Avid pilot and GA booster Jimmy Buffett died Friday of undisclosed causes at the age of 76. At the time of his death, Buffett owned six aircraft, none more iconic than the Grumman Albatross Hemisphere Dancer that he retired in 2003 and that is now on static display at Margaritaville in Orlando. His five active aircraft included a Grumman Goose, Stearman, Cessna Caravan, Pilatus PC-12 and Falcon 900EX.
Buffett came relatively late to aviation, despite being bit by the bug in college in Mississippi. It wasn’t until his music career began to take off in the 1980s that he was able to get his private certificate at the age of 39 in his own Lake Renegade. He went on to earn a commercial certificate and was typed on 500-series Citations, the Albatross and Falcon 50 and 900. The BUFIT One Departure southbound from Palm Beach was named after him.
Have a cheeseburger in Paradise!
He’s not really gone, he’s just changed his latitude …
+1
Loved his music, shared his passion for surfing, the ocean and flying, but not his politics. Peace.
Norm
Norm You’re bring politics into a place where it doesn’t belong.
You’re probably right…
Norm
He wasn’t the only one late to the pilot party. I didn’t get mine until I was 41. RIP James. )