When Nick McGlone climbed into the cockpit for his first Angel Flight mission in 2005, he was looking for something simple—a purpose to fly.
Twenty years later, as he completes his 301st Angel Flight mission, equating to 602 flights, and retires from volunteer service, it’s clear that he found far more than that. Along the way, he has helped hundreds of passengers, supported rural communities across New South Wales and beyond, and become one of Angel Flight Australia’s longest-serving volunteer pilots.
Nick’s aviation story stretches back even further. He learned to fly at Bankstown Airport in 1967 and flew privately up until 1979 when he began transporting live seafood in Tasmania with a convoy of Cessna 210 aircraft. It was a unique introduction to commercial aviation and the beginning of a lifetime spent in the skies. Over the decades, flying has taken him across vast stretches of Australia, giving him a unique perspective on both the country’s beauty and the challenges faced by those living far from major centres.
Those experiences would later make Angel Flight’s mission especially meaningful.
Joining Angel Flight in just its third year of operations, Nick became part of a growing network of volunteer pilots determined to ensure that geography would not stand between Australians and essential healthcare. At a time when the organisation was still establishing itself, he was among those helping build the service into the trusted lifeline it is today.
His very first Angel Flight mission remains a memorable one.
Flying from Inverell to Bankstown, Nick transported a young girl living with Rett syndrome so she could access the specialist medical care she needed. It was a journey that perfectly captured the purpose of Angel Flight, using aviation to bridge the vast distances that separate many rural Australians from life-changing healthcare.
Two decades later, it seems fitting that Nick’s final mission also reflected the evolving impact of Angel Flight’s work.
Rather than transporting a patient, his 602nd flight and final mission took him to Collarenebri, carrying a doctor to provide much-needed healthcare within the local community. Without the direct flight, the clinician would have spent many additional hours travelling by road, valuable time that was instead spent treating patients.
From his first mission helping a child reach specialist care to his final mission bringing specialist care closer to rural Australians, Nick’s Angel Flight journey has come full circle.
Throughout all those missions, Nick’s faithful Cessna 210 has become a familiar sight at regional airports across New South Wales. Based out of Bankstown, he has quietly donated not only his time, but also the significant cost of operating and maintaining his aircraft. Like most Angel Flight pilots, Nick volunteered because he loves to fly but also because he believes everyone deserves access to healthcare, regardless of where they live. This August, his trusty Cessna 210 will make one final journey with Nick in the pilot’s seat, an epic trip across the country to Western Australia, before he hands the aircraft over to its new owner.
For Nick, the flying was only part of the experience. Over the years he formed lasting friendships with fellow Bankstown-based Angel Flight pilots, sharing stories, advice and a common understanding of the privilege that comes with using aviation to help others. The camaraderie, combined with knowing that each flight genuinely improved someone’s access to healthcare, made every mission worthwhile.
Behind the scenes, Nick also became someone the Angel Flight team could always rely on. Flight Coordinators quickly came to know him for his willingness to help, his flexibility and his professionalism. Whether schedules changed, weather intervened or a mission required adjustments, Nick was consistently accommodating and approached every task with quiet confidence and generosity. His reliability made life easier not only for the coordination team but also for the passengers, health professionals and fellow volunteers who depended on Angel Flight every day.
Reflecting on Nick’s retirement, Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani paid tribute to his remarkable contribution.
“Nick represents everything that makes Angel Flight special,” said Marjorie. “For 20 years he has generously shared his time, his aircraft and his skills to help people he had never met simply because they needed support. Reaching 301 missions (602 flights) is an extraordinary milestone, but the true measure of Nick’s contribution is the countless families, patients and health professionals whose lives have been made easier because he chose to volunteer. On behalf of everyone at Angel Flight Australia, thank you, Nick, for your dedication, generosity and friendship. We wish you every happiness in your retirement and hope you look back with enormous pride on the difference you’ve made.”
While Nick may have completed his final Angel Flight mission, the legacy he leaves behind will continue to be felt across rural Australia.
Every patient who reached specialist treatment a little sooner, every family spared another long day on the road, every health professional able to spend more time caring for patients instead of travelling, these are the lasting outcomes of two decades of quiet service.
As Nick hangs up his Angel Flight wings, he does so with the admiration of fellow volunteers, staff and the many communities he has supported. His flying may have come to an end, but the impact of his generosity will continue long after his final landing.
