I just ran across this copy of the 1975 documentary, “Nothing by Chance”, adapted from Richard Bach’s 1969 book “Nothing by Chance: A Gypsy Pilot’s Adventures in Moden America.”
When I was a little kid (1956ish) I remember seeing an old biplane flying over the sugar cane fields near my family’s house in Pearl City. I asked my father what it was and he told me it was a Stearman PT-17 that had been used as a trainer aircraft in WW2 (my old man had been in the Air Force after being drafted in early 1945). The plane was being used by Oahu Sugar Co. to spray the fields with DDT (yikes!) and fertilizer pellets among other jobs, and that was one of my first memories of airplanes that got me hooked on aviation subjects as well as building plastic model kits. I sometimes wondered what happened to that Stearman after Oahu Sugar stopped growing and processing sugar cane. I’d like to think that it’s flying somewhere and not having been thrown away into the ash heap of “progress”…
Sadly, I'm not an aeronut, but I've loved Richard Bach's books since I was in high school in N. Calif, in the 70's. I loved his style of writing, and his way of looking at the world. It's been too long now, and I need to reread all the books I still have (which are several; I hang on to books that have been meaningful to me), or can get my hands on again.
No, I've never dreamed of being a pilot, but I would have taken that double sunset ride with him, yes I would.... 🌄
I love what you paint with your words, Tom, and Richard Bach is right there too. Thank you for sharing that with us. My first flight was in a neatly kept Beech Bannana V-tail owned by a doctor friend of my Dad's. I was maybe five or six and I didn't want to go back down. I was born a sailor and floating is floating.
This brings back pleasant memories, Tom. In 1952 I was visiting my great great Aunt Fanny and my cousins in West Monroe, LA. My cousin Tom had just gotten his pilot's license and took me for a flight in a biplane. You're right, it is an experience like no other. You are sitting in the open air nothing between you. And the world looks so very different, but very, very beautiful. My only similar feeling was skiing downhill in the Sierra Nevada's - but of course y feet were on the ground then (:-)
Yes it was. Unfortunately, I was forced to quit when at 68 I through my left knee out tearing some ligaments. Even now 22 years later the damned thing won't support me. Ugh!
It wasn't the skiing that threw out my knee. In 56 year of skiing I never had an accident or an injury. I was in an amateur review for several years and that year on the opening night in he opening performance going upstairs to the stage I slipped and twisted my knee so badly I was in a brace and on crutches for the next two performances, Embarrrassing.
Such eloquent words. Such a vivid picture painted. I have so many sunsets, sunrises, and surreal cloud formations in my camera roll that each evokes a memory, a moment, of sheer joy at being aloft and surrounded by the low heavens. It’s where I’d put my hand on the window and whisper “thank you.”
What a wonderful ride! The last time I went flying in a small, light plane was probably with my niece when she was about 10, both of us getting turns at the controls.
Around a decade after that, she paraglided with an instructor, high over Melbourne, Australia.
Great piece. I’ve never flown in an open cockpit biplane, but had a friend with a Cessna 120/140. Not the same, but small, slow, maneuverable, and fun as shit. Even considering the bench seat, canvas door, and itty bitty door latch.
My friend was a very interesting guy. We became close in Fairbanks. He moved back to Brownsville and was one of the contraband smugglers flying north to south into Mexico described in “Over & Back” by “Wild Bill” Callahan. Weird to think now but at the time, preNAFTA, Mexico had a 100% add-on tax for electronics. Made for lucrative trade flying in loads of TVs, and stereos.
When I was a little kid (1956ish) I remember seeing an old biplane flying over the sugar cane fields near my family’s house in Pearl City. I asked my father what it was and he told me it was a Stearman PT-17 that had been used as a trainer aircraft in WW2 (my old man had been in the Air Force after being drafted in early 1945). The plane was being used by Oahu Sugar Co. to spray the fields with DDT (yikes!) and fertilizer pellets among other jobs, and that was one of my first memories of airplanes that got me hooked on aviation subjects as well as building plastic model kits. I sometimes wondered what happened to that Stearman after Oahu Sugar stopped growing and processing sugar cane. I’d like to think that it’s flying somewhere and not having been thrown away into the ash heap of “progress”…
Sadly, I'm not an aeronut, but I've loved Richard Bach's books since I was in high school in N. Calif, in the 70's. I loved his style of writing, and his way of looking at the world. It's been too long now, and I need to reread all the books I still have (which are several; I hang on to books that have been meaningful to me), or can get my hands on again.
No, I've never dreamed of being a pilot, but I would have taken that double sunset ride with him, yes I would.... 🌄
I got to ride in the back seat of a bi-plane once upon a time.
Thank you Tom for this. Beautiful words to paint such
a wonderful canvas of flight.
Indeed
This is so beautiful, so moving... It's made my day. Thank you, TC!
I love what you paint with your words, Tom, and Richard Bach is right there too. Thank you for sharing that with us. My first flight was in a neatly kept Beech Bannana V-tail owned by a doctor friend of my Dad's. I was maybe five or six and I didn't want to go back down. I was born a sailor and floating is floating.
“…the earth was a silent lake of gold” That paragraph.
Indeed. "that old crate" is my favorite of his short pieces.
“We whispered down into the grass and swung to park, shutting the engine into hot ticking silence.”
The man knew how to paint pictures with words.
Great to read just for his expressive writing.
The man did.
Thanks for this. We always enjoy your air photos.
This brings back pleasant memories, Tom. In 1952 I was visiting my great great Aunt Fanny and my cousins in West Monroe, LA. My cousin Tom had just gotten his pilot's license and took me for a flight in a biplane. You're right, it is an experience like no other. You are sitting in the open air nothing between you. And the world looks so very different, but very, very beautiful. My only similar feeling was skiing downhill in the Sierra Nevada's - but of course y feet were on the ground then (:-)
Skiing in the Sierra is great.
Yes it was. Unfortunately, I was forced to quit when at 68 I through my left knee out tearing some ligaments. Even now 22 years later the damned thing won't support me. Ugh!
Ugh! That's too bad!
Yep, the joys of old age LOL
I miss skiing, too. I have two steel knee joints now, but I don't think I'd trust them. Skiing in the East is hard on knees.
It wasn't the skiing that threw out my knee. In 56 year of skiing I never had an accident or an injury. I was in an amateur review for several years and that year on the opening night in he opening performance going upstairs to the stage I slipped and twisted my knee so badly I was in a brace and on crutches for the next two performances, Embarrrassing.
Such eloquent words. Such a vivid picture painted. I have so many sunsets, sunrises, and surreal cloud formations in my camera roll that each evokes a memory, a moment, of sheer joy at being aloft and surrounded by the low heavens. It’s where I’d put my hand on the window and whisper “thank you.”
What a wonderful ride! The last time I went flying in a small, light plane was probably with my niece when she was about 10, both of us getting turns at the controls.
Around a decade after that, she paraglided with an instructor, high over Melbourne, Australia.
Great piece. I’ve never flown in an open cockpit biplane, but had a friend with a Cessna 120/140. Not the same, but small, slow, maneuverable, and fun as shit. Even considering the bench seat, canvas door, and itty bitty door latch.
Yeah, I had a friend with a 140. It was lots of fun.
My friend was a very interesting guy. We became close in Fairbanks. He moved back to Brownsville and was one of the contraband smugglers flying north to south into Mexico described in “Over & Back” by “Wild Bill” Callahan. Weird to think now but at the time, preNAFTA, Mexico had a 100% add-on tax for electronics. Made for lucrative trade flying in loads of TVs, and stereos.
Might make a topic for good aviation-related book.
I got a ride in a Tiger Moth once. One of the better flying expriences I've had!
“…rolling and soaring and diving and singing strong in her wires.”
This was beautiful in word and picture. Thank you.
I just got home, Tom. I understand completely. Will read with relish after dinner. (no pun).