Mort Crim with his Dova Skylark.

He isn't dying, but veteran TV and radio journalist, writer, and pilot, Mort Crim, decided to pursue one of the items on his "bucket list," or list of goals to accomplish before he dies, by flying a long, cross-country trip in his light-sport aircraft. It will start at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 and continue through the Dakotas, Montana, Idaho, and then along the West Coast, through Washington, Oregon, California, and finally east through Texas to his home in Jacksonville, Florida.

The 7,400-mile trip will be a celebration of his 74th birthday, July 31, the day he plans to start. While at AirVenture, he may also serve as master of ceremonies for some Theater in the Woods programs, but mostly he's there to enjoy himself. "You know, I just enjoy it all," Crim replied, when asked about his favorite part of AirVenture.

The plane he'll be using for the cross-country trip is the Dova Skylark. "I think that all the light-sport aircraft fly very similarly," Crim said. "I like the low wing and the bubble top. The aesthetics are probably what sold me, though. It's just personal taste."

Crim got into flying when he was 15 years old, when a friend of the family took him up in a Cessna. At age 19, he received his pilot's certification, and at 67 received his Airline Transport Pilot certificate for his own personal satisfaction. He has flown all kinds of planes, from LSA to the pressurized Cessna 414 Golden Eagle.

Besides checking off an item on his bucket list, flying cross-country in an LSA will accomplish something else: showing people that LSA are not simply toys, but a viable means of transportation. It will also show that neither age, nor health should be a limiting factor for those who want to fly. He's survived two bouts of cancer, and is enjoying every minute he's healthy.

"I think the LSA flying rule is the most exciting development in flying recently," Crim said, stating that the sport pilot certification has allowed more people to enjoy flying longer, and especially has benefited younger fliers who are just starting out. Sport pilot also benefits older fliers who otherwise might not be able to fly because of heavier restrictions.

Crim worked as a news anchor in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Chicago for more than 30 years, and covered Neil Armstrong's moon landing heard by millions of ABC radio network listeners. He also substituted for Paul Harvey in the 1980s. Now in semi-retirement, he continues to do voice work, including TV commercials and books on CD, writing, and speaking.

Crim is working on his eighth book, which will be about his experiences in flying throughout his life. This upcoming cross-country trip will provide the words and images for its final chapter.