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 with a remarkably diverse career, died at 102, having started with barnstorming and later serving as an airmail, military, and jet airline pilot.
- Miller set a transcontinental record in an autogiro, competed in air races, and continued flying his own Beech Bonanza across the country until a few years before his death.
- Born in 1905, just two years after the Wright Brothers' first flight, he was honored with a 100th birthday gala at Kitty Hawk in 2005.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
