Flying the Friendly Village skies

Ever wonder what it would be like to experience complete exhilaration flying inside in a classic open-cockpit biplane while peering over the wings of a 1940 Stearman?

Beeline Airways, now based out of Fallbrook Airpark, is giving local residents and tourists the opportunity to take people back into flight history.

Glenn Smith, owner, operator and seasoned veteran pilot, offers his passengers unobstructed views of Fallbrook and beyond.

“There is a lot of history in this biplane, starting back in WWII,” he said. “The Stearman is very robust, strong and versatile.”

The classic look of a biplane, he says, appeals not only to him but to others who come face to face with the aircraft.

Before climbing aboard, Smith provides leather helmets and goggles to protect his passengers from wind. The smooth ride affords panoramic views, giving riders the sense of ultimate freedom, he says. The purr of the radial engine is music to Smith’s ears.

Beeline Airways is not just a “summer flight fling.” It’s Smith’s intention to make his biplane a year-round attraction for Fallbrook.

“Weather permitting,” he said, “we’ll be open on weekends, holidays and by appointment.”

Smith had a biplane ride business back in 1988 when he lived in Northern California. A couple years ago, when he and his wife relocated to Bonsall, he discovered Fallbrook Airpark and knew it was the ideal spot for a biplane business.

“The airport is small, low-key and has a perfect runway,” he said.

Already a member of the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce and Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau, Smith is hopeful that Beeline Airways will add another reason for visitors to seek out a Friendly Village experience.

“It’s a different way to see Fallbrook,” he said, “and Fallbrook has beautiful countryside to see.”

Smith loves his business because his clients always deplane with huge smiles on their faces. “It introduces people to airplanes in such a positive way and gets them involved in aviation,” he said. “Everyone can experience the fun of flying.”

With a passion for aircraft at a young age, Smith began taking flight lessons when he was in high school. In 1979, he became a bona fide pilot.

To date, he has some 12,000 flight hours under his belt and has been a flight instructor for 20 years.

“Over the years, I actually got students from these biplane rides because they had such a blast,” he explained.

Smith has developed three different biplane excursion choices that encompass all that North County has to offer. The first is “North County,” a ride that offers a cruise of the greater Fallbrook and Bonsall areas. The second is the “Coaster,” which takes passengers to the Oceanside and Carlsbad coastline. For thrill seekers hankering for aerobatic barrel rolls and loop-de-loop thrills, the “Barnstormer” ride is the ticket.

To learn more about Beeline Airways and obtain basic passenger information, call (760) 216-3700 or log on to http://www.FlyBeeline.com.

To comment on this article online, visit http://www.thevillagenews.com.