What can I say I love aviation and aviation history.
There's not a plane from the Wright Flyer to the latest advance in military or civil aviation I don't find fascinating in some way. I can honestly say that there is no plane I find ugly.
As far as where all this started, it most certainly started because I grew up on a Naval Air Station (China Lake) and had aircraft flying over my head from the very first minute of my life. And not just any aircraft -- I was a little kid in the 1960s when making a sonic boom was still a big deal. When many of the things we take for granted in aviation today were still being worked out and tested or not even thought of.. All that happened in the sky over my head at the Navy's secluded, secret air station where I grew up. Imagine as a child the sights and sounds that were going on all around, and the people - pilots, ground crew and scientists.
My education is in aviation, and I'm a licensed airframe and power plant technician which I obtained in the Navy. I still work with planes today. I'm a Federal employee involved with Naval Aviation. I enjoy my work, and while some days I don't want to get up (I'm tired, ya know!), I look forward to doing my part helping our Navy fly quality aircraft. My day-to-day job involves inspecting the maintenance work performed by the mechanics, electricians, metalsmiths, and other aviation related trades. Ensuring that the work meets certain quality standards. Most of the guys that do the work are very professional, and for the most part, make that part of my job fairly easy.
They say write about something you know about or familiar with. My passion and love for aviation history lead me to research not just the planes but the pilots as well. I have a great respect for the pilots of WW II, this led me to write a remembrance piece about Jack R Warren which was published on Bud Anderson's website. Bud is a World War II triple ace. I wanted people to give a thought to what these men went through, and also think about the lives that were lost.
When I started thinking about writing a novel, it was very natural for me to use WW II as the background canvas. In some way I felt I was honoring the pilots that also never came home. So you could imagine how happy I was when Until My Last Breath was published. I do not think I will ever tire of writing about aviation, for one thing it is a true love and also I believe we should never forget.
My love for aviation has also led to building model airplanes. I find it relaxing, I love the challenge of copying the real thing in miniature. It' s really hard to explain why I do it; but just ask any model builder the question of why they love building models, and they will probably tell you the same.
My love for the history of aviation has lead me to build models of the planes of yester year and today.
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