What happens when a C-130’s #3 propeller gearbox explodes at flight level 270? It ain’t pretty. Listen to the cockpit voice recording of the incident, and hear Evan Smith–who was in the left seat on that day in 1988–tell the tale.
By definition, any flying job that was only held by 93 pilots is an oddball job. While there’s obviously nobody hiring pilots to fly the SR-71 “Blackbird” these days, we’ve found some great videos that will show you what you missed out on.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like flying for a military contractor in a war zone? In this transcription of an interview with an anonymous military contract pilot you’ll read about the hiring process, the living accommodations, the lifestyle, the work, and the risk. The opportunities are changing with the world’s political situation, and it’s definitely not a job for everyone. But if you know what you’re getting into, it’s interesting work that pays quite well.
You had questions, Aidan and the crew at the Era pilot house in Nome have answers. Pull up a chair and enjoy this wide-ranging discussion covering aerobatic training, wildlife survey flying, aerial firefighting, working abroad, and lots more!
One of the great things about oddball flying jobs is that you frequently see oddball things. In his latest Dispatch, Aidan discovers that a rusty hunk of metal next to a taxiway in Talkeetna is a portal into an oddball airplane (and an oddball flying job) from long ago: the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
