Friday photo: Islands in the Sky

The view: Islands In The Sky – Mt. Mitchell (6,684′), highest peak east of the Rockies

The pilot: Ruffin Benton

The airplane: Cirrus SR 22 G6

The mission: Angel Flight from Asheville, NC (KAVL to Cincinnati, OH (KLUK )to Atlanta, GA (Fulton County KFTY) and back to Asheville.

The memory: Angel Flight Soars in Atlanta called Friday. An eight year old boy was stranded in Cincinnati after a hospital visit and requested my assistance. There was a CAVU forecast Saturday from Asheville to Cincinnati and back to Atlanta then Asheville. I departed at 1410z to the northwest from Asheville. Mt Mitchell at an elevation of 6,684 feet pierced the cloud deck, creating the illusion of an island in the sky. But in spite of its majesty and grandeur, it was not the high point of the flight. “ I have the controls,” said my young patient/passenger/copilot. My heart soared. He is on the way!

• Author
• Recent Posts

Ruffin Benton

Ruffin is a family doctor and 1300 hr. private pilot living in Brevard, NC. His Cirrus is based at KAVL in Asheville, NC. 80% of his flights are with Angel Flight Soars, located in Atlanta. He believes it is an honor and a privilege to fly and share the journey of children seeking a cure.

Latest posts by Ruffin Benton (see all)

• Friday photo: Islands in the Sky - March 8, 2024
• Friday Photo: Appalachian Spring - September 23, 2022
• Friday Photo: somewhere over the rainbow - November 27, 2020