November Ramp Report
Apex Tenant Spotlight:
Brigadier General (Ret.) John D. Owen, MD
In honor of Veterans Day, we’re proud to spotlight Brigadier General (Ret.) John Owen — a dedicated pilot, physician, and valued member of the Apex Aero Center community at Midwest National Air Center.
John served 34 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, retiring as a Brigadier General. Over the course of his distinguished career, he held several key leadership roles including Flight Surgeon, State Air Surgeon, Missouri Air National Guard Chief of Staff, Director of the Joint Staff, and Air National Guard Assistant to the Air Mobility Command Surgeon General during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reflecting on his service, John says, “The most rewarding job was doing our part to get the injured soldiers, sailors, and Marines back home to their families alive.”
Some of his favorite memories are of flying his family on vacations in their A-36, experiences that combined his love for adventure and time together in the air. These days, John hangars a Cessna 182 at Apex GPH for “low and slow” local flights and co-owns a Bonanza for longer trips. Outside of the cockpit, he continues to serve the aviation and medical communities through multiple roles. After retiring from Liberty Hospital as Vice President of Emergency Services he now practices as an Emergency Physician at Mosaic Life Care and Excelsior Springs Hospital. John also operates Kansas City Aviation Medicine, located within ATD Flight Systems at MKC, where he performs aviation medical exams and consulting to help keep fellow pilots healthy and flight ready.
When asked what he enjoys most about being part of Apex, his answer is simple: “There’s a great camaraderie and community here at GPH. I’ve made lifelong friends here.” John shared a favorite photo with his grandson during an airplane orientation, a fitting image of how his love for aviation continues to inspire the next generation. As we celebrate both Veterans Day and National Aviation History Month, Apex Aero Center is honored to recognize Brig. Gen. (Ret.) John Owen for his decades of service, leadership, and his ongoing commitment to aviation and community.
Honoring Service at GPH
In October our Midwest National Air Center (GPH) location, was proud to host Dream Flights, honoring six local Veterans with an unforgettable ride in a historic Stearman PT-17. These open-cockpit flights pay tribute to those who have served and preserve a meaningful piece of aviation history.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, and to the Veterans whose service inspires us all. Learn more about Dream Flights at dreamflights.org
STEM Field Trip Takes Flight at Platteville Municipal Airport
Platteville Municipal Airport recently welcomed a group of students from Platteville High School for a hands-on STEM field trip. The students are currently building model rockets, so they were excited to learn how to read wind direction and velocity using the airport’s windsock, tee, and AWOS. After exploring how the airfield operates day to day, the group capped off their visit with airplane and helicopter rides — an unforgettable way to see aviation in action and connect their classroom learning to the real world. A big thank-you to everyone who helped make this special day possible!
Discovery Flights at GOK
The Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport recently hosted discovery flights for graduates of this summer’s Flight Camp program! These future pilots had the chance to take to the skies and experience the excitement of flight firsthand. Apex Aero Center was proud to support this special event alongside EAA Chapter 1098, helping foster the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.
Supporting OSU from the Skies
Guthrie, OK local business man Bob Bartmann generously donated his jet to fly the Oklahoma State University Golf Team to Notre Dame for the Fighting Irish Classic last month at our GOK location Pictured here are Bob, our GOK General Manager Justin Skaggs, and the OSU Golf Team before takeoff. It was fun for our Apex GOK team to take a small part in helping these talented student-athletes get to their tournament!
Girls In Aviation Day Dallas
Last months Girls in Aviation event in Dallas drew an incredible 964 attendees (with 2,608 tickets sold) and raised more than $13,000 for scholarships for members of the Women in Aviation North Texas chapter. Several past scholarship recipients even returned to volunteer, showing how quickly these opportunities make a difference in our community. Apex Aero Center was happy to support such an impactful event!
"Runway Rockstar" at TRL
We were honored to host this UH-60 Black Hawk from C Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, Army National Guard during a recent stop at Apex Aero Center–TRL. Thank you to our TRL Line Technician Luke for capturing this shot. We are proud to support the men and women who serve our country and grateful for their dedication both at home and abroad.
Honoring Our Heroes
Veterans Day Events Near our Apex Locations
This month’s spotlight is a striking Kodiak floatplane. It stopped in for fuel and definitely turned heads on the ramp with its bold orange-and-white paint and rugged design. Built for adventure, the Kodiak is equally at home on remote waterways as it is on the runway. Thank you to our GPH Line Tech Amy for snapping this awesome shot!
Kansas City, MO (GPH) 16th Annual Military & First Responders Appreciation Celebration Honor our heroes at the 16th Annual Military and First Responder Appreciation Celebration hosted by CARSTAR Wicklunds–Liberty on Thursday, November 6, in Liberty, MO. The event features an Honor Guard ceremony, live entertainment, food, and family-friendly fun, all in tribute to those who serve and protect.
Platteville, WI (PVB) Veterans Dinner – Rolling Hills Church Rolling Hills Church invites all veterans, active service members, and their families to a free spaghetti dinner on Friday, November 14, from 4–6 PM at 1585 W. Main St., Platteville. This heartfelt gathering is a small way to say thank you to those who have given so much in service to our country.
Edmond, OK (GOK) Veterans Day Celebration – Edmond History Museum Join the Edmond History Museum for a special Veterans Day Celebration on November 11. The event will feature guest speakers, exhibits, and stories that honor Edmond’s local veterans and their impact on the community.
Terrell, TX (TRL) Terrell Veterans Day 5K The Terrell Veterans Day 5K Run benefitting the United Way of Kaufman County honors the brave men and women who have served—and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It’s a meaningful way to come together as a community and show appreciation for our nation’s heroes.
This Veterans Day, we are proud to recognize the heroes who have served — including several members of our own Apex team. Whether you attend a dinner, a run, or a remembrance ceremony, we encourage everyone to take a moment to honor the service and sacrifice that protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.