Roger’s Farewell Flight

On Wednesday, April 19th, we lost a dear friend and mentor in the aviation community. Roger Humiston was an outstanding pilot who championed the Learjet 20 series aircraft at every opportunity. His warmth, generosity and enthusiasm for 20 series Lears will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to have met Roger.

As a final farewell, we would like to send Roger from his home in Addison, Texas to his final resting place in Victor, Idaho to be buried alongside his father-in-law Lloyd Woolstenhulme. Guillermo Morales (Patriot Truck in Toluca, Mexico) has graciously offered his Learjet 25D and a crew for the journey. We are requesting contributions to pay for the fuel costs necessary to make the round-trip flights. We have set a goal of $20,000 just to make sure we cover 100% of the fuel. All funds collected that exceed the cost of transportation will go towards a celebration of life gathering to be held in May at the Addison Airport as well as be donated to the scholarship fund of the Aviation Professional Pilot program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

About Roger

The son of Eddie & Doris Humiston, Roger was born in Hutchinson, Kansas near Wichita (the “air capital of the world”). Roger was introduced to flying and the Learjet, in particular, at a young age. At the time, Roger was unaware that his initial curiosity and fascination with this mysterious, innovative and remarkable machine would lead him on a wondrous journey through life and aviation where he would meet the two dearest things to him in life – his wife Kate and the 20 series Learjet.

Roger combined his love for country and aviation embarking upon a six-year stint as an aircraft structural repair specialist in a Kansas Air National Guard reconnaissance group utilizing the Martin B57 Canberra Jet. His time in the service piqued his interest to learn more about aircraft and flying.

Roger became a rated pilot in 1967 and began a legendary professional flying career that very few are lucky or skilled enough to experience. After many years of gaining experience in the prop world, Roger was able to transition to jets in 1973 as co-pilot in a new Sabreliner 40A, s/n 110 (with Mike Sims as captain), making them the youngest Sabreliner flight crew in the United States. These significant milestones would open a world of opportunity to Roger and facilitate his promotion through the ranks of Private Jet Aviation eventually culminating in actively flying for 50 years, earning 10 jet type ratings and amassing over 20,000 flight hours on a worldwide basis.

Ironically and fittingly, Roger had just finished authoring and publishing a book entitled, “What you need to know about Owning & Flying 20 Series Learjets in the 21st Century” prior to his passing. His objective for writing this masterpiece was not fame and fortune, but rather to share his passion for this timeless wonder and ensure that the 20 series Learjet lives on long after he is gone.