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

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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, a pilot, strategically used their aircraft to chase clear skies and find an optimal, less crowded viewing spot in Jackman, Maine, for the total solar eclipse.
The eclipse experience itself was profoundly moving and visually stunning, surprising the author with its sudden dramatic shift to totality and evoking a deep sense of wonder and insignificance.
The article highlights the unique advantage of private aviation in adapting to unpredictable conditions for witnessing rare events, contrasting it with the travel limitations faced by others, and reinforcing the author's love for the "magic" of flying.

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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.