A total solar eclipse is seen from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Monday in Indianapolis, Indiana. [Courtesy: NASA/Joel Kowsky]
Key Takeaways:
General aviation traffic surged on April 8, 2024, as thousands of pilots flew to observe the solar eclipse, creating a noticeable cluster of aircraft along the path of totality.
One pilot, David Nelson, experienced a significant partial eclipse from 41,000 feet during a business flight, observing dimming daylight and cooler temperatures.
NASA also conducted scientific experiments during the eclipse, deploying WB-57 aircraft that flew at high altitudes to capture clearer images and extend observation time.
April 8 may go down in aviation history as the busiest day for GA, as thousands of pilots took to the air to watch the solar eclipse.
According to Flightradar24, a distinct line of aircraft clustered along the path of totality. The aircraft were shown as gold icons, and the clusters on that day were reminiscent of goldfish swarming for food.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
