Flying the Alaska Wild: The Adventures and Misadventures of an Alaska Bush Pilot

by Mort D. Mason

Imagine flying through wildly unpredictable weather conditions and over the unforgiving terrain of the Big Empty, with only yourself to rely on in life and death situations. This type of true grit adventure was a common occurrence for Alaska bush pilot Mort Mason, who encountered numerous white-knuckle situations while honing his skill--and his luck--in a profession that only a handful of pilots have had the stamina to endure. Flying the Alaska Wild is a heart-pounding, edge-of-the-chair collection of fascinating stories about the rough-and-tumble life of an Alaska bush pilot--straight from the pilot’s seat. Recounting thirty years of adventures, skilled storyteller Mason presents tales of his own experiences, and also tells the legendary stories of other old-time bush pilots.

Genres: Aviation, Nonfiction, Adventure

335 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2002

Reviews

[5 Rein N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Rein
ELA 11

Waldorf 5

19 October 2015
Quarter One Quote Sandwich
Mort Mason conveys perseverance by recalling his struggles to obtain a pilot’s license.At the beginning Mason is talking about his past and how he got to Alaska. When Mason says, “Flying didn’t come naturally to me, and I wasn’t all that good at it at first.” (Mason 14), the reader sees that Mason has a stick to it attitude, which paid off later. This shows his perseverance towards a lifelong goal. Despite many obstacles including the Air Force and money, Mason quickly rose to fame as a pilot. Another place where the reader sees perseverance is when Mason is stranded in the woods with a German hunter who speaks limited English after Mason crashed their aircraft near the middle of the book. When Mason has to hike to safety “We had to pack our way up nearly 3,000 feet of vertical mountain to reach safety” (Mason 101), Mason reveals his willingness to help others and his perseverance through tough events. Mason made a name of himself by his attitude towards others. He always got the job done, and made things right with clients. This made him a reputable pilot in Alaska.

[Amber Fuller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Looks like this book, which I got free from Amazon for my Kindle, was actually picked up and re-published under a different title. Hopefully, the editors were able to take it to the next level and develop its' potential. Looks like they're confident they succeeded in delivering a good story if the new price tag indicates anything. Ouch. Glad I kept my money.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

great first person account of bush flying