Welcome to WhyFly !
We’re delighted you decided to become a member of our growing family.As you’ll see, we're much more than an “online aviation magazine.” We're a multi-media experience with a very different focus from most of what's out there.
We know you’ll enjoy what you read, see, and hear ... and we look forward to having you as a member of our ever-expanding Why Fly family!
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions, don't hesitate to contact us.
Welcome aboard!
Glenn Norman, Michelle Goodeve, and Francois Dumas
Random videos
Ode to an old Aviator
Crosswind !
Sindlinger 5/8 Scale Hurricane
Glenn Matthews Flies Again – video
Childhood
When I was a kid, back when my dearest wish was to be tall enough to reach the rudder pedals, I hung around the old Navy hangar at Ottumwa, Iowa. Yep, the Navy had a facility deep in the waves of corn once upon the time of the Greatest Generation.
[click on the title to read the entire story]
Aeroncas In The Evening Sun
In this video you’ll see a flight of wonderful old Aeronca’s take to the evening skies.
The Goodwood Revival
Didier Keller and François Dumas visit the Goodwood Estate and its ‘Revival’ in England almost every year. Many great events are organized there and although the main focus is on classic racing cars, there always is great air display too. In 2009 Didier attended with his Chinese Nanchang fighter trainer and wrote this report about it.
Sindlinger 5/8 Scale Hurricane
In this little video you’ll see how Steve Grey flies the Tiger Boys’ Sindlinger 5/8 Scale Hurricane built by Harry Lasachuck.
The Best Taildragger I Ever Flew
About as close to a “pilot report” as you’re likely to read on Why Fly. Our Editor waxes euphoric on his three personal choices for best taildragger.
Sky
Why Fly’s, Michelle Goodeve, turns her camera onto the object of her affection – the sky itself – in her latest Photo Essay, simply titled: “Sky”
{Click on the title of the article}
5339 (Part Two)
Rob Bach is currently one of the world’s greatest “Aviation Wordsmiths” (and a damn fine photographer as well). Here then is Part Two of Rob Bach’s tremendous fiction piece, “5339.”
5339 (Part One)
The thin white ridge of tissue stood in relief against the mass of wrinkles wrapped around his knuckles like a parchment map of the Old World. Grant sat quietly in the wicker rocker on his porch and stared at it. “Now HOW did I get that?” he whispered to himself.…
Glenn Matthews Flies Again – video
We couldn’t finish up Glenn Matthews story without one more item saluting this unique Veteran, Pilot, Air Show Announcer, Painter, and – fortunately for us – Why Fly Contributor.
So here’s “Glenn Matthews Flies Again.”
Pilot Down
Paul V. Tomascik is one of our new contributors and debuts with a wonderful fiction story; Pilot Down.
Twenty minutes into the flight and all was green. The needles were sitting comfortably in their right-of-centre positions indicating good oil pressure and temperature. Michael’s scanning habit was spontaneous, characteristic of all seasoned bush pilots. When airborne, he would repeatedly check his cockpit environment as he did his flight path.
The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (6)
Chapter six
When my announcing partner, Toby, died suddenly in 1973 a light seemed to go out. He and I had covered many air shows together, from Abbotsford to Paine Field to Reno to Springbank, Alberta to Terrace and Prince George.
Glenn Matthews Goes Wing Walking!
Accompanying Chapter 5 of his life story, Glenn Matthews found this old bit of film footage of the Wing Walk he did. It is shot with an old 8mm camera, so the quality is not ‘digital’. Nonetheless we wanted to share it with you! Enjoy!
(You will need Adobe’s Flash Player installed to view our movies)
{Click on the title to read the entire article}
The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (5)
Chapter five While Toby and I were doing a show at Paine Field in Washington State I was asked by “Gentleman” Joe Hughes to closely watch an addition to his act and to give him my thoughts afterwards. Joe was flying his beautiful Super Stearman with his wing rider Gordon…
The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (4)
In 1961, shortly after arriving out west, I nailed a job with Hacker Press at Abbotsford as Art Director and almost immediately a number of aviation related things happened. I joined the Abbotsford Flying Club just as a decision was being made to hold an airshow and I found myself helping to organize the first event in 1962.
Why DO I Fly
When we Launched Why Fly, I wrote an article titled, “Under the ‘B’.” And while that piece certainly tells the tale of how I learned to fly, I still don’t feel it truly answers the question, “Why?” And if I can’t elucidate that answer myself, how can I possibly ask…
The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (3)
Chapter three Back on civvy street I set about opening a hobby shop in Vancouver, unfortunately on a shoestring. But it was a good way to return to life after the nastiness in England. I made a number of long-term friends through my shop and had some great model flying…
The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (2)
Chapter two
My memories of wartime England consist of damp weather and cold Nissen huts, chipping the ice from the water troughs in order to shave and endless hours of training flights in bloody awful flying conditions. Then too, the food was no great shakes! If you put in a flight of four hours or more you qualified for one greasy fried egg. Such bounty!
{Please click on the title to read the entire story!}
The Life & Times of Glenn Matthews (1)
Herewith a condensed version of my life story as it relates to “things aeronautical”.
Chapter one
At age 11, while living with my Grandparents, I would drive my grandmother to distraction by leaping up from the dinner table every time I heard an airplane flying over the house. My Father encouraged my enthusiasm by enrolling me in a model airplane club where I was to hone my skills as a model builder and actually win third place in my first flying model contest. Years later I wound up as President of the Vancouver Gas Model Club and won a number of scale contests.
{Please click on the title to read the entire story!}
WELCOME, to the “New, Improved, Free Why Fly.”
For first-time visitors unfamiliar with our site – Why Fly is a unique, multi-media, Aviation Journal, which takes an unashamedly romantic look at the world of Aviation and celebrates the passion for flight.
Thanks to transition-assistance from our new partner & sponsor – Francois Dumas’ Silver Cloud Publishing – effective immediately, whyfly.aero is switching from paid membership to all free content.
(Please click on the title to read the entire article}
Why Fly: “An Open Hangar At a Country Airport”
When we asked our friend Russ Munson for his thoughts on Why Fly, we didn’t expect him to capture the essence of our vision quite this well. (Re-print from January, for our new readers).