{"product_id":"noel-merrill-wien-born-to-fly-9781943328406","title":"Noel Merrill Wien: Born to Fly","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBorn into a family of aviators, Merrill Wien was destined to become a pilot.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHis father, Noel Wien, was one of the first pilots to fly in Alaska and his life was full of firsts, including making the first round-trip flight between Asia and North America in 1929. His mother played a big role in the founding and development of Wien Alaska Airlines, the second-oldest scheduled airline in the United States and territories.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne of the most versatile and experienced pilots of his time, Merrill has flown just about every aircraft imaginable from DC-3s to Lockheed 1011s to historic military planes like the cargo C-46 and B-29 bomber to the Hiller UH-12E chopper. Although fundamentally modest by nature, family and friends encouraged Merrill to share his remarkable stories given his accomplishments and experiences with so many famous people and events. His tone is engagingly informal as he recounts crossing paths with such luminaries as Joe Crosson, Howard Hughes, Lowell Thomas Sr. and Lowell Thomas Jr., Sam White, Don Sheldon, Brad Washburn, Wally Schirra, and Bill Anders. He re-creates for readers his firsthand experiences flying top-secret missions for the Air Force, viewing the devastation of the Good Friday Earthquake in Anchorage, and the challenges of starting his own helicopter company, to name just a few.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHis fascinating narrative is complemented by photographs from his personal archives. Includes a list of all the different aircraft Wien has been endorsed to fly at the back of the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Alaska Northwest Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/19\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781943328406\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 210\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.64lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.40d","brand":"Noel Merrill Wien","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36671833047196,"sku":"9781943328406","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_dcfd9b45-ca66-4974-af89-1d08471489ee.jpg?v=1603926341","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/noel-merrill-wien-born-to-fly-9781943328406","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}