So Father’s Day is here, and I figured I would write an article about my dad. He has been the inspiration for many of the things I have done in my life.
Born in Canada, he came to the United States at 15. He graduated from high school in Reno and joined the Army, where he was an armorer for a mechanized infantry unit. He left the Army before the start of the Vietnam War and used the GI Bill to advance his flying career. He met my mother while working as a flight instructor, then worked overseas as a pilot (he’s also an A&P and IA). He flew Cessna 310s and Douglas DC-3s in Saudi Arabia, more 310s in Chad and other locations in central Africa, and Bell 47s in Lebanon. He also worked as a bush pilot in Canada, flying Cessna 180s and 185s in remote areas.
I wanted to recount a few of the aviation-related incidents he’s dealt with, which explains some of my extreme admiration for him.
– While flying a Beech 18 across the Atlantic Ocean, adverse weather and icing forced him and the rest of the crew to descend to a very low altitude. Not sure if he was going to have to ditch the airplane, he had the co-pilot inspect the emergency equipment that had been put in the back of the plane by their employer. Finding that all of it was labeled “for training use only,” they decided to push on, and successfully reached their destination.
– Having been hired to drop leaflets over Beirut, he was returning to the airport when the passenger in his Bell 47G3B1 threw a cardboard box out of the helicopter. The box hit the tail rotor, which my dad felt through the controls, but there were no other effects. Upon landing, they discovered that the tab on the tail rotor (which serves to indicate damage) had been bent backwards 180 degrees.
– Immediately after takeoff, the right engine of his Turbo 310 died (the cause was later determined to be a fuel line problem). The flight instructor in the right seat said he didn’t think they would make it back on the ground safely, but my dad got the plane turned around and landed without incident.
I could go on for a while with other incidents, but I think you get the point. Oh, and he built us a cabin in Alaska in the middle of winter (some photos here). He once had to shoot a bear from about five feet away, but that was in Canada, not Alaska. He turned 70 this year, but just a few years ago, he and a friend went on a snowmobile trip north of the Arctic Circle to recover a wrecked airplane. Yes, in the middle of winter. Yes, he’s a badass.
Let’s not forget the “little things,” either – teaching me how to fish, how to hold a baseball bat, how to drive a stick shift, how to fly an airplane, how to safely maneuver a small boat, how to work on cars (and airplanes and boats). And, as it’s quite relevant to this blog, he took me shooting for the first time – a 12ga side by side shotgun, a .357 Magnum revolver, and a .303 bolt action rifle – although his attempt to “scare me away from guns” as a child by having me shoot really powerful (for a 5 year old) firearms clearly did not work.
I always manage to be at loggerheads with him about something, but I always have respect for him and what he’s done and how he’s raised me, and I’ll always love him.
Thanks, Dad.
Great to read, I am sure your Dad appreciates this on Fatheres day. I have just returned from taking 90 year old dad out for lunch, he was on top form as someone had given him an old (1954) football programme with a photo of the Town team with him in goal!
You dad sounds like a man’s man… a man or respect and honor… Happy Father’s Day!
Not to opine too much philosophically or politically, but I really believe the lack of a quality father figure in so many homes today has a far greater impact on our country and society than many realize…
Dann in Ohio
Well written. Hope your old man has a nice relaxing day; which from the sounds of will include changing some engine oil, skinning a few deer, and splitting a cord of wood; while chewing on a galvanized nail 🙂
Boys are supposed to be at loggerheads with their Dads. Don’t let it get in the way of talking to him though. I did and he passed away before we could reconcile. He managed to get some good lessons into me, but even after all the arguments and head butting; I still miss him after 20 years 🙂
Blessed be our fathers! 🙂
The truth is it’s a very nice story. It is clear that your father was a very brave man and lover of risk and adventure. Something that influenced you in choosing your future profession. The truth is that in my case I did not have much luck because my father died when I was 8 years. I can only spend very little time with him, but all that time was wonderful for me.
He sounds like a great guy.
You left out the one where he hit a goose with a 180.
Haha! I didn’t know you read my blog. That was going to be the fourth story.
Yeah, I stop by from time to time to check it out.
Your dad has certainly had an interesting life so far with plenty of cool jobs/experiences. I think it shows what kind of life you can have when you have the guts and smarts enough to “go your own way” and get by on your own wits and hard work instead of doing what everyone else is doing. Pass on thanks to him, again, for his part in my career.
I will. By the way, I looked up to you a lot when I was growing up (still do).
People are very lucky to have a ‘man’s man,’ for a father. Like you, I’ve had a good experience in retrospect with my upbringing for a lot the same reasons you listed. Quite a few people I know have not had the good fortune of having responsible, knowledgeable fathers and it certainly shaped their lives negatively – the worst of it where they inherit poor moral values because that’s all they knew growing up. So if anyone had a good upbringing, as my dad put it, ya’d better, “kiss his ass.” 😛
Odd how it works out, my dad was not a good dad, at all. Just now getting to be an ok granddad but still kept at an arms distance. You either learn from the mistakes made with you or you pass them on.
I certainly haven’t been perfect – I’ve lost my way a few times – but I think my dad did a great job with me, and if I end up with kids, I will try to be as good as he was.
🙂
Great read….thanks for sharing. Hug your Dad every chance you get…..he deserves it.
Very well said. It’s so nice to hear a son appreciate his father and all that he has done. NICE job Andrew!
I came across this browsing through aviation blogs, and I have to say, those are some incredible flying stories about your father. It sounds like he knew how to fly an airplane at a level above what most people achieve. And that he managed to also be a father figure to admire is a pretty amazing achievement.
– Anders