Ever since I can remember, the one thing I’ve always loved most in life has been “Aviation”. One of my father’s many jobs was delivering newspapers to customers who lived out of town, in the desert.  One of the places he delivered papers to was Williams Air Force Base (about 25 miles southeast of Phoenix).  As a “contracted” driver (rather than an employee)  he was able to take people along with him.  

I was about 5 years old when I started riding along with dad.  It was during those times that I started becoming fascinated with the jets that constantly flew around the base.  As I grew older, I started reading all the books from the school and city library I could find.  I watched all kinds of Movies and TV  programs (Sky King, Airwolf, Blue Thunder, Air America, Wings, Airport, Airport 70, 75,77, 79…). 

Over the years, there were programs on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle and Space Station.  I remember as a kid, getting up at 5 in the morning to watch the first Astronauts launch into space.  I dreamed of the day I’d actually climb aboard a plane and go on a flight.  The first time I finally got the chance to “fly” was in a helicopter.  We lived about 2 blocks from the San Marcos Resort Hotel in Chandler Arizona. 

One day (back in 1964), I noticed lots of small helicopters flying into and landing at the golf course.  I walked down the street past a row of tall salt cedar trees (there was no fence) and saw about 20 helicopters sitting there next to the clubhouse.  I walked over to where 25 or 30 people stood listening to a man (a salesperson?) who was telling them all about the helicopters.  After his spiel, people were directed towards the copters. 

Within a few minutes, the copters started taking off, up and out of sight, away from the hotel.  They were gone for about 10 minutes, then returned, landed and the people got out and others took their places.  I started getting the idea that maybe, just maybe, this  was going to be my lucky day!  More people were coming out of the hotel and joining the group.  I got close enough to hear what they were being told, that after their demo flight, if they had any questions, they could talk to any of the sales staff.

I was only 10 years old, but among the crowd, there were at least a dozen kids my age with their parents.  I  realized that this was now or never and started making my way over to the group.  Within 15-20 minutes, I was on board, and was  FINALLY – airborne!  The flight lasted about 10 minutes.  We flew out west of town, turned around and headed back.  I’d never been so excited in my entire life.

Since then, I’ve gone on to get my Private Pilot’s License, joined the AirForce, became a “Boom Operator”, flying aboard KC-135 Tanker’s, where we re-fueled everything from F-4’s, F-105’s, F-16’s, C5 Galaxy Transports, B-52 Bombers among others. 

Unfortunately, after 5 years in the Air Force, I had problems with Vertigo and left the Air Force in 1977.  I was able to eventually get certified to fly again and although I haven’t been in the cockpit of a plane in several years, I still spend a lot of time flying Flight Simulators and R/C Aircraft.