Description
Book SynopsisBorn into a family of aviators, Merrill Wien was destined to become a pilot. His father, Noel Wien, was one of the first pilots to fly in Alaska and his life was full of firsts, including making the first round-trip flight between Asia and North America in 1929. His mother played a big role in the founding and development of Wien Alaska Airlines, the second-oldest scheduled airline in the United States and territories.
One of the most versatile and experienced pilots of his time, Merrill has flown just about every aircraft imaginable from DC-3s to Lockheed 1011s to historic military planes like the cargo C-46 and B-29 bomber to the Hiller UH-12E chopper. Although fundamentally modest by nature, family and friends encouraged Merrill to share his remarkable stories given his accomplishments and experiences with so many famous people and events. His tone is engagingly informal as he recounts crossing paths with such luminaries as Joe Crosson, Howard Hughes, Lowell Thomas Sr. and Lowell Thomas Jr., Sam White, Don Sheldon, Brad Washburn, Wally Schirra, and Bill Anders. He re-creates for readers his firsthand experiences flying top-secret missions for the Air Force, viewing the devastation of the Good Friday Earthquake in Anchorage, and the challenges of starting his own helicopter company, to name just a few. His fascinating narrative is complemented by photographs from his personal archives.
Trade Review“A book of seat-of-the-pants flying stories that keeps readers on the edge of their seat!”—Lowell Thomas Jr., author, statesman, bush pilot
“I first had the pleasure of flying with Merrill in ’56. He is the greatest pilot I have ever shared a cockpit with. I learned a great deal from Merrill about professionalism as a pilot. Not just in how he flew, but in how he treated everyone in his crew. Merrill’s story is a must read by anyone interested in aviation and Alaska.”—Holger "Jorgy" Jorgensen, legendary Alaska bush pilot and airline captain
“The best pilot anywhere. Need a Metalplane, need a Widgeon, need a B-29? Call Merrill!” —Phil Makanna, author of Ghosts: Vintage Aircraft of World War II
Table of ContentsForeword Introduction 1. The Early Years 2. Young Pilot 3. Paid to Fly 4. In the Army Now 5. Aircraft Commander 6. Special Assignments 7. A Civilian Again 8. Alaskan Adventures 9. Branching Out 10. A New Bush Plane 11. Ice Island Flying 12. From the Turboprop to the Jet Age 13. Turbulence for Wien Air Alaska 14. Life After Wien Air Alaska 15. For the Love of Flying Epilogue Acknowledgments Further Reading Aircraft Flown by Noel Merrill Wien
