Taking Wing

If you guessed the primary draw of being an overseas airline pilot is those nice layovers, you’d be right.

FLYING contributor Sam Weigel gets settled into his new home, complete with a private grass airstrip, nestled near the Olympic Mountains.

A GA pilot and his flying pooch
enjoy the bachelor life for a bit
on some mountain airstrips in the Cascades.

In June 1944, Lancaster ND533 took off on its final flight.

Military or civilian pilot, after a few years the differences fade.

When Dawn and I bought our previous airplane, a 1953 Piper Pacer, we vowed to fly it at least ten hours a month, and indeed we clocked some 220 hours over 18 months of ownership. This time around, I’ve only flown our Stinson 40 hours since buying it in August.

A trip to Copalis State (S16), the Lower 48’s only public beach airport, becomes a relaxing Labor Day outing.

An aviation homestead becomes a sort of finishing school for a commercial pilot, acquiring some of the more practical skills missed out on whilst building a flying career.

Three cities, two coasts, and one massive weather event.

The ongoing pilot shortage, which has been decades in the making, has recently delivered satisfying scenes of deferred comeuppance, according to a professional pilot.