Flying the Edge of America: A Trip of a Lifetime

By David Millett; Julia Buss
CreateSpace , $26.00, 192 pages

Flying in a small single-engine airplane is much different from flying in a commercial jet. Flying the Edge of America authors Millett and Buss help readers feel what it’s like inside the cabin of a small plane flying through difficult weather over dangerous terrain. They hop from one rural airport to the next, flying in a big circle around America’s borders. Along the way, they meet a variety of people, some who exist way outside the authors sophisticated urban comfort zone. The flight to each destination is divided between the authors: Millett writes about the technical flying aspects of each leg of their trip and his concerns about Buss’s fear of flying while Buss writes about the cultural and historical elements of each destination. They include some editorializing that makes the story entertaining. There are tense moments such as when they flew over mountains with rotating updrafts and downdrafts threatening their aircraft. The prose feels at times like listening to friends ramble too long about their summer vacation. The photographs are nice and help the reader get a better feel for the experience. Overall, the hazards associated with a private pilot flying a small aircraft and the human interest elements make this a worthwhile read.

Reviewed by Grady Jones