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, reflects on the bittersweet experience of giving up music during complex flights and surgeries, recognizing its role as both a personal joy and a potential communication hindrance in critical situations.
The article explores how music profoundly connects with aviation, highlighting songs that evoke the exhilaration, challenge, and metaphorical journey of flying.
It distinguishes between uplifting "flying" songs (like "Danger Zone") which capture the exuberance of being airborne, and those about "commercial travel" which often convey themes of separation and loneliness.

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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.