Total Eclipse: What a Difference an Airplane Makes

Rare celestial event won't be seen again in North America until 2044.

Monday, August 26, 2024 at 10:26 AM ET

Verified

North America will not see another total eclipse until 2044, making the one that occurred on April 8 a special event for many. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

The author leveraged his private plane to strategically chase clear skies for the 2024 total solar eclipse, successfully viewing it in Jackman, Maine, while many others were hampered by clouds or road travel.
The experience of totality was deeply emotional and awe-inspiring, described as a profound moment that made him feel "on a different planet" with a 360-degree sunset effect.
Aviation proved to be the ideal tool for the event, offering unparalleled flexibility to find optimal viewing conditions and enhancing the overall sense of wonder and magic associated with both the eclipse and flying.

See a mistake? Contact us.

It was at 5,500 feet somewhere over Vermont when I received the text from my friends Paul and Marla. It was a photo of an overcast sky in Niagara Falls, New York. This was on the morning (April 8) of the last total eclipse North America will experience until 2044. They had declined a ride with me in my Bonanza because they booked a nonrefundable hotel room and wanted to road trip it with their dog.

A mistake as it turned out.

Ben Younger

Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.