RAY BAILEY

Angel Flight South Central Beginnings
Ray has flown over 200 Angel flight missions since he first joined in June 2004. Most missions were flown in his F-90 King Air, including the first flight into Baton Rouge to initiate the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, Ray flew three missions to Haiti carrying medicine, medical equipment and doctors. As part of that effort, Ray used the King Air to ferry medical supplies and food from Santiago, Dominican Republic to several cities within Haiti, landing on unimproved surfaces in Les Cayes, Cap -Haitien and other cities using his Alaskan bush flying experience.

​Ray currently flies a Cessna Citation Mustang, but also enjoys time in his Robinson R-66 helicopter, Citabria, Wilga 35, Pitts Special and Fairchild PT23, that he occationally displays at airshows. He holds an ATP with type ratings for C500, C510 and C525 aircraft and is also rated in Gliders and Helicopters.

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Aviation Adventures
Growing up in Oregon, Ray developed a love for flying early. Even though he had never been in an airplane, Ray decided at 13 years of age that someday he was going to become a bush pilot in Alaska. He worked in a hobby shop throughout high school, building and flying model airplanes, which further fed his desire to learn to fly. Driving by a small glider port one day, he saw a Stearman sitting in the grass strip with a sign that read: “Rides $5”. Now hooked, Ray started taking lessons during his senior year in high school, soloed, and became a private pilot in July 1975.

​Ray signed up for the Air Force at the age of 17, a year before finishing high school. This guaranteed his choice of assignments (Alaska, of course) and, after graduation, he shipped out to Anchorage. While there, he completed his commercial, instrument, seaplane, multi-engine, flight instructor and ground instructor certificates. Upon discharge from the Air Force, Ray worked as a full time flight instructor. He also spent two years as a center Air Traffic Controller for ARTCC, then flew DE Havilland Twin Otters for an airline. This led him to finally fulfill his dream to be an Alaskan Bush pilot.

​Personal Stories
After the birth of his first son, Ray decided to utilize the electronics training he received in the Air Force to build his own business in Alaska providing Life Safety systems to schools and hospitals. He eventually moved to Chicago to become a district manager for the Rauland-Borg Corporation. This opened the door for Ray to create Lone Star Communications in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in 1991. Today, Lone Star is considered one of Rauland’s largest and most respected Life Safety systems integrators in the United States.

​Ray has been on the board of directors for the Nations Systems Contractors Association since 2003. He has held various offices and is currently serving as the association Vice-President. Ray is also the Past-President of Systems Plus Mutual Insurance Company, a benefits program owned by NSCA.