Winging It!: Jack Jefford, Pioneer Alaskan Aviator

Jack Jefford saw his first plane in 1916 at the age of six and he was hooked. By 1937 he was flying planes in Nome, Alaska and in three short years he became the Chief Pilot of the FAA. He daily faced the dangers of Alaska's skies, helped settle a frontier, and managed to survive long enough to share a lifetime of stories--delivering mail by plane, hunting coyotes, counting reindeer, transporting prisoners and congressmen, and rescuing the lost and injured, often at great risk to himself.

Author: Jack Jefford
Publisher: Alaska Northwest Books
Published: 06/01/2011
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 6.00h x 8.90w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780882408163

About the Author

Jack Jefford (1910-1979) was a natural storyteller and a pioneering giant of Alaskan aviation history. He was a "pilot's pilot," who flew so well he figured in scores of dramatic rescue flights. He also helped develop the aerial trailways that are flown today by commercial jets.At the urging of his daughter Carmen, he began recording his stories while sitting in his favorite chair with a glass of whiskey nearby. Over five years, he made 18 tapes, which his daughter and her husband Mark transcribed and edited with the help of aviation journalist Cliff Cernick.The result is a collection of fascinating aviation stories ever to come out of Alaska. From Jack's barnstorming days in Nebraska to his role as FAA Chief Pilot in Alaska, he was one of the best bush pilots who became a legend in his own time.