Remembering My First Flight

A Forrest Fire at Sea

This is the tale of the accidental fire that began aboard the USS Forrestal in 1967 while cruising off the coast of Viet Nam. It was written and recorded for the Airplane Geeks & Jetwhine Podcasts.

Between a Rock and A Hard Spot

Between a Rock and a Hard Spot: Demands on air traffic controllers I've lost track of how many government shutdowns I've experienced during my life. Some under Democrat presidents, others under Republicans. During a shutdown, a select group of Americans always comes to mind, Air Traffic Controllers. I was one for 10 years of my life, but I moved on from that job decades ago to fly airplanes and write.

Remembering My First Flight

On the 55th anniversary of his first flight, Rob Mark revisits a deeply personal aviation milestone: a 1969 trip with his grandfather, Max — a WWI-era Navy veteran who faced his fear of flying to attend a naval reunion in New Orleans. This updated, live retelling weaves family history, military lore, and the transformative experience of flight into a powerful story about legacy, courage, and perspective.