In the Cockpit with Harrison Ford (Passion for Flight Book 11)

In the Cockpit with Harrison Ford is part of the Passion for Flight series. These short biographies (20,000 words or less) tell the stories of notable pilots who inspire young and old alike to take to the skies.

Harrison Ford’s fascination with aviation began as a child. He took as many flying lessons as he could afford in college but didn’t get back into flying until he was in his mid 50s, after spending time in the air with pilot and director Sydney Pollack. As a way to help promote aviation, he got involved with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. He served as the YE chairman from 2004 to 2009.

Ford says one of the things he loves about aviation is the special kinship of pilots, whether at a gathering like EAA AirVenture Oshkosh or when he lands at small airports around the country. He’s had a vast collection of aircraft, including a Cessna Citation CJ3, Pilatus PC-12, Aviat Husky A-1B, Cessna Grand Caravan, Bell 407, AT-10 Waco, de Havilland Beaver and Waco Taperwing. He is also a helicopter pilot.

Di Freeze interviewed Harrison Ford during EAA AirVenture. This is not meant to be a comprehensive history of his life, but it contains the major milestones in his acting career and aviation history.