32 Songs About Flying, from Come Fly with Me to Learn to Fly

What is the most famous song about flying?

"Come Fly with Me" by Frank Sinatra is the classic song about flying, a 1958 invitation to a jet-set getaway. "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul and Mary is the most famous goodbye at the airport, and "Learning to Fly" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is the favorite rock song about it.

Classic songs about flying

1. "Come Fly with Me", Frank Sinatra: the jet-age anthem of 1958.
2. "Fly Me to the Moon", Frank Sinatra: a love song that soars, recorded with Count Basie.
3. "Up, Up and Away", The 5th Dimension: a sunny song about a hot air balloon.
4. "Eight Miles High", The Byrds: inspired by the band's flight to London.
5. "Flying", The Beatles: a dreamy instrumental from Magical Mystery Tour.
6. "Leaving on a Jet Plane", Peter, Paul and Mary: the airport farewell written by John Denver.
7. "Spirit in the Sky", Norman Greenbaum: a fuzzy guitar classic about rising high.
8. "Fly Away", John Denver: a gentle song about escaping to somewhere new.

Rock songs about flying and planes

9. "Free Bird", Lynyrd Skynyrd: the ultimate song about flying free.
10. "Rocket Man", Elton John: an astronaut's lonely job far above the Earth.
11. "Fly Like an Eagle", Steve Miller Band: a spacey, soaring classic.
12. "Jet Airliner", Steve Miller Band: a road song set in the sky.
13. "Amelia", Joni Mitchell: a reflection inspired by the aviator Amelia Earhart.
14. "Flying High Again", Ozzy Osbourne: a hard rock anthem.
15. "Learning to Fly", Pink Floyd: inspired by David Gilmour's flying lessons.
16. "Learning to Fly", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: about rising after a fall.
17. "Aeroplane", Red Hot Chili Peppers: a funky song about music as an escape.
18. "Learn to Fly", Foo Fighters: with a famous video set on an airplane.
19. "Danger Zone", Kenny Loggins: the fighter-jet theme from Top Gun.

Pop and modern songs about flying

20. "Fly", Sugar Ray: a breezy summer hit from 1997.
21. "Fly Away", Lenny Kravitz: a Grammy-winning rock anthem.
22. "I'm Like a Bird", Nelly Furtado: about a free spirit who cannot stay.
23. "Drops of Jupiter", Train: a love song full of space travel imagery.
24. "Airplanes", B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams: wishing on airplanes like shooting stars.
25. "Big Jet Plane", Angus and Julia Stone: a dreamy indie favorite.
26. "Fly Over States", Jason Aldean: about the heartland people see from above.
27. "Fly", Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna: an anthem about rising above critics.

Songs about birds and the freedom of flight

28. "Blackbird", The Beatles: a gentle song about learning to fly.
29. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Judy Garland: dreaming of where the bluebirds fly.
30. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler: a tribute to the person who lifts you up.
31. "On the Wings of Love", Jeffrey Osborne: a romantic soul ballad.
32. "Rockin' Robin", Bobby Day: a playful song about a bird that loves to sing.

Why are there so many songs about flying?

Flying is the oldest human dream. Long before airplanes, people sang about birds and angels, and when commercial air travel arrived in the 1950s, songwriters celebrated the glamour of the jet age. Flying also works as a metaphor for love, freedom and escape, so the same image can carry a romantic song, a rock anthem about breaking free or a farewell at the airport.

The story behind Leaving on a Jet Plane

John Denver wrote the song in the mid-1960s, before he was famous, under the title "Babe, I Hate to Go". Peter, Paul and Mary recorded it, and in 1969 their version went to number one, the trio's only chart-topping single. Denver later recorded it himself, and it remains one of the most played songs at airports and farewell parties.

The story behind Pink Floyd's Learning to Fly

David Gilmour was taking flying lessons while the band worked on their 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and he turned the experience into the song. Drummer Nick Mason, also a pilot, recorded a bit of cockpit radio chatter that appears on the track. The song became a highlight of their live shows.

Songs about flying for pilots

For a pilot's birthday, a new license or a first solo flight, "Learning to Fly", "Danger Zone" and "Come Fly with Me" make a perfect soundtrack. For a pilot's retirement party, add "Fly Away" and "Wind Beneath My Wings", and see our retirement songs for more.

Songs for the airport and a long flight

For a goodbye at the gate, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is the classic, and "Jet Airliner" and "Big Jet Plane" make a relaxed in-flight playlist. For more ideas, see our songs about travel, for songs that go even higher, our songs about planets, and for the man who wrote "Leaving on a Jet Plane", our John Denver songs.

Songs about flying for a graduation

Flying is a natural image for a graduate leaving the nest. "Learn to Fly", "I'm Like a Bird" and "Fly" by Sugar Ray are upbeat choices for a slideshow, and "Wind Beneath My Wings" is a heartfelt thank-you to the parents and teachers who helped them take off.

A song about their flight

A personalized song can celebrate a pilot, a flight attendant or a dreamer who loves the sky: their name, their first flight and the places they have flown, in a rock, country or pop style. It makes a great gift for a new license, a career milestone or a retirement.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, country, pop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories from their time in the air.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song that soars: create a song and hear four previews for free.