Letters from our May 2017 issue

1. Treetop Flyer, Stephen Stills
In the early 1980s I was a young CFI at Renton, Washington. While returning to Renton, my student made the comment, “Have you ever heard Treetop Flyer by Stephen Stills?” It took me awhile to track it down, but it has since become one of my favorite flying songs. Wherever you are today, Barbara Thompson, thank you!

Todd BohonAOPA 1575558
Arlington, Washington

Mea culpa. Editor Ian J. Twombly suggested this pilot favorite, but we ignored him. This song about a daredevil smuggler pilot earned votes for both the Stephen Stills original and the Jimmy Buffett version. —Ed.

2. Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins
I was rather surprised that I did not see Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone make the list. I mean really, that is a “pilot’s pilot” song, along with being used in the opening sequence of the movie [Top Gun]. If that does not get you fired up as a pilot, I am not sure what does.

Ken Jacobs
AOPA 1375148
Tallahassee, Florida

Top Gun aside, lyrics such as “She got you jumpin’ off the track / And shovin’ it into overdrive” suggest a more terrestrial inspiration. Also, too obvious? Nonetheless, at least one of us will admit to using this as a ringtone.

3. Silver Wings, Merle Haggard
What, no Silver Wings by Merle Haggard?

Roger A. Soape
AOPA 4545389
Houston, Texas

We’ll add this one to our playlists right away. We just wish songs about airplanes weren’t often so lonesome. —Ed.

4. Jamaica Mistaica, Jimmy Buffett
I just read your article on flying-themed songs. Lots of good ones, but my hero and leader of the parrot heads, Jimmy Buffett, has a couple of good ones. One is Jamaica Mistaica, when trigger-happy cops shoot up his Albatross landing near Negril. A true story.

Bim Songer
AOPA 2108487
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Extra credit because Jimmy Buffett’s a pilot. —Ed.

5. Travelin’ Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival
It’s hard to ignore John Fogerty’s screaming voice at the beginning of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song Travelin’ Band: “Seven thirty-seven coming out of the sky. Won’t you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride.”

Bob Crosby
AOPA 1278777
Charleston, South Carolina

Ah, CCR. Now that takes us back. When hair was long and jeans were wide and rode low. —Ed.

I’m surprised that your list of aviation-inspired songs didn’t include Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters. It’s been in my music library for years. I often listen to it on my way to the airport. It always puts a smile on my face!
Christine Pulliam , AOPA 1077876 , Baltimore, MarylandRounding out the top 10 songs from readers are Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters; Eight Miles High, The Byrds; the theme from Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Ron Goodwin; Early Morning Rain, Gordon Lightfoot; and The High and the Mighty, Dimitri Tiomkin. Here are a few more that got our toes tapping: —Ed.

One of the best, most fun, uplifting, sing-alongable, and appropriate for kids of all ages is The Biplane Evermore by the Irish Rovers.

James E. Ormsby
AOPA 1361412
Bedford, Wyoming

While I agree that the songs listed in the article are a nice representation of aviation/flying related music, there is, without a doubt, one song that personifies both flying and rock and roll. I defy anyone to listen to Me-262 by the original heavy metal band, Blue Oyster Cult, and not get lost in the images created by the lyrics. Go ahead, search YouTube and have a listen. Don’t forget to set the volume to 11.

Henry C. Arrington
AOPA 1331761
Florence, South Carolina

Go-to airplane

I have read with great interest Jill W. Tallman’s articles about the renovations on AOPA’s current sweepstakes airplane, culminating in this month’s “New and Improved.” The reason for my intense interest is because that was my go-to airplane in the late 1980s. I received my private ticket in March of 1985 in a Cessna 150, and exactly one month later was training in 739HW. When I saw her first article several months ago indicating the new planned renovation with that tail number, I ran to the attic, pulled out my old logbook, and excitedly showed my wife the article and my logbook. I flew that airplane from Haysfield Airport, a grass strip at the time, now gone, for about four years. It was my primary instrument training airplane, and I took my instrument test in it. Needless to say, I would not recognize anything in it now.

Chris Moody
AOPA 887228
Naples, Florida

Pay to park

Thank you, AOPA, for taking on a serious issue that seemingly has been ignored or gone unnoticed for years: FBO fees. Thomas B. Haines’ article (“AOPA Battling Excessive FBO Fees”) and especially Mark Baker’s comment, “I just want a way to the parking lot,” are spot on. Living outside the major population areas of Southern California, I frequently debate the drive-versus-fly options. Unfortunately, the cost of FBO fees often curtails what otherwise would be a pleasant flight or a chance to share with nonpilot friends and colleagues the benefits of GA. Please keep pushing!

Anthony Nichols
AOPA 5995628
Westlake Village, California

Like new

Thanks for the callout on Aspen in Thomas B. Haines’ editorial on new and existing airplanes (“How Much Does ‘New’ Really Matter?”). I appreciate him noting what Aspen started over 10 years ago has made a difference. I happen to believe that it started a rejuvenation of many of these used airplanes and improved safety for them. More importantly, I like to think we woke up the avionics industry to see that not only is there a business opportunity but also a way to keep our industry moving forward. Now we have the Part 23 rewrite and more competitors than ever driving affordable safety enhancing avionics and making our cockpits more interesting to fly behind. One day maybe it will entice younger tech-savvy people to our industry as well?

John Uczekaj
President and CEO, Aspen Avionics
AOPA 5860976
Prescott, Arizona

In love with flying

Natalie Bingham Hoover’s article “Flying Life: Hopeless Romances” instantly clarified what I have been feeling all these 47 years, but didn’t realize it until just now. I always struggled on applications when they asked about hobbies and other interests, trying to add things I kind of participate in, but not mentioning my true passion. She just clarified if for me, I have always loved aviation, I read/think about it on days off, never tire going to work, and do not want to stop at 65. I still haven’t figured out what I want to do when I grow up.

Marty Galis
AOPA 1403150
Palatine, Illinois