardest days of their lives.
So, let’s make the most of those go-go years!
With time, resources and an aircraft available, this is the chance to plan some “bucket list” trips and experiences that only a general aviation aircraft can provide. Recently, I spent some time with one of the nicest couples in aviation who, in my opinion, have gamed the “go-go” mindset. Stephen and Joanna Bobko-Hillenaar own a Piper M350, which they bought new a few years ago, and an Aviat Husky. Steve, who retired from a successful career in financial services, and Joanna now split their time between two airpark residences in Carefree, AZ, and Alpine, WY. For the past two decades, they have volunteered for Angel Flight West and flown hundreds of missions.
Once the pandemic hit in 2020, Angel Flight missions were paused, and much of the country shut down. However, the Bobko-Hillenaars saw an opportunity: fly their Husky to every state in the continental United States with the provision that they would visit a National Park Service site in every state. The journey took more than two years, as they took some breaks along the way. By August 2022, they declared victory by visiting their last NPS site in their home state of Wyoming: Devil’s Tower National Monument.
Stephen captured their odyssey in a detailed and well-photographed online blog, which he shared with friends throughout their travels.
Stephen wrote, “We are often asked, ‘What is the favorite park you have visited?’ Joanna and I have both felt that each National Park Service site – and there are over 400 of them – is unique. Some offer natural beauty, and others educate us on our history. Plus, there is an abundance of outdoor activities available to a visitor.”
Today, the couple is back flying Angel Flight missions while still seeking new adventures in their Husky.
What if your bucket list includes a trip to the far reaches of the world? For those who’ve dreamed of flying their turbine aircraft into some of the most exotic and scenic locales on Earth but aren’t sure how to make it happen, the company Air Journey provides a perfectly curated and seamless experience. Pilots can travel independently using their flight planning and handling services or join a pre-arranged, guided group trip complete with high-end accommodations, ground transport and tours. With a mantra of “safety first,” the company orchestrates all kinds of trips, from adventures in the Caribbean to epic global expeditions.
One of Air Journey’s most frequent trip participants is Citation M2 owner John Edwards of Moline, IL. John has been a pilot since age 16 and used general aviation extensively in his professional career. Once he retired, he and his wife Carla were ready to see the world. Over the last decade, they have taken more than 20 Air Journey trips and visited more than 120 countries, first in a TBM turboprop and, since 2020, the M2.
“When we retired, we decided this was the time to travel and experience new places,” he said.
Their most epic trip was an early one to Australia in their TBM. In its entirety, the journey was 25,000 nm. “It was a daunting trip. One highlight was being detained in Russia for a mysterious security violation. After figuring out that our handler didn’t get our general declaration form signed off, I agreed to sign a document – all in Russian, which I couldn’t read – and they let us depart, he recalled.
When I caught up with John and Carla, they were in Reykjavik, Iceland, taking part in an Air Journey adventure to Eurasia. “Air Journey does a great job of coordinating every aspect of the trip, from airport handling to hotels and tours,” he added.
Another couple who may hold the record for the most Air Journey expeditions completed is John and Karen Springthorpe. They took their first Air Journey in 2010 aboard their TBM 850, upgraded to a Citation M2 and now fly a Citation CJ3+. They’ve visited 140 countries, landed in more than 120, and have traveled around the world twice – once eastbound and once westbound.
John explained his motivation this way: “Not that I am anywhere near their category, but the historical accomplishments of Lindbergh, Post, and Earhart provided inspiration for me to do something more than just fly for $100 hamburgers. My dad was a pilot who inspired me and relished my aviation accomplishments as if they were his own,” he said. “The world is so varied and filled with natural beauty that it is impossible to pick one favorite from so many wonderful places. I personally enjoyed the view from the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, being within arm’s length of mountain gorillas in Rwanda, hiking the rugged peaks in the Patagonia region of Chile, and driving through the stark desert of Namibia.”
What’s on your go-go bucket list, either completed or in the planning stages? Drop me an email – I’d love to hear more about it!
