Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mort Mason is a Alaskan bush pilot (a real one) and an extremely good pilot.
I probably can be regarded as a opinionated reviewer as I can relate firsthand (been there) to some of Mort's many places during the 60's,70's,80's. None of Mort's stories are the least bit exagerated as some readers might think.
When he says 20 feet, he means just that, 20 feet.
If anything he ho-hums situations like flying in darkness, mountains,snow,rain,fog,wind, etc. or all of the above.
Things that get us mortels attention real quick. If you read this book,my statement would be, "Believe every word, it's all true" !!
Mort Mason is not a reckless risk taker nor uses less than perfect equipment, as one might be lead to think. The opposite.
His stories point out the very few mistakes he did make and the many ever changing weather/terrain problems he encountered. He always learned from them, no repeats. He explains the many mechanical problems and how he prevented or corrected them, sometimes jury-rigging some strange 'bush' repairs.
He used up his 'lucky-factor' or luck as some would call it, making the right moves when it counted. More skill than luck.

Must have worked, he pulled it off, survived. So, we get to read his book.

HINTS: The reader should get a somewhat detailed map of Alaska as Mort takes you many places. Alaska is, in a word,'HUMONGOUS',
as he describes it, like 3 states of Texas would fit inside but some of us don't realize how HUGE Texas really is, so a map will help.
Mort starts book out kind of 'stiff',(pilot-talk) like "flying the N2029Y etc. etc." but that's just his way to identify airplanes. He loosens up and gets less technical as book progresses.

The picture Illustrations are extrodinary. You will page back and forth over and over again. The pictures of rescues of broken airplanes were eye opening and special. the photo of a wingless Piper Cub being hoisted by a helicopter is imaginable but I especially liked that one of a cub airplane body, lashed to the float struts of an even bigger float plane (Beaver) defies imagination. That has to be the most un-aerodyamic, lopsided, unflyable, etc. setup I've ever seen ! Amazing.
Mort describes and explains, from a pilots reasoning, why flying Alaska can be a 'different-ball-game'.
The FAA, (our sky cops) who make our airways the safest in the world, can't very well say, "O.K., here's the rules everyone, (except Alaska)" Mort tells how they make it work.

The word 'super' became popular during 50's-60's (Super-Bowl)etc.
meaning the best, ultimate, whatever.
Mort's statement: " Whatever you've heard, seen, before about a SUPER-CUB airplane, BELIEVE IT" !
He goes on to write about some hair raising experiences using that airplane.

Mort describes/shows the modern Alaskan airplane. The words 'flimsy' or 'fragile' would best apply to the 'where' the airplanes are being used. Rather BEEFED-UP, Alaskan-style is a better description. Mort tells of the many airplane customized
changes. Reinforced landing supports, larger horsepower engines,
tires,retractable ski's, etc.etc.
Compare 'off-road-vehicles', to 'all-terrain-airplanes' and Alaska is the undesputed king.
The lakes Hood & Spenard, that Mort repeatedly refers to, is
exactly as he describes.They are adjacent to Anchorage International airport and the parking lot of the worlds wildest airplanes. The planes are stacked in there like cordwood, a sight to behold. If your ever in Anchorage, Alaska, and would like to see some of the (Mort-type) airplanes, rent a cab or take a drive around the lakes and you'll see all the variations, from Big Foots to Turbocharged X-perimentals.

On the lighter-side, Mort has many 'rookie' (him) stories and adventures, which will tickle the reader. A few of my favorites were:
* The German customers, HERR SCHMIDT, ("Sprecken-Nein-English")
or
* Mort drank too much coffee and HAD to pee with nowhere to land.

Lots of laughs for the reader. Mort tells it like it is/was. ........

I am halfway through this book and I am simply amazed. This book is definatly geared towards the pilot and has alot of technical aspects most non-pilots wouldn't understand. The stories in this book are incredible and I hope to one day be even half the pilot Mort Mason is.

Really quite amazing, I can't imagine myself making some of these flights. I like my instruments and I find it hard to believe that Bush Pilots fly by the seat of their pants through blizzards and white-outs. Obviously they do. If you fly this is a book that you will have difficulty putting down.

This was an exceptional read that brings the reader right into the cockpit as Mort ventures through the beauty of this magnificent state! Having lived in Alaska for a number of years and making a few of the same trips he did it was great to re-live those adventures through his book. Mort has a captivating writing style and I'm looking forward to his next book.

Superbly written. A good advert for Alaska, climate, scenery and wildlife. The flying is particularly exciting with honest and at times hilarious experiences. Being British I would love to visit Alaska and fly with this guy, perhaps some of Mort's skills may rub off! Go on Mort give me shout?

Flying The Alaska Wild: The Adventures And Misadventures Of An Alaska Bush Pilot by Mort Mason (who has flown more than 18,000 hours over the Alaskan outback bush country) is an amazing collection of true stories from the airborne adventures of an Alaska Bush pilot, who met challenges ranging from dealing with dangerous headwinds, to the hazards of ice on the plane, to participating in search and rescue missions, and more. From cover to cover, Flying The Alaska Wild is an exhilarating and highly recommended account of an exciting occupation that demands steady nerves and a courageous heart.

I have been to Alaska 3 times in the last 10 years as a ground based tourist and am planning a trip up to the "Big Empty" this summer with some friends and wanted to do the sightseeing by air. I am a pilot and wanted to tie in some Alaska float plane and bush flying training into the trip. I wanted to know more about flying in Alaska before I just went out and booked some instruction, so I decided to pick up "Flying the Alaska Wild."

What a great find! The book was filled with great stories about Mort Mason and his trials and tribulations as a Bush Pilot in Alaska. My jaw was on the floor throughout the book. How did Mort survive all of these adventures? Great read! Highly recommend it!

The most amazing thing happened after I read the book. Mort left his email address in the back of the book and I emailed him about my upcoming trip. He gave me all sort of tips about the trip.

Mort is not only a great bush pilot, but also a scholar and a gentleman. I true ambassador to the "Big Empty."

Thanks Mort!

Looking forward to your new book in February.

A bush pilot reminisces a life time of seat-of-the-pants flying over the "Big Empty" (Alaska). Flying single engine super cubs, landing on frozen lakes, sand bars, mountain ridges ...makes a couch potato want to get out and go. Writen from a pilots point of view, with lots of pilots lingo. Makes an entertaining read, for wana-bee pilots like me. For those that dream of adventure, the wild places are within the pages of this book.

I have always found the outback and wilderness a wonderful place to unwind and let loose of ones inhibition. Reading this book does just that! It puts you in a place were men are men and home is where you make it. Mr. Masons adventures are spectacular story telling and imagineably real. I would recommnend this book to any reader that is looking for an just a great outdoor adventure.

Whether you're a pilot or you don't know anything about flying, you'll love this book. His stories will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading for hours. I usually don't read for fun, but I just couldn't put this book down! Bottom line, you will not regret reading this book!