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Ely Air Lines: Select Stories from 10 Years of a Weekly Column: Volume 1 of 2
Buckle up and fly with Mike and Linda Ely 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 can step aboard to enjoy a collection of stories that explore the vast realm of the flyer’s world. (Volume 1 of 2)
350 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 22, 2021
I have known a few pilots in my life and all of them seem to have the same love and fervor for the craft as is displayed in these stories from Mike and Linda's column. While these stories are recent tellings (in the last two decades), the history of the pilots spans a lifetime.
Small town airports are vital to the community, and the town of Liberty is no different. It may be close to Houston, but if you live in Texas or have ever visited here, you know this is a large state and it can take several hours to get from one place to another even if they don't look that far apart on the map. Having an airport within a smaller community can be the difference between life and death in some cases. I enjoyed learning how this airport came into existence and is serving the community to this day.
I was able to enjoy volume 1 of the two books and the stories inside had me enthralled from page to page and story to story. I don't know if I have a favorite, but I truly enjoyed the stories about those that were bitten by the flying bug at a very early age. There are multiple stories about young flyers and how they would give things up just to be around planes and pilots. I learned so much from these pilots from the different aircraft they flew, dangerous or strange situations they found themselves in, and even how they gave of their time to help others that needed their assistance. There were several pilots that volunteered for organizations that flew those that need treatment to larger cities since their bodies couldn't handle riding on a commercial airline. I admire and appreciate their generosity.
There are even stories about Mike and Linda's adventures. I can see why owning your own plane can be an adventure because you can take off any time you wish for a long weekend or even a day and visit another part of the country. The detail that they share makes me want to visit some of these locations in the Northeast and even the Pacific Northwest. I chuckled when they described flying into some of these smaller airports during football season. Knowing how crazy fans can be, I can only imagine how energetic those towns were on game day. I relished the story that Linda told about a trip to where her mother grew up and the memories she created with her mom and sister. It also sent her down a rabbit hole searching for photos of the house her mother grew up in since it was demolished many years ago.
This book is wonderful when you have just a short time to read and don't want to dive into a longer novel. These short stories from their column bring to life what it is like to soar through the wild blue yonder.
Small town airports are vital to the community, and the town of Liberty is no different. It may be close to Houston, but if you live in Texas or have ever visited here, you know this is a large state and it can take several hours to get from one place to another even if they don't look that far apart on the map. Having an airport within a smaller community can be the difference between life and death in some cases. I enjoyed learning how this airport came into existence and is serving the community to this day.
I was able to enjoy volume 1 of the two books and the stories inside had me enthralled from page to page and story to story. I don't know if I have a favorite, but I truly enjoyed the stories about those that were bitten by the flying bug at a very early age. There are multiple stories about young flyers and how they would give things up just to be around planes and pilots. I learned so much from these pilots from the different aircraft they flew, dangerous or strange situations they found themselves in, and even how they gave of their time to help others that needed their assistance. There were several pilots that volunteered for organizations that flew those that need treatment to larger cities since their bodies couldn't handle riding on a commercial airline. I admire and appreciate their generosity.
There are even stories about Mike and Linda's adventures. I can see why owning your own plane can be an adventure because you can take off any time you wish for a long weekend or even a day and visit another part of the country. The detail that they share makes me want to visit some of these locations in the Northeast and even the Pacific Northwest. I chuckled when they described flying into some of these smaller airports during football season. Knowing how crazy fans can be, I can only imagine how energetic those towns were on game day. I relished the story that Linda told about a trip to where her mother grew up and the memories she created with her mom and sister. It also sent her down a rabbit hole searching for photos of the house her mother grew up in since it was demolished many years ago.
This book is wonderful when you have just a short time to read and don't want to dive into a longer novel. These short stories from their column bring to life what it is like to soar through the wild blue yonder.
April 14, 2021
Based on their weekly column, Air Lines, Mike and Linda Street Ely have compiled a wonderful selection of aviation tales, focused on the people who enlivened their weekly offerings over the years, and the value general aviation represents, especially in small town America. They expand their vision of this idea by taking us flying in their Grumman Cheetah, named Elyminator. There are stories based on the business side of aviation, people born to fly, quiet heroes, tributes to veterans, and courageous folks—women, like the real life Rosie the Riveter.
It seems that aviation people are just more colorful, more generous, and certainly more ambitious when it comes to seeking out life’s better, richer, more exotic experiences. This collection of stories offers proof: A boa constrictor in the airplane? Stearmans for sale @ $56.56 apiece? Even better, an old twin-engine airplane bought for $1.00? Really? Flying formation with a hawk? How utterly cool is that?
Mostly it’s the people that bring the book alive. We read about Lauren: ‘‘almost since she was out of her car seat she was learning to navigate,’ as the authors write. Then there’s Josh, a C-130 pilot who might characterize most people in the aviation tribe. Josh could have chosen to fly jets in the Air Force, but opted instead for the C-130 because, as he said, ‘I love the teamwork involved in a crew plane.’ AnnElise Bennet won her own ‘Man Trophy’.
One section of Air Lines that will resonate with anyone who has ever become a pilot is that moment when an instructor steps out of the cockpit, and tells us to take the machine into the air solo. That could be an entire book of stories on its own. (Air Lines #3?) Just reading that section took me back to June 1969 when I soloed, and the ritual that surrounds a first solo flight. It is truly empowering to hold your own life in your hands.
We read about the purchase of a barn full of airplane parts, all for $500.00. We read about young people taking first flights, and becoming hooked on aviation. Old plane carcasses are robbed of parts to resurrect an airworthy machine. We hear crusty old flying quotes that have the added feature of being true: ‘you don’t own flying; it owns you.’
We pilots do seem to speak a different language, or at least a different dialect, almost a code of some kind.
As it says in the book, a good storyteller relives his story; a great one gets his audience to live it, too. This rotor-rat found a lot to savor in these Air Lines. I’m guessing anyone, pilot or otherwise, will as well.
Ely Air Lines: Select Stories from 10 Years of a Weekly Column: Volume 1 of 2
It seems that aviation people are just more colorful, more generous, and certainly more ambitious when it comes to seeking out life’s better, richer, more exotic experiences. This collection of stories offers proof: A boa constrictor in the airplane? Stearmans for sale @ $56.56 apiece? Even better, an old twin-engine airplane bought for $1.00? Really? Flying formation with a hawk? How utterly cool is that?
Mostly it’s the people that bring the book alive. We read about Lauren: ‘‘almost since she was out of her car seat she was learning to navigate,’ as the authors write. Then there’s Josh, a C-130 pilot who might characterize most people in the aviation tribe. Josh could have chosen to fly jets in the Air Force, but opted instead for the C-130 because, as he said, ‘I love the teamwork involved in a crew plane.’ AnnElise Bennet won her own ‘Man Trophy’.
One section of Air Lines that will resonate with anyone who has ever become a pilot is that moment when an instructor steps out of the cockpit, and tells us to take the machine into the air solo. That could be an entire book of stories on its own. (Air Lines #3?) Just reading that section took me back to June 1969 when I soloed, and the ritual that surrounds a first solo flight. It is truly empowering to hold your own life in your hands.
We read about the purchase of a barn full of airplane parts, all for $500.00. We read about young people taking first flights, and becoming hooked on aviation. Old plane carcasses are robbed of parts to resurrect an airworthy machine. We hear crusty old flying quotes that have the added feature of being true: ‘you don’t own flying; it owns you.’
We pilots do seem to speak a different language, or at least a different dialect, almost a code of some kind.
As it says in the book, a good storyteller relives his story; a great one gets his audience to live it, too. This rotor-rat found a lot to savor in these Air Lines. I’m guessing anyone, pilot or otherwise, will as well.
Ely Air Lines: Select Stories from 10 Years of a Weekly Column: Volume 1 of 2
January 28, 2021
Ely Air Lines is a trove of articles connected by a single thread: aviation. These stories first appeared in the Liberty Gazette, a local Texas community newspaper, as an ongoing column written by the authors.
What I enjoyed the most about this book was how it brought to life a small community that exists near many of us, but remains invisible. Aviation does not just include large air lines and large airports. The community brought to life in these stories is the other side of aviation - the smaller airplanes, air lines and airports. The love of flight is very prevalent throughout.
The stories are mostly unrelated, but there are some exceptions. For instance, in several stories, we get to see how a local airport grew from literally a dirt-road landing strip into a fair sized community airport. Those were among my favorite stories.
Something else that piqued my interest was the change in technology over the course of several stories. For example, one story discusses using airplanes to sow rice fields in South Texas. In the beginning, there were flag holders on the ground to show the pilots exactly where to drop their load. As technology improved, the flag bearers were no longer needed.
My review is for volume one of this two-volume set.
In many of the stories, authors Mike and Linda each gave their own opinions. It was interesting how for some of the stories, one would write for several pages, and then the author would offer a single paragraph.
Without a doubt, the love of flying soars throughout all these stories. Further, the love and commitment the authors have for flying, as well as for others in small-scale aviation, is very apparent.
I think this book offers a very unique and personal glimpse into this side of aviation.
What I enjoyed the most about this book was how it brought to life a small community that exists near many of us, but remains invisible. Aviation does not just include large air lines and large airports. The community brought to life in these stories is the other side of aviation - the smaller airplanes, air lines and airports. The love of flight is very prevalent throughout.
The stories are mostly unrelated, but there are some exceptions. For instance, in several stories, we get to see how a local airport grew from literally a dirt-road landing strip into a fair sized community airport. Those were among my favorite stories.
Something else that piqued my interest was the change in technology over the course of several stories. For example, one story discusses using airplanes to sow rice fields in South Texas. In the beginning, there were flag holders on the ground to show the pilots exactly where to drop their load. As technology improved, the flag bearers were no longer needed.
My review is for volume one of this two-volume set.
In many of the stories, authors Mike and Linda each gave their own opinions. It was interesting how for some of the stories, one would write for several pages, and then the author would offer a single paragraph.
Without a doubt, the love of flying soars throughout all these stories. Further, the love and commitment the authors have for flying, as well as for others in small-scale aviation, is very apparent.
I think this book offers a very unique and personal glimpse into this side of aviation.
January 18, 2021
Taken from a weekly collection of stories, they run the gambit. I especially enjoyed the historical aspects of a lot of the stories. They gave a face, personality, and individualism to items affecting a larger population. I was intrigued by the idea of using airplanes for business. Having salesmen and corporate representatives traveling the way others use buses. I also never thought of the fact that some airports or landing strips may be owned by individuals. How cool would it be to look at your living room window and watch planes land or take off?
This past year I have found I am drawn to collections and novellas as they fit perfectly into a time in my life when my attention span is not always as strong as I would like. Mike and Linda did a great job bringing me into each of their lives as well as adding their unique perspectives to some of the episodes.
This past year I have found I am drawn to collections and novellas as they fit perfectly into a time in my life when my attention span is not always as strong as I would like. Mike and Linda did a great job bringing me into each of their lives as well as adding their unique perspectives to some of the episodes.
January 31, 2021
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Want to read
June 19, 2023Read an excerpt and want to dig in to all of them. Small airfields, dedicated pilots, air racing...unexpected connections with history. There are stories here of characters and events that can launch a hundred novels.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews