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Celebrating the Wonder of Flight
Published 6:32 AM EDT, Mon August 17, 2015
Getting a pilot’s license — officially known as a pilot certificate — may be easier than you think. A 2004 FAA rule allows wannabe flyers to earn pilot certificates in less time — albeit with more limitations. The Sport Pilot Rule is “a great way to get in the cockpit and get flying and be able to take a passenger and go somewhere,” says Katie Pribyl of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.National Aviation Day is August 19. A federal act invites people to observe the day “with appropriate exercises to further stimulate interest in aviation in the United States.” Gliding is one example. At many gliderports, pilots will introduce passengers to the wonderful world of gliding. Explore various ways to celebrate aviation.The estimated number of active U.S. glider pilots in 2014 was nearly 26,500, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Soaring Society of America offers a handy gliderport map that shows where you can fly as a glider passenger for about $100.The Clipper Flying Cloud is the world’s last surviving Boeing 307 Stratoliner. The 307 was the first successful commercial airliner with a pressurized cabin. That special cabin allowed the plane to fly high above bad weather, where the ride is smoother and fewer passengers got airsick. The 307 virtually “eradicated” passenger airsickness, according to Smithsonian curator Bob van der Linden. Anytime you travel, you should tip your hat to the 307 for enhancing flying comfort.It first flew in 1938. Only 10 of these airplanes were made due to World War II. The Clipper Flying Cloud flew routes for Pan American Airways from Florida to Latin America and now resides in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.Airline magnate Howard Hughes bought a Stratoliner for himself, according to Boeing. He transformed it into a “flying penthouse” with a master bedroom, two bathrooms, a galley, a bar, and a large living room. Eventually, Hughes sold it and it became a Florida houseboat.The museum doesn’t allow visitors inside the Clipper Flying Cloud, but this cockpit photo gives you a glimpse of the flight deck. Flying on the Stratoliner was an expensive endeavor—limited to affluent passengers of its time. Back in the passenger cabin, the interior “is just gorgeous,” featuring 33 comfortable reclining seats and cabin walls decorated with maps of the world.“In 1940, the 307s started flying routes to Latin America and from New York to Los Angeles, California,” Boeing shares on their website. World War II halted production, leading to five 307s being “drafted” into the Army Transport Command as military transports.After their debut in 1951, Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations became widely popular, earning the nickname “Connies.” According to sponsor Breitling, this aircraft is the last Super Connie that still operates passenger flights. “Almost all aviators describe the Super Constellation as the most beautiful airliner ever built,” asserts chief pilot Ernst Frei.If you’re eager to fly on Breitling’s Super Connie, all passengers must first join the Super Constellation Flyers Association for around $120, followed by ticket purchases starting at $230. However, before you can reach the aircraft, Frei suggests trans-Atlantic travelers fly to Zurich and take an hour-long train ride to Basel, where the plane is based.
