A former U.S. Army pilot returned to the controls of a helicopter for the first time in nearly six decades, reconnecting with a defining chapter of his life through a flight made possible by Jeff Cook, a Ventura County-based pilot.
Captain Tom Habbick, who served as an Army lieutenant during the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971, was given the opportunity to fly again in an OH-6/MD 369HS helicopter. The flight was arranged through a mutual connection, Portia, a coworker of Cook’s wife, who helped bring the two together.
Habbick began his aviation career through ROTC at Cal Poly before deploying to Vietnam, where he flew both combat missions, as a member of the distinguished 1st Cavalry “Hunter/Killer Team”, and later transport operations for senior Army leadership, including generals and commanders. Although his military service lasted three years, he later reflected that flying itself remained the most meaningful part of his time in uniform.
The flight departed from Camarillo Airport and tracked along the California coastline near Santa Barbara before continuing inland toward Ojai and Santa Paula. The route carried added significance, as both Cook and Habbick share ties to the area. Cook grew up just outside Santa Paula and currently resides in Ventura, while both men attended Santa Paula High School, albeit decades apart.
Once airborne, Cook offered Habbick the controls. Despite nearly 60 years away from the cockpit, his flight skills returned quickly. He maintained smooth control of the aircraft and later attempted hovering along a riverbed section of the flight path. The familiarity of the aircraft and the environment appeared to bring back the instincts developed during his time in service.
Cook described the experience as both meaningful and rewarding. “It was an honor and a pleasure to fly with him,” he said.
Habbick later described the flight as exhilarating, noting how naturally the experience came back to him after so many years. The opportunity allowed him to revisit a part of his life that had remained dormant for decades, offering a rare chance to reconnect with the aspect of his service he valued most.
