Page 7 - June24T

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
Standard Aero
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June 2024 / TWIN & TURBINE • 5