News & Media Pilots maintain Tangier tradition

Pilots maintain Tangier tradition

Deliver elf, holly, gifts to Chesapeake Bay island

December 17, 2025 By AOPA ePublishing staff

A holiday tradition that began in 1968 when Ed Nabb landed his Ercoupe packed with holly on Virginia's Tangier Island continued this year, delayed by weather but still well ahead of Christmas.

  • Tangier Holly Run volunteers check in pilots arriving at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Maryland, to deliver holly branches, school supplies, and Christmas presents for Tangier Island, Virginia, residents. The holiday tradition had 20 aircraft and pilots participating this year. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Santa Claus (Patrick Lindstrom) enjoys a pancake breakfast before departing from Stevensville, Maryland, in a Beechcraft Bonanza bound for Tangier Island, Virginia, to deliver holiday cheer. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Volunteers and pilots gather at Chesapeake Sport Pilot at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Maryland, for a pancake breakfast before flying to the Chesapeake Bay's Tangier Island. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Christmas presents are stacked up at the Chesapeake Sport Pilot office in Stevensville, Maryland, before volunteer pilots deliver them to the residents of Tangier Island, Virginia, December 13. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Chesapeake Sport Pilot owner and CFI Helen Woods, center, delivers a preflight briefing to about 50 volunteers including 20 pilots at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Maryland, before flying to Tangier Island, Virginia, to deliver holly branches, school supplies, and Christmas presents. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Ed Nabb Jr., whose father established a holiday tradition of delivering holly branches, school supplies, and Christmas presents to residents of Tangier Island, Virginia, recites the pilot's prayer during a preflight briefing. Nabb's father founded the Tangier Holly Run charity flight in his Ercoupe in 1968. Photo by David Tulis.
  • General aviation pilots pick up bags of holly branches, school supplies, and Christmas presents at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Maryland, before delivering them to residents of Tangier Island, Virginia, during the fifty-seventh annual Tangier Holly Run. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Pilots load holly branches, school supplies, and Christmas presents at Bay Bridge Airport. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Santa Claus (Patrick Lindstrom) waves from the right seat of a Beechcraft Bonanza A36 en route over the Chesapeake Bay to Tangier Island, Virginia, during the Tangier Holly Run. Photo by David Tulis.
  • Tangier Island, Virginia, is only accessible via boat or GA aircraft. The island in the Chesapeake Bay was discovered by Capt. John Smith in 1607 and now has about 310 residents, down from an estimated 600 in 2007. Photo by David Tulis.
  • AOPA Chief Pilot Luz Beattie and Santa Claus Patrick Lindstrom arrive to Tangier Island, Virginia, via a Beechcraft Bonanza A36 to deliver holiday cheer for the fishing village's residents. The island is only accessible by boat or aircraft. Photo by David Tulis.
  • An Ercoupe arrives to Tangier Island, Virginia, to continue a tradition that began in 1968 with Tangier Holly Run founder Ed Nabb and his 1946 model Ercoupe. Photo by David Tulis.
  • An estimated 310 residents remain in the Tangier Island, Virginia, fishing village in the Chesapeake Bay, according to Mayor James ‘Ooker’ Eskridge. Photo by David Tulis.

About 20 general aviation aircraft departed Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Maryland, on December 13, led by a Beechcraft Bonanza decorated to suit Santa Claus, who greeted waiting children on the ramp at Tangier Island Airport. Helen Woods, who has organized, sponsored, and led the effort for many years, reported the 2025 airlift (mustered on the backup date due to weather) raised $11,000 for the Tangier Construction Fund, "and filled and delivered 75 gift bags to very grateful elderly shut-ins on the island!"

Pennsylvania's Carlisle Evangelical Free Church has for several years running dispatched a "mission team" of volunteers to the Chesapeake Bay island in the summer, repairing the homes of elderly and disabled residents, according to the Tangier Island Holly Run website.

Click the images below to view captions.

Santa Claus (Patrick Lindstrom) waves before boarding a Beechcraft Bonanza with the call sign of 'Rudolph One' to deliver holly branches, school supplies, and Christmas presents to residents of Tangier Island, Virginia, in Chesapeake Bay. Photo by David Tulis. Santa Claus (Patrick Lindstrom) exits a Beechcraft Bonanza to deliver candy, holly branches, school supplies, and presents. Photo by David Tulis. Children greet Santa Claus on Tangier Island on December 13. Photo by David Tulis. Santa Claus poses for a photo with children living on Tangier Island. Photo by David Tulis. Chesapeake Sport Pilot owner and CFI Helen Woods is caught off guard as she is called to the pulpit at Swain Memorial Methodist Church on Tangier Island, Virginia, to say a few words about the 20 pilots and dozens of volunteers participating in the annual Tangier Holly Run. Photo by David Tulis. Pilots, volunteers, and residents attend a holiday service at Swain Memorial Methodist Church on Tangier Island, Virginia, during the annual Tangier Holly Run. Photo by David Tulis.
Tangier Island Mayor James ‘Oooker’ Eskridge, center, and Santa Claus Patrick Lindstrom, left, participate in a service at Swain Memorial Methodist Church on Tangier Island, Virginia, December 13. Photo by David Tulis.
Zoomed image
Tangier Island Mayor James ‘Oooker’ Eskridge, center, and Santa Claus Patrick Lindstrom, left, participate in a service at Swain Memorial Methodist Church on Tangier Island, Virginia, December 13. Photo by David Tulis.
AOPA ePublishing staff
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Topics: Public Benefit Flying, People

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