Pilot's legacy lives on
The generous legacy of the late Jim Long is going strong for Angel Flight, the organization to which he volunteered so many hours of flight time.
Long died Sept. 20 in a airplane accident while flying four Forest Service employees into the Great Bear Wilderness. Two Forest Service employees, Ken Good and Davita Bryant, also died.
Long was a wing leader pilot for five years and a board member for four years for Angel Flight West, a nonprofit organization that provides free transportation to medical treatment for people who cannot afford public transportation, or who can't tolerate it for health reasons.
A highly experienced and respected pilot, Long also was a captain in the Flathead Civil Air Patrol and chapter chair for the local Service Corps of Retired Executives.
His wife, Laura Long, just received a letter from Gov. Judy Martz notifying her that her husband, as well as Jodee Hogg, one of the two survivors of the plane crash, will be awarded the Montana Medal of Valor at a ceremony at the Capitol in Helena on Nov. 10.
Matthew Ramige, the other survivor, also will also be recognized at that ceremony.
Founded 21 years ago in Santa Monica, Calif., Angel Flight West initially provided charitable aviation for patients primarily in California. When executive director Jim Weaver came on board 13 years ago, the group launched an expansion program, first into Washington and soon after in Montana. It now serves 13 Western states.
A little over a year ago, AirLifeLine, a similar national organization, merged with Angel Flight of America. Prior to that, 12 to 15 pilots were flying missions in Montana.
Since the merger, 50 pilots are flying missions in the state.
Last year 69 Angel Flights were flown by Montana pilots. Long flew 35 of those.
Fortunately, other pilots have stepped up to fill the void left by Long, says Weaver. David Hunt of Whitefish has volunteered to be the new wing leader for Montana. Hunt, a Montana native, had previously flown for AirLifeLine.
Laura Long has asked that memorial donations be made to Angel Flight. As of last week, $20,000 has been given in her husband's memory.
Weaver says the money is being used toward the completion of the new offices for the Angel Flight headquarters, which moved to the private Santa Monica Airport about five weeks ago.
"It's only fitting," says Weaver, "that the new boardroom be named 'The Jim Long Boardroom.'" Donations also will be used to furnish the room.
Angel Flight's wings are reaching out far and wide. In 1984, Angel Flight West's first year of service, 15 missions were flown. This year, 4,500 flights have been made, according to Weaver.
On Aug. 2, the organization flew its 20,000th mission.
If you wish to make a donation, you can do so online at www.angelflight.org; or by mail to Angel Flight West, 3161 Donald Douglas Loop South, Santa Monica, CA 90405.