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Jimmy Buffett and the Volcano Blows at Mt. Saint Helens
Shortly after the May 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption, Jimmy Buffett had scheduled an acoustic tour of the Northwest. I secured a Beechcraft F-90 for such… and in June of ’80 we departed one of our points, Portland, OR. – and decided to make a slight detour on our way to Seattle (his very next gig).
St. Helens was still smoldering on this day, hence its top being blown-off shortly beforehand. We had heard that private aircraft with proper transponder flight following could get a closer look and take a peek inside the bubbling blown-out lava pit.
I suggested that Jimmy ride in the right (co-pilots) chair as we approached the flume. ‘What a Trip’ it was to be amongst the very few that had been able to circle over and look deep-down inside a very recent volcano!
Hence, we renamed this Jimmy Buffett acoustic tour… “the Mount St. Helens King Kong Volcano Tour”
Image is myself with Jimmy on the ramp in Seattle just after our volcano viewing flight.
Learn more in the book…
Stories from the Air, Flying Some of the Biggest Rock N’ Roll Stars of the World…
