Flight of the Gin Fizz: Midlife at 4,500 Feet

As a middle-aged private pilot myself, I have all the respect and admiration in the world for both pilots who flew coast to coast in light aircraft. Through out this book you will meet Henry Kisor, who is deaf, but who is trying desperately to communicate with not only himself through mid-life but also the outside world who has trouble accepting a deaf pilot. I found myself skimming over the historical recount of Roger's first coast-to-coast flight to catch up with Henry in his 150. Henry paints the all to true, sad picture of today's general aviation. Yet he also highlight it's greatest joys. Namely, meeting other aviation nuts and seeing the world from a different vantage point. After reading the book, I sincerely hope to one day meet Henry at a small GA airport and share a Diet Coke and a few stories. People like Henry are a main reason why I waste my hard earned money so foolishly boring $114 per hour holes in the sky. The brotherhood of aviators is well shared by Henry's book and is a good read by fellow aviators.

I enjoyed this book so much, I took my time reading it. As the author crossed the country slowly in a Cessna 152, he follows the path of Cal Rodgers (another deaf pilot) - and I followed the author slowly, limiting myself to a few chapters at a time, savoring them. While the author shared his observations about the places he went and the people he met, he also shared his his views as a deaf pilot and a deaf member of our society. It is this perspective that gives the greatest insights. He keeps running into people who "can't do something" because they are different. Women pilots, black pilots, pilots who are afraid of flying, deaf pilots. Fortunately, none of them listened (pun intended) to "them" and some great little stories about some fascinating individuals come out. I must confess I might have tried to limit some of these folks before I read this book - I hope this book has taught me to encourage them instead. I limited myself to four stars because this flight of self-discovery isn't quite in the league of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but that's a high bar to meet.

Although Henry Kisor writes about his transcontinental trip in a small trainer as a non-hearing pilot, there is a subtext. Anyone of any age who wonders what the world of general aviation is all about and harbors the desire to join its ranks should read this book. Sure, Henry's deafness makes his flight special, but it is his description of grass-roots aviation that makes this book a keeper. You won't recognize John Nance, Dale Brown, or Tom Clancy in its pages--not even Richard Bach--just a middle-aged guy in love with flying.