“What A Lovely Day For An Airplane Ride”
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YOU SEE THE AIRPORT DON'T YOU CAPTAIN? Puerto Vallarta provided lots of fun and entertaining moments while there, and some times while leaving. Our favorite trip was scheduled to depart Puerto Vallarta at 0900. The first stop on our way back to Phoenix was Mazatlan, just 35 minutes up the beautiful coast in our fast bright yellow DC-9 jet. Yes “Bright Yellow“. The owner was of course “Howard Hughes” and the Present was “Russell Stevenson”. More on Hughes Airwest later. The good thing about flying in Mexico, then was, no airspeed restrictions at any altitude, other than around the airports. We enjoyed zooming up the coast at 3000'msl. The air was so smooth that morning and the visibility was unlimited. Our airspeed indicator showed 330 kts. The coastline just rush by. Captain Merle and I had flown this trip many times and were very familiar with this route, the approach and the airport. Mazatlan airport had a single East West runway. Arriving from the South we normally made a right turn, South of the airport for a left downwind approach to the West runway. Capt. Merle and I were not up late the night before and well rested. The weather was clear with no traffic en-route. This was truly, “A Lovely Day For An Airplane Ride”. Capt. Merle was flying this first leg of our return trip to Phoenix. He had such a great touch with the controls of our airplane. His attitude was relaxed and confident. It was a pleasure for the entire crew to be flying with him. So, there we were, zooming up the coast at 0925. Mazatlan airport was coming into view 25 miles ahead. I give the tower a call. They reported no other traffic in the area and cleared us to land to the West as expected. It was a quiet Mexico morning. There was no conversation in the cockpit or on the radio. The DC-9 was quite, I was quiet and Capt. Merle was quiet. All was good. I glanced over at my Captain, a very capable 30,000+ hour pilot. An Ex-Naval Aviator who retired as a full commander from the Naval Reserve. He was not using the autopilot to fly this leg. Both of those experienced hands are on the yoke and his eagle eyes are looking straight ahead at the airport. A minute or so passes before I glance over again. I am anticipating his reduction in cruise power and calling for me to do the "Decent Check List". No command yet. I guess he is going to show me something new on this approach. I just wait in anticipation. We are crossing the water at 7 miles per minute. Airport now just under 15 miles away, I thought.
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About the Book
The author grew up in the Cincinnati, OH area and in Kentucky. He used to play in his grandmas barn, and would jump down on bales of hay. That was the beginning to, “let’s learn to fly”. It is said, “you can’t teach a dog new tricks”, but being so young, he tried to learn them all, tricks that is. This book is an offering of many of his accomplishments in the flying arena along with excerpts from some of the funniest statements by many of his pilot friends. You might say some are almost like short stories in themselves. So much happens during the flying period of time for a pilot. The responsibility and learning factor is huge. Most will say “it is all worth it”. The book, hopefully, will bring laughter & a time to relax to all of who choose to read it. ENJOY!!
About the Author
William Lea is truly a “Fly Boy”. After joining the Army in 1957, he got into the 101st Airborne (jump school), then there was cropdusting, flight instructing, helicopter, commercial and airline. You might say flying was in his soul. He is witty and very enthusiastic in what he does.