by Bruce Estes

Andy Bibber and his partner, Laurie, arrived at Lincoln Airport last fall from Alaska. Eighteen years of flying as a commercial pilot in Alaska, especially with the Alaskan winters, was getting boring. So, Andy and Laurie researched areas and airports and decided that Lincoln looked good for their new home. When asked how long Andy has been flying, he answered “before I was born.” Andy’s mother and father were pilots. Andy’s mom was working on getting her license when she was pregnant with Andy, but temporarily had to stop flying because she had grown to where she couldn’t bring the control stick back far enough to flare for landing. Andy’s mom did get her license later.

Andy soloed when he was 16, and got his license when he was 17. Andy now has approximately 22,000 hours of flying experience. Andy estimates 25% of those hours are in tailwheel aircraft. Andy has an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and is a Certificated Flight Instructor for both single and multi-engine airplane, and also holds the single engine seaplane rating. Andy even had a flight school for five years in Maine, where he is originally from.

Andy and Laurie in front of the Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 with the newest member of the troupe, Lincoln.

Andy’s flying in Alaska consists of flying freight and passengers from hub airports to remote airports. If you watched the reality series Flying Wild Alaska, this is what Andy does in Alaska, but without the artificial television drama. This is all done in small aircraft, the largest being a Cessna Caravan. Andy also flies his airplanes in airshows and has a business selling rides in his unique fleet of airplanes. You can book a ride in these aircraft by visiting adventureflight.net.
Andy and Laurie are great people, but part of this story has to involve the airplanes currently owned by Andy. Andy loves old airplanes, especially if the airplanes have radial engines. These airplanes have character (like Andy). Andy currently owns a 1943 SNJ-4, a 1942 UC-78 Cessna Bamboo Bomber (used as a multi-engine trainer for World War II pilots), a 1940 N3N biplane, a 1940 Taylor Craft, and a 1931 Monocoupe 110.
Currently, four of the five are flyable and they can be seen flying on any given day. These are all classic airplanes. Laurie calls the Monocoupe Andy’s “girlfriend,” so the Monocoupe is probably Andy’s favorite of the 5 airplanes. All of Andy’s airplanes are older than he is. He can carefully get all five airplanes in his hangar at Lincoln.
Six months ago, which was about one week before Andy and Laurie’s scheduled departure for their summer in Alaska, Laurie gave birth to
Lincoln Charles Bibber. I’m sure Lincoln will be a pilot. He had already flown as a passenger, prior to being born, and when he was about two weeks old for the summer relocation to Alaska. Laurie wrapped Lincoln in blankets to keep him warm and climbed into the back seat of the SNJ and flew with Andy from Lincoln Airport to Vancouver, Washington, about a four hour trip. When asked how Lincoln did on the flight, Andy says Lincoln was very comfortable, sleeping for most of the flight. I think another pilot has been born.

Andy’s Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bomber, officially known as the Bobcat, and his North American SNJ-4 on the line at the Lincoln Airport. Rides or flight training are offered by Andy through adventureflight.net.