Ely Air Lines: Select Stories from 10 Years of a Weekly Column: Volume 1 of 2

by Mike Ely, Linda Street-Ely

Overview

Ely Air Lines is a 2-volume set of 100 stories from the first 10 years of a weekly column by Mike and Linda Ely. Based in Liberty, Texas, the Elys fly and share stories from around the world. Buckle up and fly with Mike and Linda to discover amazing people, interesting places, and the conquest of flight.

Since 2007, readers have enjoyed engaging articles weekly in the newspaper column, Ely Air Lines. Now you, too, can step aboard to enjoy a collection of stories that explore the vast realm of the flyer's world. (Volume 1 of 2)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781947677029
Publisher:	Paper Airplane Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	01/29/2020
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.78(d)

About the Author

Mike has logged many thousands of hours over more than forty years as a professional pilot. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with multiple type ratings and a Flight Instructor certificate. Mike has taught people to fly in small single engine airplanes and gliders, and several types of turboprops and corporate jets. As a freight pilot and an international corporate pilot, he has flown through all kinds of weather, to many places, both exotic and boring. His love for writing was instilled by his father at an early age.

Linda Street-Ely is an award-winning author and has written several books and hundreds of articles. She holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, along with a tailwheel endorsement and commercial seaplane certificate. She has air raced all over the U.S. since 2007, including four times in the historic Air Race Classic. Together, Linda and Mike are "Team Ely," five-time National Champions of the Sport Air Racing League, racing their Grumman Cheetah, named the "Elyminator," and dubbed "The Fastest Cheetah in the Known Universe." Besides flying, she loves to travel the world, meet people, and learn about other cultures.

Table of Contents

How Flying Stories Happen: An Dedication

Introduction

1. About Flying

2. Who We Are, How We Got Here

3. Firsts

4. Liberty Airport's Humble Beginnings

5. Airplanes, Adventure, and All That Grabein Jazz

6. David Rogers - Never Mind the Photos, I've Gone Flying

7. M & M Air Service

8. Lauren Jones, Young Aviatrix

9. Jed Keck, A Lucky Guy

10. The Ace

11. The Life o'Riley

12. Josh Sullivan, Lifted and Gifted

13. Steve Fingerhut, Fighting the Good Fight

14. Charlie Sisk, on Business, Aviation, and Life

15. A Life Saved, Thanks to an Airport

16. Police Chiefs

17. Peruvian Lights

18. Small Airports Give Life

19. Riding the Thermals

20. Gypsy Week

21. Island Hopping

22. The Honeymoon

23. A Cub and a Moth

24. Fall Foliage Flying Tour

25. Skyway Gypsies

26. Landing on Memory Lane

27. Santa's Helpers

28. Inky and Stinky

29. Earthquake

30. Spinning Prop Yarns

31. Allan Chambers' Letters Home

32. J.P. and the Collings Foundation - The Seat Still Fits

33. Leadership

34: The Grandfather: Lawrence Dewey Bonbrake, Airplane Designer and Builder

35: The Grandson: Lance Borden, Radio Man

36. Hanoi Taxi

37. Plages Sombres

38. Two

39. The Real Rosie the Riveter

40. A Picture of Courage

41. AnnElise Bennet and The Man Trophy

42. Sunshine and Handstands

43. A Gift

44. Okie Derby

45. Rocket Man

46. Life's Disappointments Can't Keep a Good Man Down

47. Sign Me Up!

48. The Road to Nome

49. Before Us, They Were

For Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

The "Ely Air Lines" book series captures what's most important about general aviation flying: the people and the relationships. Through this compilation of newspaper columns, Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely recount the stories about people and places uncovered as they travel by general aviation airplane, their Grumman Cheetah pulling the thread that stitches together the tales of the remarkable personalities they encounter.
Sometimes sad, sometimes humorous, always entertaining and thoughtful, each story heralds the benefits of general aviation aircraft and airports. This is the sort of reporting that will make the masses care about general aviation and help us protect the freedom to fly.
- Mark Baker, President and CEO, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)

The "Ely Air Lines" books offer the reader an easy look into a wide variety of aviation activities and experiences. The 100 short stories included offer the option of break-time reading as well as serious rainy-weather diversion. These stories are relevant for pilots to expand their aviation knowledge, and for non-pilots to gain a better insight into the strengths, passions, and quirks - basically, the humanity - of pilots. These stories provide an inside view of aviation missing from the daily sound-bite news. Definitely recommended reading.
- Richard VanGrunsven, Founder and CEO of Van's Aircraft Inc.

What began with the passionate efforts of Linda Street-Ely and Mike Ely to promote their beloved community airport evolved into a delightful collection of perceptive commentaries from deep inside the grassroots of American aviation. This two-volume collection of the Elys' column in their local Texas newspaper quietly opens up the fascinating world of life at little airports - and the lives of the people who frequent them. It has long been said that there are more characters per capita in aviation than any other human endeavor. It's true. These books by Linda and Mike capture the quirks, the fascinating, and the sometimes selfless greatness of aviators who find joy in going aloft in flying machines - ranging from the most modest to snap-your-head-back monsters that snort and bellow their way over the horizon before you can blink. Because they were newspaper columns, most stories are brief. So, these books may be snatched up for a satisfying, quick read over the hurried morning coffee or savored, many at a time, feet up in front of the fire with a good single malt.
- Rick Durden, Aviation attorney, CFII, ATP, Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation type ratings, author of hundreds of aviation articles and of "The Thinking Pilot" book series.

Pure enjoyment is what one will experience while reading the stories from the Elys' book series. Not only does it bring back many memories, but it also gives an insight to the people and events that are the reason we are all so passionate about aviation.
- Debby Rihn-Harvey, U.S. National and World Aerobatic Champion, retired airline captain, FBO and flight school business owner, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, mentor

The "Ely Air Lines" books provide the reader a throwback to the better and easier days of more pleasure and fewer rules. Their short stories are an easy reminder of why we all fell in love with aviation. Simply reading a few lines and I'm captured in a story, away from the daily hustle and bustle, that I enjoyed and will learn from. An easy read that will relax the mind, and leave the reader wishing for their own blue sky adventures. Absolutely recommended reading.
- Nina Keefer, Co-founder and Chief Pilot of Anthelion Helicopters

From the Publisher