Buck Rogers was his boyhood adventure and Flight was always on his Mind. He read Bill Barnes about innovative designs like retractable pontoons.

In 1939, he soloed in a Flying Jenny; a biplane with pistons as big a jugs. He flew other planes such as the J3 Cub, Davis D-l-W parasol, Voyager Stinson, SR-7 & LR-6. He recalls the Curtis Robin and Stearmans. He flew right seat in the Stinson as it was used as a training plane for the then Piedmont Airlines with the founder Mr. Tom Davis. He has owned a Comanche 250, a 1955 Travel Air, and a V-35 B Bonanza. He loved to fly and I went with him as much as I could. I would take the yoke as he navigated to triangulate our location. "Anything I could see to fly I did."

He was a true member to the Short Snorters Club. This is when you meet famous aviators like Odum, who flew around the world, and get them to sign a dollar bill called a short snorter. He misses flying, as it has been so much a part of his life

He is honored by His Children; Paula Marie Barnes Ferrell, Jeffrey Russell Barnes, Victor Russell Barnes, and their families.