- CATCH THE WIND -
Sample Chapters
"Catch the Wind is a collection of personal memories told in no particular chronological order.
Rather than being a series
of "There I was" stories" , the book is also the story of the personal life and thoughts of a new pilot flying in a strange and
intense aviation environment.
The stories are of a personal nature describing the life of a pilot, including descriptions of
some unusual and colorful characters.
The book was originally published for distribution to family and friends only. But, after the very positive
and enthusiastic response to the unique stories, the book is now available to the public.
INTRODUCTION
**
This is a book of flying memories prepared to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first airplane flight.
**
It tells the story of a unique set of circumstances in which a young and inexperienced aviator was thrust into a position of incredible responsibilities and challenges, and of the efforts made to rise up and meet them.
**
"Catch The Wind" is an autobiography describing the early flying career of one new pilot during the five year period from 1968 to 1973.
**
**
This was also an era of great political and social change which is remembered with great fondness and nostalgia by those of us who lived through it, and the book recalls some of the more memorable events of that turbulent era in world history.
- - - - - - - - - - -
**
**
Some of the stories contained in this book could be considered funny. . . . . Some are not so funny.
**
Some of the events related herein are the result of inexperience.
**
Others are the result of the fearless and sometimes foolish nature of youth.
**
Some describe parts of a pilots life the non-flying public may never have considered, but may find interesting.
**
Some of these stories are the upbeat tales of daring and adventure one might expect in a book prepared for the Centennial Year of Celebration of Flight. Others are sometimes somber and serious stories including some detailed descriptions of some near catastrophic incidents.
**
All of these stories are true.
- - - - - - - - - - -
***- For newer pilots, this book is a look back at the way flying used to be before stricter enforcement of the FAA Regulations began in the 1980’s. The stories in "Catch the Wind" also highlight the huge differences between the loosely regulated aviation world of earlier days as compared to the rigidly enforced FAA Regulations following the events of September 11 - 2001.
**
The events described in this book could never be repeated today.
**
- For any FAA Regulators reading this book, please remember that events described in this book occurred a long time ago and are descriptions of flying adventures of a different era in aviation.
- - - - - - - - - - -
**
These are the very personal memoirs, begun in the Centennial Year of Celebration of Powered Flight, of one
young man, born in the post World War II baby boom era, who fulfilled a boyhood dream of learning to fly, and of the events and people encountered in the world of aviation.
- - - - - - - - - - -
**This book is also a nostalgic look back on an age of innocence, not only on the subject of aviation, but also on the subject of life in America in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
**
It was an age of wonderful freedom.
**
As these stories will show, nowhere was this freedom more apparent than in the world of aviation.
Chapter Intros
Chapter 1
All Time High
OR
(How To Succeed In Flying - Without Really Trying)
* * * * * *
**This chapter describes some of the challenges an inexperienced pilot faces
when operating a high-perfomance airplane in severe weather conditions.
**To make this chapter more interesting and enjoyable for non-flyers, it is sometimes necessary
to interrupt the story to include detailed descriptions and explanations of these problems and
of the aviation terms used.
(EXCERPT)
**
"As we got lower and closer to the runway, the autopilot was flying the airplane and had “locked” onto the localizer and glide slope, both needles were centered (which indicated that we were on course and at the proper altitude), the airplane was at the proper airspeed (120 MPH), and the wheels and flaps were down.
**
Heavy rain was still beating on the windshield and was rolling off the wings in sheets. The noise caused by this torrential rain hitting the windshield made conversation
between my passenger and I very difficult.
**
I marveled that the engines could run so smoothly through this deluge of water.
**
I could see the autopilot was compensating for this strong crosswind from our right.
**
The altimeter was winding down, lower and lower.
**
Because there were airliners close behind us, the Control Tower requested that we keep our speed up.
**
As we neared the “Decision Height”, ( 200 feet above the ground - (the lowest altitude to which we could legally descend without seeing the runway through the fog), we were still solidly in the overcast and could not see the ground.
**
The airplane, still under the control of the autopilot, kept going forward and down, still following the ILS localizer and glide slope signals past this critical point.
**
The airplane suddenly seemed to be slipping forward and out from under me. I experienced a strange, eerie, and false sensation of being pushed back into the seat.
**
I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline as we continued down.
**
Although unable to see it through the fog, I knew we were very close to the ground and it was time to dis-engage the autopilot, apply full power to the engines, raise the airplanes nose, retract the wheels and flaps, and begin the missed approach procedure. . . But, I didn't. . . Being so inexperienced in this airplane and in this intense aviation environment, I was overwhelmed with how fast things were happening and didn't dare dis-connect the autopilot and try to hand fly the airplane . . . The airplane just kept descending on its own, lower and lower, down through the fog toward the runway . . . . . with me watching.
**
It was very scary.
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 11
Chateau de Amour
OR
(The Last Farewell . . . . .)
****
( A pilots life is not just a life of flying. . .
Sometimes the excitement and the nature
of the aviation world can create situations
which become deeply personal and can
affect someone for a lifetime.
**
One never knows when they will occur . . )
(EXCERPT)
"The next day, I took Nicole for a ride in the Twin-Commanche. We flew over the Chateau Fountainbleu, the Old Town, and the St. Lawrence River.
**
She was absolutely exuberant and excited.
**
I let her fly the airplane from the co-pilots seat.
**
It was obvious she was very intelligent.
**
She learned quickly and was soon flying very well.
**
We shared some intimate moments while the autopilot flew the airplane high over Quebec City.
**
I made the landing with Nicole following me through on the controls.
**
Afterwards, she was so excited it took a long time for her to calm down.
**
Although always affectionate, she was particularly warm and passionate in our hotel room that night."
Chateau Fountainbleu Hotel - Quebec City
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 2
Blowin' In The Wind
OR
(The Dangling Conversation)
* * * * * *
**
( All pilots know that aviation is a field which
constantly humbles even the most confident
and egotistical persons.
Just when one starts to believe he or she is
finally making progress on the long road to
becoming a proficient pilot, something happens
which shocks us back into the reality of our own
fallibility and back into the realization that even
simple mistakes can have serious consequences.
Such an event occurred on the return trip).
Boston Logan Airport
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 3
Piece of Cake
**
This chapter describes some of my experiences
while learning to fly.
**
It describes the problems and challenges a student
pilot faces when trying to fly alone in an airplane
after only a few hours of flight lessons.
(EXCERPT)
"As mentioned earlier, my flight training had been sporadic, to say the least. I spent most of my time working and worrying about how to get the money for the next lesson. I didn’t spend a lot of time at the airport between lessons and rarely talked to other students.
* * * * * * * * *
**
Therefore, that evening, taking off from Fitchburg, although I should have known better, I was completely unaware that student pilots do not fly at night, nor, that flight within the clouds, without an instrument rating, and without an Air Traffic Control clearance, is illegal.
**
As I learned to drive a car a couple of years earlier, and as there was no special training required to drive a car at night, I never even considered that there may be any difference between day flying and flying at night.
**
So, that evening, in spite of the darkness and the approaching storm, I just kept on going to Worcester.
**
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 4
The Age of Aquarius
* * * * * * * *
**
**
I started flying in 1968.
**
It was the best of times - It was the worst of times . . . .
**
Flying was something I always knew I would someday do, even as a little boy.
**
I don’t know why . . . . I just knew.
**
Although it was an important year for me, a lot of bad things were happening in 1968. It was a year the people of the United States will never forget.
**
- In 1968 the war in Vietnam was at its peak. Many young men were being drafted into the US Army for
service in this very unpopular war. Some avoided military service by enrolling into colleges or universities,
or in my case, in an advanced flight school in Florida.
Spectacular Launch of Apollo 11 - July 1969
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 5
Pennies From Heaven
OR
(The High and the Mighty)
**
(I guess everyone must have their own impression
of what a career in aviation might be like.
Things don’t always turn out to be the way one
would expect).
* * * * * * *
**
My first day at my new job as flight instructor was not
what I expected.
**I thought I would be conducting a routine training flight with a new
student pilot. . . . . I was not prepared for the near disaster that was about to occur.
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 6
Nantucket Sleigh Ride
OR
(He ain’t Heavy . . . He’s my Brother)
* * * * * * * * * *
**
Some of the events described in this book might
be considered as foolish, but, we were young and
flying was a lot different in those days.
**
There was a certain amount of independent spirit
among pilots in those days of freedom.
**
It seemed like we could do whatever we pleased.
**
Many of us flew with the memories of the Original
Seven Mercury Astronauts, (who were famous for
their un-orthodox flying antics), and with the likes
of legendary pilot, “Wrong Way” Corrigan **, and
other independent spirits in our minds.
**
In 1971, I was working at my first job as a flight instructor at
Barnes Airport in Westfield Massachusetts.
***
I made many good friends while at this job.
****Friends should always help each other.
****This is a true story of how this desire
to help a friend can affect a pilot's good judgement.
Harbor at Nantucket Island
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 7
Somewhere - Over The Rainbow
OR
(It’s Good to Touch the Green, Green, Grass of Home)
***
(This is the story of an unusual and sad experience
I had with one of my student pilots.
This chapter also contains a substantial amount
of information on the workings of a flight school,
the systems and controls of an airplane, and the
flight training program.)
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 8
Jefferson Airplane
OR
(Don't Think Twice - It's All Right)
***
( Among pilots, there is a common saying used to
describe aviation. It is that flying is “hours and
hours of boredom, occasionally punctuated by a
few brief moments of stark terror”.
**
Sometimes, when you least expect it, a routine
and familiar event can turn into one of these
terrifying moments.
New York Harbor - 1972
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 9
The Bomber
OR
(My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys)
***
(Earlier in this book, this writer stated that,
in the past, pilots were given a great deal of
deference by the public and by the various
Government agencies.
**
We were given an incredible amount of freedom,
seemed to run the system, and could do almost
anything we wanted to do).
US Naval Air Station - Island of Bermuda
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 10
A Wing And A Prayer
OR
(Magical Mystery Tour)
***
(People, especially young people, sometimes do
very foolish things.
***
Unlike military flyers, civilian pilots don’t get the
chance to prove our bravery in combat.
***
However, we still like to complete our missions as
planned and don’t like to fail.
***
Sometimes, during periods of great challenge, in
order to complete our flights, we may push ourselves
beyond the limits of reason and caution.
***
We try not to let this happen, but sometimes it does).
***
This chapter is loaded with valuable information on aircraft icing, instrument flying, and the Air Traffic Control System.
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 13
Garden Party
***
( All pilots must have stories of incidents they
have experienced that are unusual and life-
threatening.
**
I don’t know if I’ve had more of these kinds of
experiences than other pilots, but it sure seems
to me that I have.
**
One such incident, out of many, comes to mind.
It involved something as innocent sounding as
the airplanes cabin heater ).
****This chapter is dedicated to the memories of Ricky Nelson and the six others killed in that fiery Texas crash.
Lots More . . . . . . .
Chapter 14
Earth, Wind, and - - - - -
OR
(Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer)
***
( In order to safely operate our airplanes,
professional pilots must be well rested, must keep
our minds on our flying, and must try not to allow
our personal thoughts and pressures to affect our
judgment. )
****
"The airplane was falling tail first in a full stall condition . . . . . . . the left main landing
gear hit the runway first and collapsed immediately . . . . . . . . the left wing was being dragged along
the runway and was trailing a huge plume of red and orange sparks . . . . . . . my right temple slammed
into the windshield . . . . . . . . I lost consciousness"
Lots More . . . . . . .
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