When I first met Vic Olsen in the late 1990s, he had already been flying in Western Alaska for decades. He was one of the most hard working, cheerful pilots I’d ever met. Already in his 60s, he would outwork us young guys any day–with a smile on his face.

I’ve always admired Vic, but I never really had the chance to hear his whole story until last summer, when I recorded this interview at Nome City Field.

In this recording you’ll hear about:

• The interesting reason Vic came to Alaska in 1976 (and what thunderstorms had to do with it).
• What Nome was like in the 1970s.
• The secret to telling when an airline is starting to go downhill.
• How flying in Alaska has gotten safer over the years.
• How GPS has changed flying.
• Flying a DC-9 for Evergreen International.
• Flying to Russia.
• Vic’s best advice for anyone wanting to fly in Alaska (a simple concept that will ensure you have a long, happy aviation career).