Have I ever told you guys what a nut I am for collecting bush pilot biographies? Behind me sits a bookshelf full of them, and while free time to read is in short supply these days, I've enjoy about 75% of what I've collected. Some of them I've link here in the BCP Bush Flying Library.

I often have the same thought: We're damned lucky when someone who's lived an amazing life of adventure takes the time to tell their tale. It often comes at great personal investment, both in time and money, to have a book published.

Years ago I enjoyed Ira Harkey's Noel Wien: Alaska Pioneer Bush Pilot, the tale of one of the most famous pioneers of Alaskan flying. For any who don't know, Wien went from a barnstorming adventurer to starting Wien Air Alaska, a direct competitor of the early Alaska Airlines in those seminal days of Alaska transport. His son, Noel "Merrill" Wien, was born and raised in Alaska and has had a long, accident-free flying career that put him in the left seat of everything from the DC-3 to the B-29 bomber.

Merrill has just released his own autobiography titled Noel Merrill Wien: Born to Fly, and account of his life in Alaska, flying, and brushes with bush pilot heroes whose names could fill out a pretty good bookshelf.

The paperback copy sitting here on my desk was sent to me by Merrill's son Kurt, grandson of Noel, a pilot with his own impressive career, and a heck of a nice guy Husky pilot. He goes here by the name G44. Edit for 2021: we're joined by Kurt's brother Kent to round out the pilot family tree! So cool.

Grab a copy today to fill out your bush flying book collection. Available on Amazon in Kindle, hard cover, and paperback.

Zzz wrote:Have I ever told you guys what a nut I am for collecting bush pilot biographies? Behind me sits a bookshelf full of them, and while free time to read is in short supply these days, I've enjoy about 75% of what I've collected. Some of them I've link here in the BCP Bush Flying Library.

I often have the same thought: We're damned lucky when someone who's lived an amazing life of adventure takes the time to tell their tale. It often comes at great personal investment, both in time and money, to have a book published.

Year ago I enjoyed Ira Harkey's Noel Wien: Alaska Pioneer Bush Pilot, the tale of one of the most famous pioneers of Alaskan flying. For any who don't know, Wien went from a barnstorming adventurer to starting Wien Air Alaska, a direct competitor of the early Alaska Airlines in those seminal days of Alaska transport. His son, Noel "Merrill" Wien, was born and raised in Alaska and has had a long, accident-free flying career that put him in the left seat of everything from the DC-3 to the B-29 bomber.

Merrill has just released his own autobiography titled Noel Merrill Wien: Born to Fly, and account of his life in Alaska, flying, and brushes with bush pilot heroes whose names could fill out a pretty good bookshelf.

The paperback copy sitting here on my desk was sent to me by Merrill's son Kurt, grandson of Noel, a pilot with his own impressive career, and a heck of a nice guy Husky pilot. He goes here by the name G44.

Grab a copy today to fill out your bush flying book collection. Available on Amazon in Kindle, hard cover, and paperback.

I’ll offer a second as a hearty recommendation for folks to read Merrill’s book. It’s well written, and the gentleman has done some stuff! Great stories. I particularly enjoyed his description of his first flight during Air Force flight school.....

MTV

x3. The list of different aircraft this gentleman has been endorsed to fly is contained at the back of the book. It is almost without equal. The writing is excellent as well.
-DP

Zane, as just a side note to this: Another one to grab (if you ever come across a copy at an affordable price) is: "Rocks and Wings" by CL Pete Sainsbury. I thoroughly enjoyed my copy (now falling apart) and would really like to hear if anybody ever followed up on some of his ancient people group work on the Seward Peninsula. My friend Ted Hulke now has one of Pete's old L-21 Super Cubs 7NM

https://amzn.to/35nXUCy

denalipilot wrote:x3. The list of different aircraft this gentleman has been endorsed to fly is contained at the back of the book. It is almost without equal. The writing is excellent as well.
-DP

Merrill holds the type rating: All makes and models of reciprocating single and multi engine aircraft. That’s right, he’s licensed to fly any aircraft with reciprocating engines. FYI the FAA doesn’t issue that type rating any more.

MTV

I slightly misspoke before- the end of the book shows the aircraft he HAS flown. Here's the list:

I bought two copies then gave one as a gift and have passed on the other after reading. He rode the early wave of aircraft due to inspiritation and support. Thanks to his energy and generosity we can now appreciate his experience. He has a special gift.

Today?...unlikely to happen for most.

Gary

They are widely honored but I still don't think the Wien family gets the credit they deserve for all their flying in Alaska. We had Richard come and be part of the pilot round table for he fly in a few years ago and he passed on all kinds of hints and tricks. He still flies his 185 in his 80's. I would like to see the Fairbanks airport get named in their honor before it ends up being some politician.

BTW Zane I like your list of books. Don't you wonder about all the stories that never got written down? Probably most of them seemed like just another day to the pilots at the time. I bet there are several contributors on here who could make a pretty good book. A couple sure have a flair for writing in their posts at least.

jprax wrote:They are widely honored but I still don't think the Wien family gets the credit they deserve for all their flying in Alaska. We had Richard come and be part of the pilot round table for he fly in a few years ago and he passed on all kinds of hints and tricks. He still flies his 185 in his 80's. I would like to see the Fairbanks airport get named in their honor before it ends up being some politician.

Excellet suggestion. The family deserves the honor and maybe our new Governor will support the idea. Not sure of the process but it's worth an effort.

Gary

jprax wrote:BTW Zane I like your list of books. Don't you wonder about all the stories that never got written down? Probably most of them seemed like just another day to the pilots at the time. I bet there are several contributors on here who could make a pretty good book. A couple sure have a flair for writing in their posts at least.

Thanks Joe. Still have many more from my shelf to add, but it's just another thing to spend time on.

It's pretty amazing to visit up there and fly around with my buddies doing really mellow stuff and think about the pioneers who came before us. Really dreamy and starry-eyed, I know, but cool nonetheless.

Thanks for the post. I've got a copy coming. Can't wait to read it.

I bought my copy at the Alaska Airmen’s Annual Gathering 2 1/2 years ago. The author and his brother made a presentation in a tent outside that I was able to attend. A highlight of my visit. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware of G44 (Kurt) then, or would have made an effort to make his aquaintance.

"I slightly misspoke before- the end of the book shows the aircraft he HAS flown. Here's the list:"

No Maule?

Picky picky.... and I was thinking Wien was a REAL pilot.

Good catch DR!

Ordering book, thanks Zane.

Oddly no Cherokee models listed either.

I am glad everyone is enjoying the book. My dad's objective in writing it was mainly for his kids to have something to refer back to then his writings turned into a book. It took him nearly 3 years to recall events in his life and put into writing. I think he did a pretty good job in the writing department since he is not a writer. He did have some great help from his editor which he credits. There was a lot that he wrote that the publisher did not include in the book, they said it was getting too long, I sure wish they would have included it all, its great stuff in my humble opinion. Merrill is a very modest man and it is difficult for him to talk about himself, he does not do well speaking in front of crowds, I sure wish he would speak more in front of audiences and groups, I think many would enjoy his stories. His talk at the Airmans show a couple years ago was difficult for him but I am glad he gave it since it looks like it was well received by many.

I am very fortunate flying wise to have the father, grandfather and uncle I have, they have instilled a lot of wisdom in me that I did not have to learn the hard way. My flying and daily life routine incorporates their teachings. My uncle Richard is a great man also, I wish he would write a book too, the experiences and accomplishments he has had over his life time are quite impressive. I also have to credit my wonderful mother and my grandparents on her side as well as my grandmother Ada, I was very fortunate to have such great guidance growing up. I was lucky as a kid having Merrill as my dad, I learned how to fly in a Cessna 185 on floats, wheels and ski's, it is what we had at the time and my brother pretty much learned in a twin engine Beech TravelAir which he soloed on his 16th birthday. My dad just taught us in what he had at the time, he was/is a fantastic instructor. I could go on and on about him but I think you get the idea. Keep in mind reading, all his flying over the years were accident free, I think a lot of luck was involved but in my opinion excellent skill and judgement played the majority part.

Oh, one more thing, there were many airplanes and helicopters that were overlooked in compiling his list of aircraft flown, as you would expect, after the list was given to the publisher he would remember another one. Oh well. Answer to above questions, yes, he has flown Maule's, also Cherokee's, in fact even a Cherokee on floats, that Im sure of since I was in the back seat as a young lad.


Thank you everyone for the kind words concerning my dad's book.


Kurt

G44 wrote:I am glad everyone is enjoying the book. My dad's objective in writing it was mainly for his kids to have something to refer back to then his writings turned into a book. It took him nearly 3 years to recall events in his life and put into writing. I think he did a pretty good job in the writing department since he is not a writer. He did have some great help from his editor which he credits. There was a lot that he wrote that the publisher did not include in the book, they said it was getting too long, I sure wish they would have included it all, its great stuff in my humble opinion. Merrill is a very modest man and it is difficult for him to talk about himself, he does not do well speaking in front of crowds, I sure wish he would speak more in front of audiences and groups, I think many would enjoy his stories. His talk at the Airmans show a couple years ago was difficult for him but I am glad he gave it since it looks like it was well received by many.

I am very fortunate flying wise to have the father, grandfather and uncle I have, they have instilled a lot of wisdom in me that I did not have to learn the hard way. My flying and daily life routine incorporates their teachings. My uncle Richard is a great man also, I wish he would write a book too, the experiences and accomplishments he has had over his life time are quite impressive. I also have to credit my wonderful mother and my grandparents on her side as well as my grandmother Ada, I was very fortunate to have such great guidance growing up. I was lucky as a kid having Merrill as my dad, I learned how to fly in a Cessna 185 on floats, wheels and ski's, it is what we had at the time and my brother pretty much learned in a twin engine Beech TravelAir which he soloed on his 16th birthday. My dad just taught us in what he had at the time, he was/is a fantastic instructor. I could go on and on about him but I think you get the idea. Keep in mind reading, all his flying over the years were accident free, I think a lot of luck was involved but in my opinion excellent skill and judgement played the majority part.

Oh, one more thing, there were many airplanes and helicopters that were overlooked in compiling his list of aircraft flown, as you would expect, after the list was given to the publisher he would remember another one. Oh well. Answer to above questions, yes, he has flown Maule's, also Cherokee's, in fact even a Cherokee on floats, that Im sure of since I was in the back seat as a young lad.


Thank you everyone for the kind words concerning my dad's book.


Kurt

Kurt,

I’ll second your wish that your Dad will do more public talks in future. He does have great stories, indeed.

I also wish that at some point, Richard would make the thousands of original photos that your grandfather took in the early days publicly viewable somewhere. I’ve wandered around his hangar and view that small sampling of photos, and they are truly amazing, and represent a real historical treasure.

MTV

Mike,

We gave all of my grandfathers photos to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. They are available for public viewing thru UAF. I am not sure if they have the photos posted online yet, that is the plan.

Many do not realize but my grandfather was quite the photographer, he had a camera with him almost all the time. We had thousands of his photos and negatives that we turned over to UAF for archiving.

Kurt

G44 wrote:Mike,

We gave all of my grandfathers photos to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. They are available for public viewing thru UAF. I am not sure if they have the photos posted online yet, that is the plan.

Many do not realize but my grandfather was quite the photographer, he had a camera with him almost all the time. We had thousands of his photos and negatives that we turned over to UAF for archiving.

Kurt

That’s great news, Kurt! I talked to Richard about your grandfather’s habit of carrying a camera with him almost every time he flew, including in open cockpit airplanes. I asked Richard what inspired him to do so, and Richard said he’d asked his father that question, and his response was that he knew he was doing something historic.

Indeed. I look forward to seeing more of those photos.

MTV