Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot [Paperback]

George Flavell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2006

A lifelong love of airplanes and flying but a deep-seated belief that I had missed the education I would need and not wealthy enough to proceed and perhaps not physically perfect enough left me in awe of those who could walk that walk. These thoughts disappeared in an instant one-day when I saw a sign that said, “Learn to Fly.” My dream came to life and I grabbed it with all my life forces. I lived for ground school, every aviation manual I could find, for every flight lesson, for every aviation conversation. I succeeded far beyond my dreams.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Adventure has been a big thing in my life. It was exciting to join the Boy Scouts and go away for two weeks every year to an island in the Delaware River. It was exciting to join the US Air Force. It was exciting to go to the Far East for two years. It was exciting to be working for United Airlines as a machinist. It was exciting to learn to fly. It was exciting to become a co-pilot and more exciting to become a captain. Exciting to fly big piston engine aircraft and to fly four engine Jets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Infinity Publishing (April 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0741431300
• ISBN-13: 978-0741431301
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,394,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, interesting and fun....., May 18, 2006

By 

Bruce J. Blue (The Woodlands, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot (Paperback)

I've had the pleasure of knowing Capt. George Flavell for over twenty-five years. I was one of those military trained DC-9 pilots who flew for New York Air in LaGuardia and later transitioned to Continental Airlines in Houston that he mentions in his book. I also served in both line and management capacities at both airlines. His aviation exploits have always been fascinating to me for a couple of reasons.

First, his background and job experiences are without equal. Secondly, I've always been astounded by his ability to remember people, places and events from many years ago like they occurred yesterday afternoon. Most pilots remember momentous events or challenges that have occurred in their careers but few can associate those events with exact names, times, places and dates. George can...and that's one of the reasons that his book is so enjoyable to read.

His ability to regale the reader with fascinating stories is outstanding and makes this book fun to read whether the reader is a pilot, flight attendant, gate agent, mechanic or just an aviation enthusiast. I know several of the people mentioned in his book and I've heard of many of the others. George knows literally thousands of pilots at every level of the profession. I think each and everyone of them will enjoy his effort at documenting a remarkable and enjoyable career. George's book is well worth the small investment, just for the trip down memory lane.

I'm actually looking forward to "Adventure.....part deux" since I know he has many, many more interesting stories that are yet untold.

Capt. Bruce J. Blue, Continental Airlines (Ret.). New York Air former Director of Pilot Training, B-737 Fleet Chief Pilot

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely candid portrait of a life and career devoted to skillfully handling airplanes, November 5, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot (Paperback)

Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot: My Story as a High School Dropout Who Succeeded by Doing What I Dreamed is the straightforward life story of a pilot who achieved his dream of earning a living through flying for decades, until his retirement in 1995. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate his no-nonsense story of living a pilot's day-to-day life, the pressures, the all-too-minimal pay, close calls with disaster, the experience of handling different types of aircraft, and much more. An extremely candid portrait of a life and career devoted to skillfully handling airplanes, especially recommended for anyone contemplating a similar occupational path for their own life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, August 23, 2006

By 

Bradley Springstead (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot (Paperback)

George's book is very well written. Interesting to read about the older planes and their means of navigation. The training from the old days to today was not changed much it seems also. A very inspiring book for the novice pilot to airline captains.
Great Job!

Brad Springstead-ATP