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 “Get Your Kicks Flying Route 66!“ Greg Brown’s Flying Carpet Podcast #44, here or on your favorite podcast directory.
Adventures on Route 66!
This year marks the Centennial of legendary highway US Route 66, affectionately known as America’s Mother Road. Officially established on November 11th, 1926, it meanders nearly 2500 miles from Chicago, Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Santa Monica, California.
While decommissioned in 1985 as an official US highway, countless travelers continue to trace the iconic route, visiting its many historic, scenic, and often quirky landmarks, and savoring stretches of the original roadway.
Why the attraction? Over the decades Route 66 has been widely romanticized in popular culture, perhaps most notably by John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel and subsequent movie, The Grapes of Wrath, which coined the highway’s nickname Mother Road; then by Bobby Troup’s 1946 song, “(Get your kicks) on Route 66,” and the popular 1960s Route 66 television series starring Martin Milner and George Maharis.
Well, Jean and I have long lived in Arizona, a prominent segment of the historic highway. We daily drive portions of Old Route 66, the main drag through our town, among local historic and wacky Route 66 landmarks. Over the years we’ve savored countless Route 66 events, and driven much of Route 66 through the Southwest and parts of the Midwest, including portions of the original roadway. So like other Mother Road residents, Route 66 runs through our blood.
Not surprisingly most of our recent Flying Carpet aviation adventures have originated from this area, and even before then we experienced many Route 66 locations upon overflying and/or landing there. So I decided to record this episode to celebrate the Mother Road centennial. It wasn’t easy choosing between our dozens of Route 66 flying adventures, but this story floated to the top. Look forward to more in the future.
Visit Ernie Adams’s Dwarf Car Museum!
So climb into my Flying Carpet, buckle up your seatbelt, and prepare to launch over the Mother Road on Flying Carpet Podcast Flight #44, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66!”
Greg
Find all of Greg’s Flying Carpet Podcast episodes here!
Podcast music by Hannis Brown.
Podcast Photo (top): “Ernie Adams, ‘Mr. Dwarf Car,’ Seligman, Arizona,” by Greg Brown.
Additional Photos
Listen and subscribe to Greg’s podcast via your favorite podcast directory!
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