On today’s show, we talk with guest Mark Vanhoenacker, author of Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot (Knopf, June 2015). After working for years as a consultant, Vanhoenacker decided to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot. He now flies Boeing 747s for British Airways, and in his spare time, he wrote this meditation on flying. Later in the hour, we hear a dramatic reading of Benjamin Franklin’s 1781 treatise, “Farting Proudly.”

Music this hour:

• “Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age
• “Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within
• “Bluehill Fife and Drum” performed by Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
• “The Presidents March” by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, from the album Celebrating 50 Years
• “Theme E” by Steve Combs & Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)
• “Theme S” by Steve Combs & Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)