Larry Flynt’s pilot of more than three decades, Phil Debus, 62, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, after an unsuccessful emergency operation to repair an aortic aneurysm, a life-threatening bulge in the body’s largest artery.
Feeling ill, Debus drove himself to a hospital in Northridge seeking medical care, but doctors were unable to save him despite operating most of the night.
Debus’ career, and friendship, with Larry Flynt began when Debus was hired to pilot charter planes for trips Flynt took as he expanded and franchised his Hustler clubs.
"Phil has been with me for 35 years," Flynt said. "He is not only a true friend, but an outstanding pilot. He is the oldest employee with the organization. We are going to miss him dearly."
Debus was Flynt's pilot continuously since he was first hired, with the exception of when Flynt didn’t use a private plane from 1982 to 1994, during which time Debus flew for defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
Despite preconceived notions that the general public may have had about Larry Flynt’s personal aircraft, Debus oversaw LFP’s three-person Aviation Division (consisting of Debus, his co-pilot, and a part-time maintenance worker) with economy and professionalism.
“Everyone's envious of my position," Debus told Professional Pilot Magazine in 1998. "There's a perception that this is some kind of perverted jet but it's not – it’s a business tool and it's used that way."
During his career with LFP, Debus is said to have grown close with the Flynt family, LFP executives, and with various members of the Adult industry that on occasion flew with Flynt on business trips.
Topco Sales president Scott Tucker, an amateur pilot, considered Debus a good friend and a consummate professional. “Phil was a super nice guy. He always treated me with warmth and generosity. Phil had the character of a true professional pilot. He had a great passion for aviation. He enjoyed the thrill of commanding kerosene turbines at the flight levels,” he said.
“We became good friends over the years. I was lucky enough to share some of that deep, blue sky and to traverse the twisting, white contrails with him in the cockpit. Those were great times. I'll miss his smile and his laugh.”
Greg Dumas, a former LFP vice president who maintained his friendship with the pilot even after leaving LFP in the 90s to start his own company, remembers Debus as an unpretentious man as well as a talented pilot.
“He was a wonderful guy. He looked like a normal guy that you could meet in a bar somewhere, not a jet pilot. He just didn’t come across that way,” Dumas said.
Memorial services for Debus will be held on Monday, November 22 at 3:30 p.m. at Clay Lacy Aviation :
7435 Valjean Avenue
Hangar 3
Van Nuys, California 91406
818-989-2900
Parking at this facility is limited, so guests are asked to make every effort to park on the street prior to entering the parking lot.
In lieu of flowers, Debus' family has suggested that donations be made payable to the :
Pan Am International Flight Academy
530 W. Deer Valley Road Suite 100
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
623-580-7900
Please reference “Phil Debus’ Memorial Scholarship Fund” on your check.
