Captain Billy, Author at Tommy The Texan

13 Jul

The Story Behind the Epigraph

Writing - Aunte Anne - Mentor and Muse

Aunt Anne, My Mentor, My Muse

Most people have someone in their lives that have inspired them. My Aunt Anne, that’s Anne with an e, was mine. She is the person who, without overtly telling or encouraging me, inspired me to write. Aunt Anne was like a second mother to me. I am more like her in so many ways than my own mother. In my love of writing, reading, travel and a shared hatred of yard work. Our personalities are a lot alike, as well.

It began with a thoughtful gift back in 1974. She had a knack of knowing what to gift without asking you. I had just acquired my private pilot’s license, and amid some turmoil in my personal life. She wrote a note to me in the beginning of the book, which is why it is included as part of my first book. She was one of my most staunch supporters, along with my dear “CUZ,” in my quest to fly. But, unbeknownst to her, and me at the time, she inspired me to not only pursue my love of aviation, but a passion for writing.

Her gift was a book of short, non-fiction stories by Richard Bach titled, “A Gift of Wings,” now out of print. This book is one of my most prized and precious possessions because it came from her. It inspired me to capture my experiences, as well. It started me on the road to writing for no other reason than to just write. And write I have. Many of my past life experiences are written down, with a plethora more to go.

During my tenure as an airline pilot, I was privileged to have traveled to many places others can only dream of, or wish for. All on someone else’s dime. She was always there with me in spirit. Whenever I returned home from a trip, exhausted and, like a horse on a cattle drive, “Feeling like I had been rode hard and put away wet,” I would always, without fail, find a note or card from her. She had a knack of putting a smile on my face and making me chuckle. I would put down my suitcase and the old leather flight bag, and before I trekked upstairs to shower, I would read her note. Sometimes she would get carried away and write so much it would continue up one side of the margin, down the other and around to the back. It would make the tiredness and stress melt away.

She truly was and still is an inspiration to me. So, this first book is very much a part of her. Because of her I read. Because of her, I write.

Thank you, my Mentor, my Muse, My Aunt Anne, with an e.
Love Always, Billy

Blue Skys and Tailwinds
Captain Billy

11 Jul

Why the North American T-6 Texan?

North American T-6 Texan

North American Plant – Dallas Texas

Why not write a story about the glamor of the Fighters of WWII? The North American P-51 Mustang, The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, or the Vought F4U Corsair, to name a few?

Why the T-6 you might ask? Well, because…

The North American T-6/SNJ was the aircraft that all those pilots learned to fly BEFORE stepping into almost ANY aircraft in WWII and Korea.

It was, and still is, called the “Pilot Maker.” Even today, if you should be so inclined, and financially able, to purchase a million or multi-million-dollar War Bird, you will usually get some time in a T-6/SNJ.

Since there were no two-seat fighter/trainers back in the late 30s early 40s, an aircraft with the flight, takeoff and landing characteristics of a high performance aircraft was needed to train the pilots. The North American T-6 won the contract and fit the bill.

The T-6 Texan, nicknamed so because it was built in Dallas, Texas, “Just up the road a piece” from this writer’s home, went on to train pilots all over the globe. Many nations have trained their pilots with some variant of the “Pilot Maker.” It was the trainer used to train the infamous “Tuskegee Airman.” It was even slightly modified to become a Japanese aircraft in most of the war movies produced.

There were several variants used in early COunter INsurgency (COIN) roles, as some were equipped with “hard points,” or pylons for carrying weapons, as well as two wing-mounted machine guns. There was also a gun mounted just in front to the right of the pilot.

Some would call it the best airplane ever built.

I would encourage you to “Google” the T-6/SNJ or visit your library to learn more about this famous trainer aircraft.

As “The Adventures of Tommy the Texan” continues in this series, the reader will learn more about the T-6 and it’s flying characteristics. As we follow Captain Billy and Tommy as they take the all-important test flight, known as a “Shakedown.” As they visit a Formation Clinic, the Air Show Circuit at Sun-n-Fun and Oshkosh, and race in the T-6 Class at the famed Reno Air Races.

So, you see that the North American T-6/SNJ is indeed a special and important part of the training and education of pilots around the world. Both then and now.

Blue Skys and Tailwinds,
Captain Billy

06 Jul

The Method to my Madness

Or – Why was the book designed this way?

Author

Four years ago I was inspired to write a children’s book based on how I felt after my first experience flying in a North American SNJ, the Navy’s designation of a T-6 Texan. Through this Formation Clinic, I experienced for the first time the exuberance of a kid at Christmas. The excitement of a new flight experience. After all my years, totaling over 13,000 hours of flying time, it was like my first time being airborne. I wanted to share, and hopefully excite, and educate kids, of ALL ages.

My first attempt had left me wanting. I wrote it, but it begged the questions of where, when, why and how. Where did this story take place? Where did “Tommy” come from? What was the time frame? Why was I writing it and How would I both entertain as well as educate those who read it?

My background is teaching. Whether it be aviation, electrical, or other technical subjects. In fact, my son, David, has often been heard to say, “Dad, stop teaching.” Ask me the time, I’ll tell you how to build the watch. I have been teaching since the age of 21, in 1969, serving in Thailand with the Air Force; another story for another time. But I digress.

T6-Formation

This story of “Tommy the Texan” languished in my computer, my file cabinet, and my head. I finally decided to start from the beginning, to address where “Tommy” came from and how he met “Captain Billy.”

Even then, after writing it, I was left wanting for more. How do I teach about the T-6 and not get too technical, but gradually address aviation and flying? I also wanted to include subtle, but important life lessons within the story. Structure, organizational skills, neatness, comradery and friendships, to name a few. Co-operation between “Captain Billy” and the three people, Doug, JAC and Bobby Z, who help and are essential to the restoration and operation of “Tommy.” I wanted to show how it takes a team effort to accomplish this task.

Then there are the additional inserts at the back of the book. Taken from an actual WWII, 1945 U.S. Army Air Force Technical publication. An AN 01-60FE-1 Pilots Flight Operating Instruction Manual, or A-1. The information provided whets the appetite of young readers desire to learn more. They also serve as resources for parents to encourage and guide their young reader to delve deeper into the sources on the readers list. To search “Google” and find more. To look at the maps and the legends and learn about geography and the world of aviation navigation.

It is my goal to produce a series of books that not only entertains those of all ages, but will also be an interactive activity and educational adventure for a child and their parents to explore aviation together.

Blue Skys and Tailwinds
“Captain Billy”

03 Jul

Why Danbury Airport You Might Ask?

Danbury Airport

Photo Courtesy of Brenda Grover

The home of “Tommy the Texan” is a local airport located on the West side of a small New England City/Town. Danbury Municipal Airport, DXR, in Danbury Connecticut.

When I was very young, around 4 or 5, this small uncontrolled, now towered, airport became the focal point of my very existence. Dad would take me there on the weekends as part of our morning run to get me out of mom’s hair, sit me on the roof of our 1951 Chevrolet 2 door green coupe, so I could watch airplanes take off and land.

It was then, and for the most part still is, a small airport much like those all over rural America. It has two runways situated in somewhat of a bowl, surrounded by the hills on three sides. One facing East, 080, West, 260, and North, 350, and South, 170. Done so to avoid the hills as much as possible.

It was then and still is my “Mecca.” My home field, where I learned about Aviation and learned to fly. It was a time when kids, followed by their parents, could wander the old grass and uneven cracked and faded asphalt ramps as they gazed and dreamed of flight in so many types of aircraft. The Aeronca Champs, Piper Cubs, Pacers, Vagabonds and the ‘New” Tri-pacer. There were the Cessnas, 120s, 140s and 170s. And on occasion, the elusive Beechcraft Stagger Wing or Fairchild. I have many fond memories of those drives with my Father. My Mother never wanted me to fly.

I lived just about three miles from the field so a buddy of mine and I would take off on our bikes, a 26” Huffy in my case, and traverse the hills with our lunch in a brown paper bag, headed off to see what was new at the airport. There is a road that completely encircles the field so we could visit all four FBOs, or Fixed Base Operators, all but one of which were friendly. All were in the sales business, and had all the latest airplanes.

My buddy got himself hired on and was washing and sweeping the hangar for rides. Soon, I joined in. We rode the back seat of an Aeronca Champ at the (now defunct) Danbury School of Aeronautics. A precious thirty minutes in the air for a weekends worth of washing, waxing, fueling, and sweeping the hangar. We at times listened intently to the Instructors and others ‘Hangar Flying’ on their down time, while sitting in the white and green metal ‘Sea Shell’ chairs. The chairs were lined up along the front of the old round top roof, glass and cinderblock hangar. All at the age of 14.

So, you see it was only fitting that this series of stories of “The Adventures of Tommy the Texan and Captain Billy” should call Danbury Airport home. It is where it all began for me.

Blue Skys and Tailwinds,
Captain Billy