A Life Aloft (From Montana Roots to Pan Am Wings)

Born on an eastern Montana homestead in 1922, Jack set his sights high in the sky from an early age. Already driving his own car--a model T wrapped in an airplane body--Jack thought nothing of soloing at 14, and was flying for a local well-driller, "hopping every ranch kid in eastern Montana," and hunting coyotes from the air before he was out of high school. Soon, Jack was "flying the bush" for Pan AM in Alaska and piloting the majestic flying boats across the North Atlantic. Jack finished his service in World War Two in the Aleutians, but would return to serve in both the Air Force and the Navy in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Amazingly, Jack's "best day ever" with Pan AM was January 31, 1968, the first day of the Tet Offensive, when he made a daring landing with his 707 into besieged Saigon Airport and delivered more than 200 trapped Vietnamese--many of them women and children--to safety. "All those little kids," he recalls with a smile. And surely they have never forgotten him. Retired from Pan Am in 1982, Jack had a 40-year career as an instructor, check pilot, and even Chief Pilot--although he always preferred to "fly the line." But it was never a job to him. "I got paid for my hobby," he says. Everyone should be so lucky. Sadly, the love of Jack's life and his wife of 65 years, "Scotty" succumbed to cancer in 2007. But her bright memory lives on, in many of the stories and photos presented here, and in the beautiful, fragrant rose gardens she left for Jack, his family and friends as a living memorial in their lovely Hurstwood, Washington home. So here is the unique and moving story of on man's "life aloft," guaranteed to deliver many colorful characters and destinations, a chuckle or two, and a smooth and happy landing. Enjoy.
Author: Jack W. Burke

Publisher: Glide Path Press

Binding: Hardcover

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0578070065

ISBN-13: 9780578070063