Paul Dye

How did you get into aviation?

I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t fascinated with flying. According to my mum, my first word was ‘airpoo’, when seeing an aeroplane fly over. I grew up in the early 1960s building model aircraft and rockets. When a local FBO bought a couple of wrecked J-3 Cubs, I helped restore them. For every two hours of work, we’d get one hour flight time, only having to pay for fuel and oil. I was still in high school back then, on Friday nights when other kids went cruising in cars my friends and I would go flying. 

How did your flight training go?

It was an absolute joy. I was ready, as I had spent so many years learning and dreaming about flying. I knew everything about the aircraft, having rebuilt it myself. My instructor was more of a coach, he often just let me do it. I learned in Anoka County, a fairly large airfield with a couple of 5,000ft runways and a huge open grass area. Grass was easier on the tyres, so most of the time we didn’t use the tarmac. 

“I was so excited I almost ran my instructor over when taxying back”

How did you feel during your first solo?

Extremely concentrated. When my instructor told me to do three touch-and-goes, I realised, ‘There’s no one here to help, I have to do this right’. The flight was wonderful. A light aircraft such as the Cub flies much better with just one person in it. Afterwards I was so excited I almost ran my instructor over when taxying back. I was intensely focused on getting my solo flight right. One of my traits is being able to concentrate fiercely.

What was it like being the last Mission Controller for NASA on the Space Shuttle Program?

I also needed the ability to focus completely. You’re concentrating until the very end of each mission, making sure you’ve covered all bases. I was fortunate to have received almost all astronaut training, including lots of simulator time. A tremendous amount of knowledge is needed for flying the shuttle, the same as for any other complicated aircraft. The difference, however, is that there are millions of flying hours done in a 747, whereas the shuttle is still experimental. You’d always keep an open mind and be on the lookout for any surprises.

Like Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz, I have written a book about my time at NASA. It is called Shuttle, Houston: Life in the Center Seat of Mission Control (published 14 July) and gives a behind-the-scenes look of what it’s like working in Mission Control. It includes memories and stories about the years we flew to Mir, plus things we learned while training and executing missions.

Did any lessons from that work carry over into your flying?

Definitely. At work, we had a theory that the first answer is always wrong, so you shouldn’t do the right thing too early. This works in aircraft too. Flying a Grumman Yankee home after visiting my parents 30 years ago, I was in clouds climbing at 9,000ft when suddenly I heard a huge bang behind me. I thought I’d lost the engine or blown a cylinder, so I pushed the nose over. However, my instruments indicated all was OK. What happened was that the little Mylar Happy Birthday balloon my mother gave me had exploded…

I also learned about mitigating risks. Flying is risky. With the space shuttle you’re dealing with a national asset and the crews’ lives, so you don’t want any unknown risks. It’s OK to take risks, but they have to be smart. It’s the same in aviation – wondering which aircraft to fly to Columbia (California), I consider the mountainous terrain I have to cross, extremely rugged with nowhere to land in case of trouble. So I take the jet, which has a parachute.

You’re a prolific homebuilder. How many aircraft have you completed?

With my wife, also a pilot and homebuilder, we’ve five finished aircraft and are working on the sixth, a Xenos motor glider.

We have an RV-3, RV-6, RV-8, Dream Tundra and a SubSonex jet. Currently, the jet is my darling. Last year I flew it to Oshkosh, which took two days and eight field stops. 

In this world, there are builders and pilots, I’m both. The first flight in an aircraft you’ve built is exciting. It’s the pinnacle of a lot of work. You’re so well prepared that hopefully the flight itself is straightforward, but there’s a huge subjective part which makes it memorable.

What do you love most about flying?

Apart from the speed and the freedom to manoeuvre in three dimensions, it’s the ability to look over the Earth. Flying is also about exploring. Especially in experimental aviation, it’s always pushing the edges of what humans know.