“Best Landing Anyone Ever Made,” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #41

aviation history, flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, Greg's Podcasts, life & love, Well, I'll be!

Ride along with renowned aviator, writer, and photographer Greg Brown in his light airplane, the Flying Carpet, as he searches behind clouds for the real America, experiencing countless aerial adventures along the way.

Listen to “Best Landing Anyone Ever Made,“ Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #41, here or on your favorite podcast directory.

My family and I recently had occasion to remember my dad on what would’ve been his 100th birthday. He was a cool guy with an impressive aviation background who lived some memorable flying adventures, so I decided to honor his memory through this episode.

So climb into my Flying Carpet, buckle up your seatbelt, and prepare to take off on Flying Carpet Podcast Flight #41, “Best Landing Anyone Ever Made.”

Greg

Find all of Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast episodes here!

Podcast music by Hannis Brown.

Additional Photos

Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!

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Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Podcast episode questions or suggestions? Join Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques

“Lessons & Landmarks,” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #40

flying adventures, flying destinations, Greg's piloting tips, Greg's Podcasts

Ride along with renowned aviator, writer, and photographer Greg Brown in his light airplane, the Flying Carpet, as he searches behind clouds for the real America, experiencing countless aerial adventures along the way.

Listen to “Lessons & Landmarks, “ Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #40, here or on your favorite podcast directory.

Cross Country Odyssey During the ATC Strike

During the recent longest-ever US government shutdown, airline traffic was restricted at 14 major airports around the country. But you may not know that those same airports closed entirely to General Aviation (“GA”) traffic, meaning non-airline private, and business aircraft. That aborted a plan to pick up friends at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

The experience reminded me of how fortunate we GA pilots are to fly generally open skies. It also reminded me of two previous occasions when our piloting privileges were limited or taken away. Some pilot listeners will remember the pain following the 9/11 terrorist attacks when all general aviation traffic was grounded.

Well, an earlier historical event had a longer lasting effect on general aviation impacting my personal first ever West Coast piloting journey — that’s what this episode is about. Oh, and what a landing at the “Airport in the Sky!”

Greg

Episode Photo by Chris Dejongh

Find all of Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast episodes here!

Podcast music by Hannis Brown.

Additional Photos

Photos by Chris Dejongh, Barry Knuttila, and Diane Myers

Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Podcast episode questions or suggestions? Join Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques

Greg Brown’s 2026 Aerial & Terrestrial Photo Wall Calendars!

Greg's photographs

This year’s all-new 2026 Views from the Flying Carpet” Photo Wall Calendar features 13 stunning aerial photographs capturing North America’s diverse terrain!

Click each Calendar to Preview Monthly Images and Order (See All of Greg’s 2026 Calendars here.)

Notes: 1) My calendars ship affordably worldwide. 2) “Legacy” Calendars incorporate previous-year photos.)

Greg

Greg’s Video: “The Savvy Flight Instructor: Secrets of the Successful CFI! (& Flight School, too!)”

Greg's Podcasts, Greg’s flight instructor tips

How to recruit flight students, train and motivate them, and achieve business success in the process!

Flight instructing offers some of the most rewarding flying there is. We experience the joy of fulfilling our students’ dreams of flight, become better pilots ourselves in the process, and develop lifelong friendships with many of those we teach. 

This video offers some great tips for CFI and Flight School Training Success!

For a deeper dive, download and read The Savvy Flight Instructor 2nd Edition eBook; Secrets of the Successful CFI!

Greg

Richard Jackson photo.

Thank you, Mike Shiflett and Nick Horn of CFI Bootcamp, for hosting this presentation on your weekly Saturday Power Hour!

For more guidance on this topic, download Greg’s The Savvy Flight Instructor 2nd Edition ebook.

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Listen and subscribe via your favorite podcast directory!
Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques

Introducing Greg Brown’s 2026 Aerial & Terrestrial Photo Wall Calendars!

Greg's photographs

This year’s all-new 2026 Views from the Flying Carpet” Photo Wall Calendar features 13 stunning aerial photographs capturing North America’s diverse terrain!

Click each Calendar to Preview Monthly Images and Order (See All of Greg’s 2026 Calendars here.)

Notes: 1) My calendars ship affordably worldwide. 2) “Legacy” Calendars incorporate previous-year photos.)

Greg

“Best ‘1st Flying Lesson’ Ever!” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #39

Greg's piloting tips, Greg's Podcasts, Greg’s flight instructor tips, teen pilots

Ride along with renowned aviator, writer, and photographer Greg Brown in his light airplane, the Flying Carpet, as he searches behind clouds for the real America, experiencing countless aerial adventures along the way.

Listen to “Best ‘1st Flying Lesson’ Ever!” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #39, here or on your favorite podcast directory.

Any pilot will tell you that learning to fly an airplane is a challenging endeavor. So when you fly with someone who demonstrates a natural knack for it, that’s a special occasion.

Well, I recently experienced the best “1st flying lesson” I have encountered in thousands of hours as a flight instructor. Here is the inspiring story.

Greg

Sawyer’s Flagstaff-Pulliam Airport Spotting Guide

VATSIM Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network

Find all of Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast episodes here!

Podcast music by Hannis Brown.

Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Podcast episode questions or suggestions? Join Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques

“Runaway Autopilot!” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #38

flying adventures, Greg's piloting tips, Greg's Podcasts

Ride along with renowned aviator, writer, and photographer Greg Brown in his light airplane, the Flying Carpet, as he searches behind clouds for the real America, experiencing countless aerial adventures along the way.

Listen to “Runaway Autopilot!” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #38, here or on your favorite podcast directory.

Runaway Autopilot! (Misadventures of a Corporate Pilot)

Happily I’ve experienced only a handful of scares over decades of piloting. But this one was a biggie!

So climb aboard my Flying Carpet, buckle up your seatbelt, and prepare for takeoff on Flight #38, “Runaway Autopilot!”

Greg

Find all of Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast episodes here!

Podcast music by Hannis Brown.

Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Podcast episode questions or suggestions? Join Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques

Navigating the “Ups and Downs” of Piloting; Greg Brown on the “Calm Cockpit Podcast”

flying adventures, Greg's Podcasts, life & love

Piloting is challenging, whether you’re in the throes of primary training, pursuing your first pro piloting job, or weathering setbacks in your aviation career.

I was recently interviewed by hosts John Niehaus and Gita Brown of the terrific Calm Cockpit Podcast, regarding how to navigate and conquer such challenges regardless of your status on the aviation ladder.

Hear Greg’s interview, The Calm Cockpit Podcast, Episode #8!

Join celebrated aviator and Flight Instructor Hall of Famer Greg Brown for a lively discussion about success in piloting, whether as a private pilot or building a fulfilling career.

“Greg recounts his non-linear career journey and how unexpected pivots often led to new opportunities; including becoming an author, flight instructor, chief pilot, and photographer.

“Our discussion explores themes of identity crisis, the vital role of community and mentorship in navigating challenges, and the importance of resilience in the face of setbacks within the demanding field of aviation.

“Greg’s experiences underscore that passion for flying and the support of others are crucial for overcoming obstacles and discovering diverse opportunities within the industry.” 

Access all episodes of John & Gita’s The Calm Cockpit Podcast here!

Enjoy this interview? Check out Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast!

Ride along with renowned aviator, writer, and photographer Greg Brown in his light airplane, the Flying Carpet, as he searches behind clouds for the real America, experiencing countless aerial adventures along the way.

Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

“Kentucky Belle,” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #37

flying adventures, Greg's Podcasts, life & love

Ride along with renowned aviator, writer, and photographer Greg Brown in his light airplane, the Flying Carpet, as he searches behind clouds for the real America, experiencing countless aerial adventures along the way.

Listen to “Kentucky Belle,” Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #37, here or on your favorite podcast directory.

“This might as well be Oz,” I thought, upon clearing the clouds approaching Paducah, Kentucky. I wouldn’t have been surprised to experience supersaturated sunshine, and perhaps a golden brick runway. 

Tales of faraway lands work magic on youthful minds, and although I’d never been here before, the stories of a special person from my youth had cast a spell on this Ohio River town as real as any bright-hued fairy tale.

Okay, everyone, hop aboard my Flying Carpet, buckle into the pilot’s seat, and prepare for takeoff on Flight #37, “Kentucky Belle.”

Greg

Find all of Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast episodes here!

Podcast music by Hannis Brown.

Photo: Period postcard of the Irvin Cobb Hotel, Paducah, Kentucky

Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Podcast episode questions or suggestions? Join Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast Facebook Group!

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques

Greg’s Video: “The Savvy Flight Instructor: Succeeding as a New CFI!”

Greg's Podcasts, Greg’s flight instructor tips

How to cinch your first CFI job, line up flight students, and train and motivate them as a pro!

Flight instructing offers some of the most rewarding flying there is. We experience the joy of fulfilling our students’ dreams of flight, become better pilots ourselves in the process, and develop lifelong friendships with many of those we teach. 

This video offers some great tips to get you started! For a deeper dive, download and read The Savvy Flight Instructor 2nd Edition eBook; Secrets of the Successful CFI! Also available, my classic pilot career-advancement text, Job Hunting for Pilots 2nd Edition; Networking your way to a Pilot Job.

Greg

Richard Jackson photo.

Thank you, Mike Shiflett and Nick Horn of CFI Bootcamp, for hosting this presentation on your weekly Saturday Power Hour!

For more guidance on this topic, download Greg’s The Savvy Flight Instructor 2nd Edition ebook.

Subscribe here to follow Greg’s latest posts, photos, and podcasts!

Please support Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast, Blog, & Student Pilot Pep Talk Facebook Group!

Make a one-time donation, or better yet, subscribe your ongoing support. Thank you! Greg

Listen and subscribe via your favorite podcast directory!
Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsStitcherTuneInPocketCastsCastroPodchaserPodcast AddictDeezerListen NotesRSSiHeartRadioPandoraAmazon Music

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Greg’s Aviation Books, Fine Art Aerial Photo Prints, and Pilot Achievement Plaques!

Greg’s Aviation Books
Greg’s “Views from the Flying Carpet” Aerial Fine Art Prints
Greg’s Pilot Achievement Plaques