With more than 475 missions completed for the not-for-profit Angel Flight grassroots organization, volunteer pilot Larry Forney uses his Kodiak 100 to deliver access for patients needing vital medical care, combining compassion, capability, and reliability on every flight.
Houston Southwest Airport (KAXH)
Medical transportation and humanitarian relief
South Central United States
475+
225 nautical miles
Reliability, large cabin, accessibility for patients, speed and reliability
As one of Angel Flight’s most active volunteer pilots, Larry Forney averages one life-changing mission per week in his Kodiak 100, providing free air transportation for patients needing medical care – as well as humanitarian support during crisis situations. His relationship with Angel Flight began in 2015, where he served as Southeast Texas Wing Leader and later joined the Board of Directors. He subsequently served as Vice Chairman of Angel Flight South Central, the region that spans five states (Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma) and coordinates hundreds of critical flights each year.
Based at Houston Southwest Airport, Forney has completed more than 475 Angel Flight missions over nine years (as of 2024). Many involve cancer patients traveling to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston – one of the world’s largest cancer treatment centers. “Patients often need recurring treatment for months,” Forney explains. “Many are immunocompromised and can’t fly commercially. Angel Flight allows us to access small local airports that are much more convenient.” His Kodiak routinely accommodates multiple passengers, even transporting a group of five on certain flights.
Forney transitioned to his Kodiak 100 (S/N 100-0330) last October, after years of flying a Cirrus SR22T. The decision came down to capacity, accessibility, and reliability. He recalls flying relief missions after Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas: “I watched a Kodiak open its cargo door and start loading with a forklift…and my reaction was: ‘I want one of those airplanes!’” The aircraft’s cabin size, ease of boarding patients, and rugged, dependable design made it the ideal platform for his mission-focused flying.
Beyond his volunteer missions, the Kodiak supports Forney’s business travel for Grit Oil & Gas, as well as personal trips across the U.S., Mexico, and the Bahamas. With average Angel Flight missions around 225 nautical miles, he values the aircraft’s speed, payload, and reliability: “I’m flying at the same speed as the SR22T, just with a larger, roomier cabin, more payload, and much easier access for passengers and cargo.
For more than 475 Angel Flight missions, the Kodiak 100 has delivered the capacity, accessibility, and dependability needed to transport patients safely and efficiently. Designed for demanding operations, it combines impressive payload capabilities with the flexibility to serve humanitarian, business, and personal missions alike.