Pilot is DC-3 captain at 22

Photo by Mike Collins

If the Gulf Coast oil leak ever gets plugged, it may be that Glen Moss, 22, and his aviation legend father, Frank, had something to do with it. They have delivered supplies by Douglas DC-3 since the oil rig exploded.

Glen is a DC-3 captain and also a first officer on the Douglas DC-4G, the DC-6BF, and the DC-7B, flying for Florida Air Transport, based in the Miami area, and Great Southern Airways, based in Punta Gorda, Fla. What adventures he is having.

His brother, Charlie, also a pilot and member of the family business, explains how it all started: “Our father is Captain Frank Moss, who has been involved in aviation since the early 1960s. My brother and I grew up around round engines since we were infants. While growing up, we got to fly with our dad when he was working in Alaska, and later on got to fly occasionally with him around the United States and Caribbean region. As soon as we could, we did our flight training and earned our ratings. Glen pursued them at a much faster pace, while I worked on them during my summers home from college.”

Glen, who was born in 1988, has his private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, DC-3 type rating, DC-4 type rating, DC-6 type rating, and DC-7 type rating. Meanwhile, big brother Charlie, born in 1984, has his private, instrument, and commercial certificate. He’s currently working on the multi-engine rating.

Charlie told AOPA that his family flies a special Douglas DC-3 in its air cargo company: “[This] is a very neat, specific DC-3, as it appeared in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, and also flew on D-Day and several other important World War II operations.”

The air cargo business is truly a family affair, with Frank and Glen flying and Charlie and their mother taking care of the business end, such as bookkeeping.

“In addition to hauling general cargo, my dad and brother have flown emergency cargo in response to disasters, such as the recent Haiti earthquake,” Charlie added. The family also provides DC-3 training in Port Charlotte, Fla.

“They have also worked a bit with the entertainment industry. They flew in the James Bond film, and over the years, my dad has flown musical and stage equipment for famous musicians. Lately my brother was co-pilot on Joe Shepherd’s Lockheed 12. He and Captain Shepherd flew across the country from Georgia to California because the airplane was going to appear in an advertising campaign. I got to tag along on this amazing adventure!”