5 Flights to Make Before You Die

We've flown coast to coast, Canada to Mexico, for the last 12 years,
and we have seen a lot of beautiful sights. There are way more than
five flights to make before you die -- but these are my Top 5. Can
you add yours?

1. Grand Canyon. Flying over the Grand Canyon is an awesome, almost
religious experience that words simply cannot express. We spent
nearly 2 hours over the canyon, the four of us gaping in awe, in
almost complete silence. There's nothing else like it.

2. Mackinac Island/Mackinac Bridge. At the top of the Great Lakes
sits scenic Mackinac Island. Quaint, with no motor vehicles allowed
(it's either horses or bikes, your choice), this throwback to another
era ("Lost in Time", with Christopher Reeves, was filmed at the Grand
Hotel on Mackinac Island) is always a great place to visit, and an
absolutely gorgeous flight. The beautiful Mackinac Bridge (which does
NOT go to the island, BTW) is one of the largest suspension bridges in
the world, and is truly a wondrous sight to see as well.

3. Barrier Islands/Ocracoke/Hatteras Just a few weeks ago we made
this flight, from Kill Devil Hills, NC to Beaufort, NC, flying
straight down the barrier islands. With the vast Atlantic to our
left, open water to our right (the mainland is often barely visible),
and a thin spit of land beneath us, we made this beautiful flight on a
picture-perfect day.

4. Great Salt Lake. This one may surprise you, but we flew over it
(and the surrounding salt flats) on our way to the Reno Air Races a
few years ago, and I will never forget the stark beauty and utter
desolation of this flight. If you ever want to fly over an alien
planet, check this area out.

5. Oshkosh! This one is pretty obvious, and is the ultimate flight
goal of almost every pilot I've ever met. There is simply no place on
earth like Oshkosh, and to fly into the show is a thrill that is hard
to describe to someone who hasn't done it. More importantly is to
wake up on the field at OSH -- it's a feeling like none other. No
matter what, you MUST make this flight at least once before you die.

Alas, we have had so many great flights, it's hard to whittle it down
to just five. Niagara Falls, Meigs Field, First Flight Airfield, and
a host of others would round out my Top Ten list -- but let's keep it
the Best of the Best, and stick to five for now.

Where would YOU choose to fly before you die?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"