Finding her way back

Duckworth ran for Congress in 2006 as a Democrat in Illinois’ overwhelmingly Republican sixth district and narrowly lost. She worked for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs before being appointed in 2008 as the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C.

She keeps an extremely busy travel schedule, speaking with veterans and legislators around the country, and she’s an advocate for providing the best possible medical care for veterans. She credits Milberg, her fellow pilot, for landing their aircraft safely in Iraq (he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and she received an Air Medal and Purple Heart), and the crew meets periodically for reunions.

Duckworth’s hectic work schedule cuts into her flight training time. But she and Bowlsbey, a major in the U.S. Army Signal Corps—and an instrument-rated private pilot with about 500 flight hours—enjoy flying together, even though their totally different aviation backgrounds can make it a comedy.

“My husband is an avid GA pilot who flies for the pure pleasure that flying brings him,” she said. “The satisfaction that I got from flying was accomplishing a mission and being part of a crew. I’ve only flown as a crewmember so it can be pretty amusing when my husband and I fly together, because I’m always calling for checklists and doing the challenge and response. He’s used to being up there solo and doing everything for himself.”

Bowlsbey is a longtime AOPA member and subscribes to many civilian aviation magazines, while Duckworth gets multiple military flying publications at home. “Between us, we’ve got just about the whole aviation spectrum covered,” she said.

Bowlsbey said his wife makes no secret of the fact that she longs to fly helicopters again someday. They’ve already researched a method of adapting a Robinson R-22 helicopter for flight without pedals.

“We’ve got to find a way to get her back in helicopters,” Bowlsbey said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that, eventually, she’ll make it happen.”