Wyoming's History of Flight - Episode 9

Episode 9 - listen to the episode here. You can also subscribe by searching for Wyoming My 307 wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Wyoming has surprising connections to America’s history of flight - including heroic early mail flights, and the founding of America’s "air stewards". This episode features an interview of Mike Kassel, co-author of Wyoming Airmail Pioneers, and Wyoming's Friendly Skies. A tiny Wyoming town, whose streets are former runways is explored, and we also learn about one of Wyoming’s biggest, and most distinctive sounding birds.

Learn about Jack Knight’s famous flight here, as well as here and here! Here’s more information about the US airmail beacon system, including those now elusive concrete arrows!  Episode 3, WWII in Wyoming goes into depth about the Bomber Mountain crash that is also mentioned in this episode. This post details the Medicine Bow Peak crash, which was the worst commercial aviation disaster of its time. 



Atlas Obscura is one of my favorite travel resources, which originally brought the unique WY town of Bar Nunn to my attention. Here is their review, as well as a link to the town, and the Hangar event center and restaurant. Follow me on Trip Advisor where I have reviewed the Hangar and more!


Two great resources to learn basic information on Sandhill Cranes is the famous Cornell Bird Lab, as well as the National Wildlife Federation.  The International Crane Foundation goes more in depth. I highly recommend visiting the Audubon Rowe Sanctuary between Kearny and North Platte, NE. Lastly, here’s the extraordinary story of cranes flying over Mount Everest. 


Thanks to Shan Burson and the National Park Service Sound Library, here’s a wonderful recording of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. Enjoy!

Jack Knight on one of his famous flights
Jack Knight Saves the Day!
Popular Book Recounting His Adventures


   
























Location: Bar Nunn, WY 82601, USA

Comments

  1. Pat, Marcus & AlexisJune 11, 2022 at 6:48 AM

    Very nice episode!

    One small correction, the old Wardwell field at Bar Nunn is Casper's second airport, not the first. The very first one was in Evansville, which actually predates Wardwell.

    The Evansville airport is also sadly connected with a very early Natrona County air tragedy: https://ncaerodrome.blogspot.com/2020/01/some-gave-all-maud-toomey-memorial.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carla MowellJuly 24, 2022 at 4:15 PM

      Interesting! Clearly I need to learn more about Evansville! Thanks for the link!

      Delete
  2. Jhon DavidOctober 3, 2022 at 7:40 AM

    nice post i will seen it agian i is most helpfull for me
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    ReplyDelete

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