Stories About Flying
While aviation certainly has its ups and downs, it's an industry chock full of exciting adventures at every turn. In this podcast, award-winning aviation journalist Rob Mark shares stories about the people who make the industry work, as well as the safety lessons each flight can teach us. He'll pull stories from the archives of his 50+ years of flying for the airlines, corporate, charter, and as a flight instructor, as well as his previous life as a tower and radar air traffic controller for the FAA and while in the US Air Force. He'll also share some of the terrific tales he's gleaned from other respected podcasters.
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Stories About Flying
While aviation certainly has its ups and downs, it's an industry crammed full of exciting adventures at every turn. Award-winning aviation journalist Rob Mark shares stories that anyone who flies, or is even interested in flying airplanes, or anything related to flying, won't be able to turn off. He...
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11
July 31, 2026
ATC: 45 Years After the PATCO Strike
August 3 is the 45th anniversary of the infamous PATCO strike that cost 11,435 air traffic controllers their careers after they called a strike against the FAA. Nearly five decades later, the nation's air traffic control system remains short of enough controllers to keep the system humming like it did before the strike. And since August, 1981 air traffic numbers have tripled. Join Rob Mark as he blends a bit of aviation history with the realities of what the FAA is doing to make the ATC system
Recent Episodes
15
Oct. 8, 2026
The People Behind Boeing's B-17 is What Made the Airplane A Success
My new friend, Ayal Shenkman, an Israeli F-16 pilot and history buff, visited the United States a few months ago to attend AirVenture and take in the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force for the opportunity to crawl around inside a classic B-17. He left the US for Israel realizing there was much more that created the airplane's success than just a solid airframe, engines and its Norden bombsight.
14
Sept. 26, 2026
Learning to Tow Banners for Fun, Profit and Improved Stick and Rudder Skills
I was hired by Chicago Aerial Advertising when I was in my mid-20s to learn how to safely drag a huge airborne advertising display around Chicagoland with a tiny 150-hp Citabria as the tow airplane It turned out to be not only the adventure of my flying career, but also some of the most valuable stick and rudder training of my entire flying career. Over the course of two and a half years, I earned some incredible money for the time and also learned the intricacies of flying an airplane that r
13
Sept. 6, 2026
Labor Day Explained
Much about the American Labor movement has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. But some of the more unsavory aspects of labor remain exactly the same as they were a century ago. Here's why.
12
Aug. 24, 2026
Airplanes and Water Can Mix
I reminisce about the adventure and the fun of adding a single-engine seaplane rating to my pilot certificate.
11
July 31, 2026
ATC: 45 Years After the PATCO Strike
August 3 is the 45th anniversary of the infamous PATCO strike that cost 11,435 air traffic controllers their careers after they called a strike against the FAA. Nearly five decades later, the nation's air traffic control system remains short of enough controllers to keep the system humming like it did before the strike. And since August, 1981 air traffic numbers have tripled. Join Rob Mark as he blends a bit of aviation history with the realities of what the FAA is doing to make the ATC system
10
July 12, 2026
Aircraft Emergencies & the Saga of Speedbird 009
Ever wonder how pilots think during an emergency and why they never seem to panic? Listen as I describe what happened aboard a British Airways 747 flight emergency through the lens of the near catastrophe of Speedbird (British Airways) flight 009.
Recent Blog Posts
Oct. 1, 2026
Towing Banners for Fun, Profit and Improved Stick & Rudder Skills
Welcome to another episode of Stories about Flying I’m your host, Rob Mark Towing Banners for Fun, Profit and Improved Stick & Rudder Skills A few weeks back, I was relaxing in the backyard, sipping a homebrewed iced tea listening to some jazz, w…
Sept. 6, 2026
Labor Day Explained
Much about the American Labor movement has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. But some of the more unsavory aspects of labor remain exactly the same as they were a century ago. Many listeners might be young enough, that mentioning Labor …
Aug. 1, 2026
ATC: 45 Years After the PATCO Strike
Welcome to another episode of Stories about Flying I’m Rob Mark Air Traffic Control 45-Years After the PATCO Strike Giving credit where it’s due, Sean Duffy’s leadership of the Department of Transportation, over the past 18 months, has led to m…
About the Host
Rob Mark
Your host, Rob Mark, brings 50+ years of experience flying for the airlines, corporate, charter, and as a flight instructor, as well as his previous life as a tower and radar air traffic controller for the FAA and while in the US Air Force. His experience also spans decades as an award-winning aviation journalist and podcaster.