V1-ROTATE
An action novel about airplanes and the people who fly them
by
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V1-ROTATE
Chapter 1
There was a brilliant flash of lightning, so close that you could smell the distinct odor of ozone, followed by a deafening roar of thunder. The heavens burst at the seams and buckets of rain poured down on the streets accompanied by occasional hailstones the size of mothballs. The weather certainly did little to increase his confidence and allay the feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. Ryan Starnes, recently Lt. Starnes of the United States Army, was Gateway International Airline's newest first officer. He was having a bad case of self-induced jitters. Ryan had worked hard for the opportunity to fly for this airline, and he wanted to make a good first impression. As a pilot he was still very green and inexperienced. Little did he know how thoroughly his ability would be tested before this night was over.
As he pulled his old Chevy convertible into the parking lot for airline employees, another huge downpour of rain, accompanied by more lightning and thunder met him with full force. He grabbed his brand new, leather flight bag from the car and made a dash for operations. The experienced eye could look at a flight bag and pretty well judge the number of hours a pilot had flown, by reading the gouges and scars. Ryan felt anyone could look at his youthful face and new uniform and realize that he was still on probation, a period of up to one year for most airlines.
Ryan was usually a very self confident person. Now, try as he might, he could not muster the bravado he had shown as a "hot shot" military pilot. This was his first line trip after completing the challenging initial training program. Crew scheduling had assigned him first officer duty with Captain Michael McGraw. The company rumor mill, which all of the new first officers paid close attention to, had the skinny on all of the old line captains. The word was that Captain McGraw, although well respected as a professional pilot, intimidated his copilots. All dreaded flying trips with him, especially young first officers. No one seemed to know anything of the captain's personal life. In the last five years since his wife had died, he had become anti-social, and did not participate in company social functions. He seemed to have no close friends, at least with the airline. What prompted his behavior was anyone's guess. According to a number of senior captains, who were qualified to make such observations, he had a reputation as the consummate professional pilot. Captain McGraw having joined the airline shortly after WW II, was number two on the pilot seniority list. By all rights, with his experience and time, he should have been running the company. He'd had the opportunity on several occasions for promotion to a management position, but by personal choice, he chose to remain a line captain.
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About the Book
“Gateway 329 heavy, you’re cleared into position runway 30, cleared for takeoff.” “Roger Tower, 329 heavy is rolling.” As Captain Michael McGraw maneuvered the heavy jet into position on the runway and advanced the throttles, the aircraft began its headlong dash into the sky. First Officer Ryan Starnes reported “Airspeed alive 60 knots,” As the aircraft continued to accelerate along the narrow runway, Ryan continued to call out the speeds until they reached, “V-1 and then VR rotate speed. With deft backpressure applied to the control yoke by the able captain, the heavy jet rose gracefully into the sky.
First officer Ryan Starnes began his maiden flight for Gateway International Airlines some months earlier with the “tough as nails” Captain Michael McGraw. If his luck of the draw wasn’t bad enough, he also had to deal with a menacing storm brewing. Ryan had heard many rumors as to what to expect from the notorious Capt. McGraw; he would learn that most were true.
Years ago, paths crossed and left deep imprints in their lives. Explore the intimate details of the lives of two very strong willed and stubborn men. Antagonists, united by their chosen profession, bonded by a fateful event, the secrets that lurk beneath the surface will undoubtedly change their lives. Share their adventures, their loves and challenges in the world of aviation. Meet Connie, the poised, sophisticated, sensuous woman whose mistake early in life had a profound effect on the lives of both men. Get to know the lovely Melissa. So incredibly beautiful that most men treated her like a rare china doll. Melissa shared their love of flying, but made it her personal rule never to date pilots. That is until she met Ryan. Ryan definitely had a way with the women. Somehow he knew from the first time he met her that Melissa was different.
Read about the deceptions, the intrigue, the sexual trysts and the fast-paced lives of the crews of Gateway International Airlines
Deliciously captivating, a must read!
Statement of fact: This is an original work of fiction by the author. Any similarity, likeness, or resemblance to any person or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. First copyright January 2006
About the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
To the reader, the author’s long time love affair with airplanes and flying should be obvious. At the young age of twelve, he was employed as a “Ramp Rat.” His duties included servicing, parking, washing and waxing airplanes. All of his wages went into flying lessons and he soloed a PA11 Super Cub on his sixteenth birthday.
Upon graduation from high school he joined the Army and had a twenty-year military career, first as an enlisted artilleryman then to Officer Candidate School where upon graduation he received a commission as a 2LT and soon thereafter achieved his dream of becoming a military pilot. He attended flight school at Gary AFB and later Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His first flying assignment after flight school was in Korea as an artillery observation pilot and general’s aid. In Vietnam he flew with a combat assault helicopter company, flying the venerable UH-1-H “Huey” lift ship, but that’s another story.
He retired from the military with the rank of LTC at the age of thirty-eight. He tried his hand at other business, but was always drawn back to the aviation profession because of his love for flying. It seemed natural that his first book of fiction would be about flying and the interesting people involved.