[.ca] Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane (ISBN 1560276223)

NON-FLYERS VIEW:
I loved this book because of its descriptive view of what it might be like for someone who has never been a pilot; however, my husband, Gary has been a pilot and understands this feeling. The book describes how warm and exciting it must be to be up in the skies doing what you love. Congratulations on captivating a non-pilot person and a pilot person since there is no such thing as an ex-pilot. Good Luck.

If you ever wanted to fly, here's a reason why...:
As a flight instructor, I know this book will be fun reading for every pilot and for those who dream about being pilots. Brown shares the thrills and chills of flying and, at the same time, makes us feel safe going along for the ride. Each chapter stands on its own: a combination of aerial adventure, self-discovery and pure joy. After you read this book, you'll want to invite Greg Brown over for a cup of coffee so he can regale you, in his easy-going, friendly manner, with more stories about the magic of flight.

Another Fantastic Greg Brown Aviation Book:
A large portion of my life is spent with my nose in a book. I know a good one when I see it, and this is a good one. The moment I opened Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane, I was hooked. Greg Brown's unique talent lies in showing us how airplanes are used in the enterprise of aviation adventure while allowing us to learn some important lessons about flying. As you read, you¹ll find yourself buckled in with Greg and heading off to the shores of Lake Winnipeg to watch a solar eclipse or wrestling with ice on your wings or trying to outwit troublesome mountain waves. The adventures are plenty and education always present as you explore many wonderful places across the United States. Flying Carpet is a book for everyone. Pilots will be entertained and wiser for having read it. Those who don¹t fly will learn what it¹s like to share the wings of a skilled aviator. Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane captures the joy, enlightenment and adventure of flying an airplane. Each chapter is a ticket to share some of the extraordinary flying adventures that are the lifeblood of master flight instructor Greg Brown. Beginning with his early development as a pilot, Greg reveals the important lessons that helped mold his ability to make sound aviation decisions. Sandwiched between these valuable lessons are stories about people. Some are pilots. Others simply enjoy and respect those who operate flying machines. As the novice becomes the journeyman and eventually the master, Greg reveals how relationships with people and airplanes ultimately lead to greater wisdom. No book about flying would be complete if it didn¹t reveal how the use of an airplane expands time and shrinks space, making the distant parts of our extraordinary country more accessible. Flying Carpet does this and much more. It¹s also the tale of a man who evolves to think with the mind of a pilot, question with the curiosity of a philosopher, and see with the eyes of a poet. Buckle in with Greg Brown and head off to chase a solar eclipse or wrestle with ice on your wings or try to outwit troublesome mountain waves. Each chapter of Flying Carpet is a new ticket to extraordinary adventures that transform a pilot from novice to journeyman and eventually, skilled aviator.

A well-written, must-read book:
If you're a pilot or have ever dreamed of becoming one, you'll love this book! Greg Brown takes readers into the cockpit of his small plane and shares all the struggles, triumphs and the crazy adventures of a pilot from his novice days through today, with several decades of experience behind him. I found the book immensely readable. The language is simple and straightforward and the stories are broken down into short chapters, each a separate adventure, which is ideal if your reading time is limited. I also liked the variety of stories -- some were harrowing, some were downright hilarious and all of them made me wish I had been along for the ride. Finally, I found this book to be as much about relationships -- father-son, husband-wife, family and friends -- as it is about flying, which really balanced out the book for me. An enormously satisfying read!