Getting to Know John Cuny

As a five-year-old, we lived under the flight path to the Long Beach Airport. While attending elementary school, I could watch airplanes land. They were fire breathing, noise making, and travel bound! Very exciting for a youngster. My first ride as a passenger was in a Western Airlines plane returning from the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair from SEA to LAX. Growing up, I always wanted to be a pilot. We lived in Southern California from 1950 -1979.

My first job for an airline was with Catalina Airlines when I was 14. They operated 35 departures a day. I pumped gas and checked the oil on the planes in the summer of 1964-1965 which kept me busy. It’s what motivated me to become a pilot.

I got my PPL in Long Beach in 1967 and subsequently bought my first plane, a Luscombe, when I was 17 years old. I still own the Luscombe.

I had three+ years of college and attended trade school for all of my ratings. With my CFI and Instrument Instructor rating, at 18 years old, I got a job with Flight Safety in Long Beach as a flight instructor and teaching ground school. I instructed over 200 private and instrument-rated pilots. I taught Flight Safety at Long Beach and Meadowlark airport in Huntington Beach California. I instructed over 200 private and instrument-rated pilots.

I was drafted into the US Army Infantry and went to Vietnam where I was cross-trained to be an air traffic controller during my assignment.

In 1974, I started a business making waterbed frames (US Furniture & Frame). The business grew to 40 employees with a 26,000-foot plant.

In 1979, I sold the business and relocated to Fort Worth, Texas where I went to work for American Airlines. I was based in DFW, LAX, ORD, and Washington DC. I flew for American Airlines, Global, American International Airways and Aerostar, flying B727s.

The Doobie Brothers used a Martin 404 “Doobie Liners” for their touring, and a DC-3 “Crewbie Liner” to carry their road crew and equipment.

I restored both the Luscombe and the Seabee. My Sea-bee N6230K (#433) won the “Grand Champion Seaplane - Gold Lindy” award at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014. It also won the Best Classic at WAAM in 2021.

Some of my fun flying includes the following:

Flying several celebrities in a Learjet Flying rock bands: The Cars in a DC-3 & the Doobie Brothers in a Martin 404 & DC-3 ( 1977-1978)

I was a member of Chapter 19 in Long Beach from 1967 -78, Chapter 34 in Forth Worth for 25 years, and Chapter 430 for the past 15+ years. I attended Lakeland Sun ’n Fun for over 10 years, and Oshkosh for 20 years.

I’ve had a few interesting (harrowing, exciting) stories in my time as a pilot. Two of them involved Air Force One; however, I never did get to meet the President! The stories will have to wait until another time.

I was asked what is something my friends and/or family do not know about me. I’m afraid of heights … except when I’m flying an airplane.

My interests and hobbies include collecting cars and aviation-related memorabilia.

Backstage passes … the benefits of flying celebrities

I met my wife, Sherl, at American Airlines. She was a inflight beverage consultant. We both retired from American Airlines.

We bought property on Blue Ribbon Farms, with the intent of building our retirement home, which was built in 2001. I continued to commute, which I did for most of my career.

From paperboy to an airline pilot, my philosophy is that we can achieve anything that we put our mind to. Mentoring a young person is our duty in life. American Airlines had a policy they would not hire any family members of an employee. I did not agree with this policy, believing relatives (especially children) of an employee would have a special interest working for American as a career. I wanted to do something to change this policy. I helped establish the mentor program for young people. We would take the kids to any aviation-related facility as an introduction to the possibilities of an aviation career. The policy was eventually changed so that family members of employees were eligible to work for American Airlines.

I have the following ratings: ATP, Multi-Engine Land, B727, B737, DC-3, Learjet; Commercial Single Engine Land and Sea; Rotorcraft – Helicopter; Flight Engineer - Turbojet Powered; Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor, Airplane – Gold Seal, Ground Instructor – Advance Instrument; Radar Controller- GCA US Army