Kazuko Uramatsu jumps out of bed at 5 am, hustles to catch the morning train, transfers to a waiting scooter, zooms off to her office, catches her breath, straightens her tie and smiles. It’s time to teach over Tokyo.  At 42, Kazuko is one of four female flight instructors in all of Japan. In a culture where the woman is traditionally seen as housekeeper, mother, and maid, Kazuko is cut from a different kimono.  She loves flying and adores independence.…

In 1983, Mike McNeill ran into an “unreasonable customer.” As a captain on a a de Havilland Dash-7 aircraft, Mike was to make a routine flight from Killeen, Texas to Dallas. A 45-minute hop. Shortly after the airplane leveled off, a passenger came up into the cockpit and suggested a new destination: Cuba. When McNeill turned around and saw an Uzi machine gun leveled at his head, he knew he would need more than just flying skills to keep things…

In May 2001, I wrote an article for Plane & Pilot magazine, entitled Never too Old to Fly. A quarter century ago. Old stuff, right? In fact, just the opposite. Back then, interviewing people like Ralph Charles (the oldest pilot on the planet at 101), and Evelyn Johnson, an active instrument flight instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), well into her 90’s, was a game changer for me. These people were hot. They loved life and were beyond passionate. I…

United Airlines Flight 232 is cruising at 37,000 feet, when the crew is jolted by an explosion from the back of the plane. The number two engine has just blown apart, sending shrapnel into the fuselage, and totally disabling all three of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems.  The crew now have no means of controlling pitch nor bank. They have no flaps to slow the jet down for final approach. And even if they do get the airplane down on the…

It was a push. Taking a private airplane into South America at a time when drug cartels nearly controlled some countries and kingpins like Pablo Escobar reined supreme. However, our three-month goodwill expedition by private airplane seem to be graced with serendipity, good luck, and great people. In country after country, our “Espiritu de las Americas” (Spirit of the Americas) tour provoked good vibes. Flat broke but inspired The trip was inspired by a breathtaking photograph. I saw on the…

In 1968, our high school football team played Calaveras High, located in the mountain town of San Andreas, CA. The school boasted some big guys, and a championship record to boot.  At the time, I was a fairly underweight, 120-pound defensive end. Mr. Turner was our coach.  Calaveras decided to run a sweep around my end. A husky half-back was coming right at me, full speed. Unfortunately I got in the way. Our head-on collision nearly killed me. We both…