Captain Johnny Miller, a self-taught pilot whose flying career began with barnstorming during aviation’s golden age, has died at 102. Miller flew his own Beech Bonanza throughout the country up until a few years ago. Over his career, he flew the airmail, set a transcontinental record in a Pitcairn autogiro, competed in air races, served as a test pilot, flew for the U.S. Marine Corps and as a jet airline pilot. For years, Miller wrote a regular column in the American Bonanza Society monthly magazine, and a compilation of those stories is available through ABS at bonanza.org. Born in December 1905, two years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight, Miller attended a gala at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in honor of his 100th birthday in 2005.
Aviation Legend John Miller Dead at 102
Key Takeaways:
- Captain Johnny Miller, a self-taught pilot whose career began during aviation's golden age, has died at 102, having flown his own plane up until a few years prior.
- Miller's incredibly diverse career included barnstorming, flying airmail, setting a transcontinental record in an autogiro, competing in air races, and serving as a test pilot for both the U.S. Marine Corps and jet airlines.
- Born just two years after the Wright Brothers' first flight, Miller was celebrated for his 100th birthday at Kitty Hawk and regularly shared his experiences through a column for the American Bonanza Society.
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