# Songs about planes and flying **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675 "2025-01-31T13:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/81 "2025-01-31T17:47:48Z")
[“Wild Blue Yonder” - Song of the USAAC - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-ZIuE-7zDg&ab_channel=Razorbill) [AMERICAN PATROL - GLENN MILLER](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAVejLjXVdw&ab_channel=MulberryBuccaneer) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/82 "2025-01-31T17:55:37Z")
Liz Phair, “Stratford-On-Guy” describing flying into Chicago. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/56vkjzu6nEw/maxresdefault.jpg "Liz Phair - "Stratford-On-Guy" (Remastered Video & Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56vkjzu6nEw) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/83 "2025-01-31T17:58:45Z")
“Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride)” - Don Felder [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mewu2IxAlLw/maxresdefault.jpg "Take a Ride - Don Felder, Heavy Metal Soundtrack.avi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mewu2IxAlLw) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/84 "2025-01-31T18:02:17Z")
> [@solost](#): > > For good reason-- any time you get on a plane, you’re going on _some_ kind of adventure. Even if it’s just a business trip, it’s a break from the day-to-day. This reminded me of another. Dawes, “From a Window Seat” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/O1HzHh8uOJI/maxresdefault.jpg "Dawes - From A Window Seat (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1HzHh8uOJI) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/85 "2025-01-31T18:07:20Z")
> [@Author\_Balk](#): > > About an hour ago I listened to Ironic by Ananis Morrisette. > A man was afraid to fly. He waited his whole life to take a flight. “and as the plane crashed down he thought, ‘well, isn’t this nice’”. Ironically, that’s about the only part of the song that _ **is** _ ironic 😏 > [@mbh](#): > > It has been set to music a couple of times. Here is John Denver’s version: > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xNGgWNRUf8%2F](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xNGgWNRUf8%2F) That’s two John Denver songs about flying posted now, counting “Leaving on a Jet Plane” I posted in the OP. Ironic, [considering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Denver#Death)… Ooh, just thought of another one-- not so muhc about passenger flight as air freight, let’s say… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oLttGfxGoSY/maxresdefault.jpg "Bales Of Cocaine") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLttGfxGoSY) When two low-flying aeroplanes, ‘bout a hundred feet high Dropped a bunch o’ bales o’ somethin’, some hit me in the eye… ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/86 "2025-01-31T18:25:14Z")
Speaking of Rush: It’s an instrumental, so there are no lyrics, but their song YYZ is named after the airport code for Toronto Pearson International Airport. The rhythm of the opening is the same as the letters YYZ rendered in Morse Code. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/87 "2025-01-31T18:37:09Z")
I find the Dierks Bentley original of “Drunk on a Plane” far too modern-country for my tastes but the Izaak Opatz cover had made its way onto my list. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ai2PvbHsMIk/maxresdefault.jpg "Izaak Opatz - "Drunk on a Plane" (Art Track)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai2PvbHsMIk) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/88 "2025-01-31T18:37:12Z")
Interesting. I got to see RUSH in the 70s. What a show! I believe it was the first concert I saw with a video screen backdrop. I’m not sure what song it was (I would have to look it up), but I believe a man was falling through space. Here’s YYZ… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LdpMpfp-J_I/maxresdefault.jpg "Rush - YYZ (HQ)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdpMpfp-J_I) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/89 "2025-01-31T18:39:50Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Does German count? There is Hans Albers’ **[Flieger, grüß mir die Sonne](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjE15ClLgw)** in the original 1932 version, and then there is the modern, [**'80s version**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e61KF2eH3g). > And of course there is Domenico Modugno - **[Nel blu dipinto di blu (“Volare”)](https://youtu.be/uF9mRDW6Gg8?t=61)** How can you **NOT** post this.? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wkjG0ZNbOVU/maxresdefault.jpg "Reinhard Mey - Über den Wolken (1974) HD 0815007") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkjG0ZNbOVU) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/90 "2025-01-31T18:42:06Z")
What type of Germán are you? /s ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/91 "2025-01-31T18:42:33Z")
(Repeat) “Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride)” - Don Felder The one with the flying Corvette… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4MyfInT1y0c/hqdefault.jpg "HeavyMetal intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MyfInT1y0c) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/92 "2025-01-31T18:43:36Z")
Another airport tune … Heathrow - Level 42 ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/93 "2025-01-31T18:51:54Z")
Eric Burdon & The Animals - Sky Pilot ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/94 "2025-01-31T18:58:50Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > It was both. They (the Byrds) were inspired by an actual plane flight. The Byrds, especially Roger McGuinn, were enthusiasts about plane and space travel and had one song about it on each of their early albums. Here’s another: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EydGJmhadNo/maxresdefault.jpg "The Byrds - 2-4-2 Fox Trot (The Lear Jet Song) (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EydGJmhadNo) > [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > **Learning To Fly** > > - Pink Floyd Also “Learning To Fly” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/s5BJXwNeKsQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Learning To Fly (Version 1)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BJXwNeKsQ) > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Frank Sinatra - **I Get a Kick Out of You** > [@WildaBeast](#): > > “Come Fly With Me” - Frank Sinatra Sintatra also seems to have had a thing about flying. Here’s a third example: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZEcqHA7dbwM/maxresdefault.jpg "Fly Me To The Moon (2008 Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEcqHA7dbwM) > [@TCMF-2L](#): > > British Ska giants **The** **Specials** and **International** **Jet** **Set** (a scathing look at international travel.) Joe Jackson has a similarly scathing song about the Jet Set: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QbAL5mZHvZs/maxresdefault.jpg "The Jet Set (Live At The Roundabout Theatre, New York City/1986)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbAL5mZHvZs) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/95 "2025-01-31T19:16:26Z")
I was going to post “Learning To Fly” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The video was filmed at The Boneyard in Tucson, Arizona. I’m glad I got to see them…twice. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/96 "2025-01-31T19:25:24Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > The video was filmed at The Boneyard in Tucson, Arizona. Cool, I didn’t know that! I’ve heard the song a thousand times, but never saw the video. I just fired up YouTube and took care of that. Also, very cool you got to see them twice! ETA: And I just noticed @EinsteinsHund could have saved me even the effort of going to YouTube, but I didn’t notice the link until just now. Thanks EH! > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Also “Learning To Fly” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/97 "2025-01-31T19:34:04Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Flying Down To Rio - Fred & Ginger (Don’t watch the clip if you’re a nervous flyer) OK, I’ve had seats _next to_ the wing, but’s that’s ridiculous 😁 ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/98 "2025-01-31T19:36:25Z")
Great shows both times. The first time was _ **Southern Accents** _ at The Drum (Frank Erwin Center) in Austin. Check out the setlist. The second time was _ **Wildflowers** _ at an intimate little outdoor venue Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix. Campbell’s guitar solo on “It’s Good To Be King” was amazing! Both shows were incredible, every single song was perfect. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/99 "2025-01-31T19:49:34Z")
Here’s what’s on top of my head, may be repeats from upthread… Liz Phair - Stratford On Guy Hoodoo Gurus - 1000 Miles Away Blue Oyster Cult - ME 262 The James Gang - The Bomber Pink Floyd - Learning to Fly ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675/100 "2025-01-31T19:50:30Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Sorry for the hijack. No need for apologies at all, I love Tom Petty. My wife and I, not having had a chance to see Petty and his band, have had to make do with a tribute band called ‘The Insiders’. We discovered them by chance at a local ‘concert in the park’ a couple summers ago and we liked them so much we paid to see them when they came to a nearby indoor venue. They’re a step above the ‘typical’ tribute band because the singer, Max Lockwood, has his own musical thing going, but he got together with some musician friends to do a one-off tribute concert after Petty’s death. It went over so well, they started touring as The Insiders (which is an ‘inside’ reference to one of Pettys’ deep cuts). Lockwood tells Tom Petty trivia in-between songs. Great show; if they happen to show up in your area, by all means go see them (they’re based in Grand Rapids, MI and I don’t know if they tour outside Michigan though). Here’s a couple videos: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IGTaZ5PRXco/maxresdefault.jpg "The Insiders: Tom Petty Tribute Band - "Mary Jane's Last Dance"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGTaZ5PRXco) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/h_T4sCNo6js/maxresdefault.jpg "AMAZING Tom Petty cover (You Wreck Me) by Max Lockwood (The Insiders)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_T4sCNo6js) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-planes-and-flying/1013675.md?page=6)