That Sound of Music in the Air

Some songs can take you airborne without leaving the ground.

Monday, June 17, 2024 at 09:03 AM ET

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The album that captures the romance of commercial flight was made in the 1950s. Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra featured songs about Chicago, New York, Brazil, and Paris. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The author, an aviator and surgeon, initially enjoyed combining music with flying and operating but reduced its presence in both environments due to practical necessities like communication.
Many songs about "flying" serve as powerful metaphors for life's challenges, recovery, and perseverance, resonating deeply with the spirit of aviation beyond literal flight.
There's a thematic distinction between songs about commercial travel, which often evoke feelings of separation and loneliness, and those about general aviation, which are typically more exuberant and uplifting.
"Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins is highlighted as the quintessential song that captures the exhilaration, challenge, and "need for speed" associated with the thrill of flight.

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Flying and drinking, flying and listening to good music, or thinking of flying and listening to good music are among the aviator’s most enjoyable moments.

“To live is to fly, low and high. So shake the dust off your wings and the sleep out of your eyes,” is a line from the song “To Live Is to Fly,” written by a Texan, the late Townes Van Zandt, and made popular by another Texan, the late Guy Clark.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.