A Family Affair

The Kassing family, from left, Andrew, Merlynn, Tom, and Stephen.

My family’s love for flying began in 1930, when 16-year-old Melvin Kassing, my dad, soloed for the first time at Lambert Field in St. Louis, Mo. His parents offered him the choice between a college education or a Travel Air biplane—and he chose to fly, charting a path for my family that continues to this day.

Barnstorming along the Mississippi River gave my dad the experience he needed to fly for Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA), pumping the gear up and down on a Douglas DC-2. The year was 1938, and his seniority number was 144.

My dad’s 36-year career with TWA and ALPA consisted of flying Douglas DC-3s and Boeing 307 Stratoliners, crossing the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, and being in the first training class of Lockheed Constellations and Boeing 707s and 747s.

He passed along his love of flying to me, and I have wonderful memories of traveling with him. At the time, flight decks were left open, and the Transportation Security Administration didn’t exist. I spent many weekends flying to Europe and having the privilege of sitting behind my dad during the flight.

After obtaining my private pilot license in high school, I graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in aerospace engineering. I then joined the Air National Guard flying Cessna O-2s and McDonnel Douglas F-4s. My stints with Pilgrim Airlines and Texaco Aviation flying de Havilland Canada Twin Otters and Grumman Gulfstream IIs led to my being hired by Hughes Airwest in 1978. After the mergers of Republic, Northwest, and finally Delta, I retired from a 33-year career flying B-747s, just like my dad.

During my years of airline flying, I met and married Merlynn, a flight attendant for Republic. We had three children and traveled the world. The skies were our home away from home.

Two of our three children followed in our aviation footsteps. Stephen graduated from Florida State University with a mechanical engineering degree and then went to flight school. He was hired by Endeavor Air and flew throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen then went to work for Delta in 2021 and is now a captain on the B-717 based in Atlanta, Ga.

His younger brother, Andrew, graduated from the University of Florida and also went to flight school. He then began working for Spirit Airlines, flying Airbus A320s. Two years later, in 2024, Andrew was hired by Delta and is a first officer based in Atlanta flying B-717s.

An unforgettable moment for our family was a wings ceremony held at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. Andrew received Stephen’s first officer wings while Stephen accepted my captain wings.

The family’s next milestone was a memorable one as well: Stephen and Andrew shared the flight deck for the first time in October 2024. With Stephen as captain and Andrew as his first officer, they flew a B-717 from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C. It was a special occasion for our entire family having the two brothers fly a Delta aircraft together.

That tradition may continue for the next generation. Kristin, our first child, graduated from the University of Florida with an actuarial degree and works in Atlanta. She and her husband, Barry, have two young boys who—with exposure to flying from their uncles and grandparents—are already showing an interest in space and aviation. The fourth generation of Kassing aviators may soon be here!