From 1995 to 2013 I flew airplanes, a lot. Aviation was my side hustle as I pursued a busy career in public relations at Verizon. Between my basic private pilot training through epic flights across North America I recorded close to 900 hours of flying. My decision to take flying lessons was the realization of a dream I’d had since my youth, especially growing up on Air Force bases where I saw airplanes every day. This included the massive, majestic B52 bombers.
Each time I took a lesson, learned how to fly different airplanes, pursued higher levels of licenses, or embarked on epic cross-country flights I pulled out a steno pad when I arrived back home. I scratched out notes on my sojourns. During the worldwide pandemic in 2020 I pulled out those notebooks for the first time in years, and discovered I had a massive amount of material that could be used to write a book. I felt a need to share my experience with the world. My new flying memoir tells the story of a part of my life during which I juggled family life and work duties to reach for the skies. During my primary training I flew at least once a week. When I wasn’t at the airport, I spent hours digesting flight manuals, textbooks, and other aviation literature. I took the effort seriously and it paid off in my becoming a good, safe pilot.
Another reason for writing my book was to hopefully inspire others to consider taking up flight training at an accredited flight school or to expand their knowledge of aviation in general. In addition to medicine, computing, and the internet, I consider airplanes, and the science associated with getting and keeping them in the air, one of our best examples of modern science and technology.
My new book is called, “Climbing Above the Clouds, My Life as a Private Pilot.” The ebook (Kindle) and paperback versions are available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Climbing-Above-Clouds-Private-Pilot-ebook/dp/B0F1TXVTCD?ref_=ast_author_mpb
One final note: Thanks to New Jersey-based artist Deanna Gallaro for designing a wonderful cover, as she did with my two previous books.
I’ll be sharing more information on my flying adventures here, as well as some pictures I selected from the hundreds I took over the years. Please feel free to leave me questions and comments here, or write to me at markmarchand56@gmail.com
Please join me as I tell my story.
