Page 13 - Dec 2022

Left, two 1953 T-28B Trojans during an airshow. Johnson is a partner and airshow demonstration pilot for the Trojan Phlyers. (credit: Gary Daniels)
“The reliability, ruggedness and capacity of the King Air makes it a great airplane for Operation Air Drop’s missions ...”
and their families for medical and oth- er compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. King Air magazine featured the organization and several King Air owners who volunteer in April 2015. Johnson got involved with VAC after getting to know the organization’s founder Walt Fricke through the warbird community.
“I feel that I truly make a difference volunteering my airplane and time for OAD and VAC, and they are both exceptionally run organizations,” Johnson said.
He hopes King Air owners reading this will consider getting involved with either cause. While financial donations are always welcome, he stresses that there is nothing like the feeling you get when you provide a comfortable mode of transportation for a wounded veteran or deliver water, peanut butter and toilet paper to folks who have just lost their homes.
Johnson said the most memorable Operation Airdrop flight is one that he didn’t fly but he helped to coordinate this past September when Hurricane Ian
TO DONATE OR VOLUNTEER
OPERATION AIRDROP (OAD) is an all-volunteer organization that goes to the front lines of a disaster zone to provide airborne aid and relief to those in need. Learn how to get involved as a pilot, volunteer or donor at operation-airdrop.com.
VETERANS AIRLIFT COMMAND (VAC) provides air transportation for medical and other compassionate purposes to wounded warriors, veterans and their families through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. Visit veteransairlift.org to find out how to be a volunteer pilot, to donate money or to request transportation for a wounded warrior.
DECEMBER 2022
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 11