Family & Friends of the Right Seat

by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2022 online issue

When I recall my flights over the past 50 years, I think of the people who have flown with me in the right seat who are no longer with us. My brother, Ken, for one. I will never forget his smile as we took off from Minneapolis Crystal Airport and flew east over the St. Croix River which borders Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ken loved to fly, whether with me in our Cessna 182, or with the airlines, where he worked for several years between serving in the military and going to college. It was Ken – 4 years my senior – who bought my ticket to fly from O’Hare to Minneapolis following his wedding. That was the first time I had ever flown, and I will never forget it, nor my brother.

My friend, Walt, joined me on a fishing trip to Canada once, “a trip of a lifetime,” he said, and it was for him due to a lingering illness. I remember he sang Bobby McFerrin’s song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” as we flew home with a good tailwind, and yes, I joined Walt in singing the song.

Harold, a much beloved neighbor, farmer, and town official who was a medic with the Flying Tigers during World War II, once accompanied me on a cross-country flight from Madison, Wisconsin to Appleton, Minnesota. Unfortunately, we encountered fog en route over the Mankato, Minnesota airport and had to turn back, but Harold never forgot that flight, as the fog amazingly only covered half of the runway.

Another neighbor, Jim, owned a trucking company and loved to go flying with me, whether on a mission or just for fun! Once on a flight from Madison, Wisconsin to Muscatine, Iowa to check out some heavy equipment Jim wanted to buy, we arrived back in Madison at sunset, and seeing the city lights from the right seat of the cockpit was breathtaking for him. Another time, we flew up towards the Wisconsin Dells and I taught him how to make coordinated turns about a point which he did flawlessly! But after what seemed like a dozen 360s, I suggested we head for home, so Jim leveled off and I assumed control of the airplane. Sadly, Jim was killed in a tractor rollover accident before I had a chance to get him signed up to take flying lessons. He would have made a great pilot!

Peggy’s Uncle Marvin, a farmer from western Minnesota, was so excited when I invited him to go flying the first time, that from then on, every time we would fly in, he would casually hint that he was available to go flying again, which we often did. The instruments may have intrigued him, but seeing his land from the air gave Marvin the most enjoyment.

A memorable family trip was to Madeline Island, Wisconsin, with Peggy’s parents in a brand-new Cessna 172RG. On the way home, we broke through the clouds and got on top, which was a beautiful experience for them, especially for my mother-in-law, Ella, who had never flown before, nor afterwards. Lloyd, my father-in-law, flew in the right seat, and was intrigued with how fast we could get from point A to point B, and never forgot seeing his farm from the air. A sergeant in the Army during World War II, the leather jacket he wore as an infantryman flying in gliders is now at the Kelch Aviation Museum in Brodhead, Wisconsin.

What inspired me to write this article was our son-in-law’s grandfather, Harlan, who passed away recently at age 91. Our son-in-law came to me about 7 years ago and asked if I would take his grandpa flying so he could see his farm from the air. Harlan hadn’t flown since he served in the military during the Korean War, so spending the afternoon flying, followed by lunch at a local airport restaurant, meant a great deal to him.
Other rightseaters who are no longer with us are farmers Dick and Ron. They were equally excited about flying!

Those of us fortunate to fly airplanes tend to forget what an amazing experience it is for others just to ride along in the right seat. Share the experience whenever you can!