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Cross-Country Eloquence From Bax

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Key Takeaways:

  • Spring is an opportune time for pilots to plan longer cross-country flights and reflect on their foundational experiences in navigating independently.
  • The article features an excerpt from aviation writer Gordon Baxter, who compares a pilot's first cross-country flight to a child's first bike ride, symbolizing a journey into new, independent territory.
  • Baxter describes the enduring satisfaction of these early flights, highlighting the joy of subtle aircraft control, appreciating the views, and successfully navigating over distances, a feeling that never diminished.
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Chances are, much of your winter flying involved relatively short flights. For many pilots, winter missions are kept on a short leash in deference to ice, earlier sunsets and just plain comfort during pre- and post-flight chores. That makes spring a good time to plan longer trips — and reminds us of the greater joys of using airplanes to actually go places. Now is also a good time to reflect on your first experiences in cross-country flying. And here’s a little help.

Gordon Baxter remains one of Flying‘s most beloved writers, long after his ‘final flight’ in 2005. His Bax Seat column set the standard with 20 years of some of the best aviation writing, ever.

Mark Phelps

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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