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Foreword

Imagine the surprise of an Air Force primary flight instructor when he finds out that one of his first students could land the aircraft better than he could on that student’s very first flight. Imagine the young instructor’s shock when he learns that his aviation cadet student, Merrill Wien, had over 1,500 hours flying time in various aircraft and was a qualified airline pilot in the twin engine Douglas DC-3 and the four engine Douglas DC-4, having flown for Wien Alaska Airlines and Pan American Airways prior to USAF service—and was also a certified Link Trainer operator! The USAF instructor’s surprise was made possible because the ever humble “student,” Merrill Wien, had not bragged about his background when he was initially processed into the Korean War–era US Air Force. Modesty is a Wien family trait.

I got to know Merrill when he joined our fledgling Heritage Flight Museum at Skagit Bayview Airport, north of Seattle. Because of his vast flying experience we made him our Director for Flight Safety and he flew our T-6 “Texan” US Army Air Corps trainer aircraft in formation with us at local air shows. Further, I had the honor of nominating the flying patriarch of the Wien family, Merrill’s father, Noel Wien, into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 2010. The senior Wien’s pioneering of Alaska bush and airline flying is legendary, but no more so than that of his son Merrill. Indeed, Noel’s genes have produced several generations of fine aviators and flight attendants.

Noel Merrill Wien: Born to Fly is a great read for pilots, flight instructors, aviation buffs, and historians. It covers Alaskan bush flying and airline flying through the formation of Wien Alaska Airlines and subsequent leveraged buyout and liquidation. The Cold War found Merrill involved in little known covert flying in the very far north. Following military service, there was historic warbird flying and much more, as experienced through the logbook notes and vivid recollections of one of the finest pilots and nicest individuals I have had the pleasure to meet and fly with. Indeed, Merrill might have made a good fighter pilot except he just isn’t cocky and braggadocio enough! Be it Piper Cubs on floats, Ford Tri-Motors on skies, helicopters, big commercial jets, or World War II B-29 and B-24 bombers, like FIFI and Diamond Lil, Merrill has flown them all and has interesting tales about many. His folksy and unaffected style makes his book a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

BILL ANDERS

Major General USAFR (ret)

Chairman, Heritage Flight Museum

Apollo 8