On the Wings of a Sleepless Knight is the story of my singular passion for flying starting from the first moment I saw an episode of "Sky King" to beginning my pilot's lessons at twelve to flying covert missions in war-torn middle eastern countries, Columbia and communist Russia. As the orchestra swelled into a crescendo a silver F-104 starfighter streaked through the black and white sky and the voice of John Gillespie Magee Jr. read the words of "High Flight." He described leaving the surly bonds of earth. As the poem ...
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On the Wings of a Sleepless Knight is the story of my singular passion for flying starting from the first moment I saw an episode of "Sky King" to beginning my pilot's lessons at twelve to flying covert missions in war-torn middle eastern countries, Columbia and communist Russia. As the orchestra swelled into a crescendo a silver F-104 starfighter streaked through the black and white sky and the voice of John Gillespie Magee Jr. read the words of "High Flight." He described leaving the surly bonds of earth. As the poem ended and the old TV turned to the fuzzy snow that played when the broadcast was off the air, I knew. I knew without a doubt that I had to fly. Little did I know the trouble, adventure and antics that dream would end up getting me into. That was where my story began. As a young man, I cared only about one thing. That singular focus served me well as I got my license at seventeen years old and shortly after began teaching others to fly as a senior in high school and chartering flights around the country. With each new facet of my flying career, the rewards became greater while the risks grew more dangerous. My flying career took off where "Air America" ended. After countless near-crashes in large jets and cargo planes, I was recruited into a sketchy company that flew under the radar performing top secret trips that the government would likely deny. I faced certain danger as I flew bombs into the war-torn Middle East, completed covert missions to gain intel on communist Russia, and looked death in the eye and came out the other side. This memoir details my journey as a pilot from first learning to fly to retiring my wings and everything in between. The title of the book, On the Wings of a Sleepless Knight comes first from the real Royal Order of the Sleepless Knights who were a group of knights who were sworn to protect honor, justice and property rights during the Middle Ages. Freight pilot's adopted the name along with the moniker Fr8dogs because the job we did so closely mirrored that of the real Sleepless Knights as the world went to bed, we went to work to do the jobs that no one else wanted. Freight pilots are one of the most respected pilots in the industry for the hardships they face and the dangerous tasks they are asked to do. I originally got the idea to pen my memoir from my good friend Buzz Aldrin who after completing several memoirs himself, told me that my life was worth sharing. My life has taken me through many experiences that most people only dream of or may have never even heard about. I worked as a flight instructor, commercial airline pilot, a salesman, cargo pilot, a covert operative, and cheated death more times than I can count. During that time I learned valuable lessons, gained insights and had a lot of fun laced with accomplishments and fear that I hope to share with my readers through my memoir. I was one of the lucky ones that got to live my dream. I worked with a professional editor to polish and perfect my manuscript.
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