My Hero
For a long time flying had seemed so out of reach for me. I always knew there was a hole in my life, an empty place waiting to be filled with a “life passion”. It took me a while to find it, and perhaps that makes it all the more sweet, but from the day of my first ‘discovery flight,’ (when for the first time I was actually at the controls) the feelings of freedom and unexplainable love of flight have taken over my life. Now that flying has become one of my life’s great loves, I know why it took me so long to come to my passion.
I grew up in awe of my Grandfather’s plaques and model airplanes. They were always placed high on the shelves, out of the reach of curious hands, and in their rightful and honorable place. Flying, like the plaques and models, seemed so high on that shelf, just out of my reach. However, looking at them now, I know that the ultimate inspiration in my life and career is the owner of those plaques, Captain John Turner, my Grandpa.
Captain John Turner is a 25,000+ hour pilot, who at age 10 would leave his brownstone on W. 31st street in Manhattan and find his way out to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, where he would clean airplanes in exchange for rides around the city. After joining the Navy, a sympathetic officer helped get him off of the ill-fated USS Helena and down to Pensacola to earn his wings. During his career in the Navy he flew 2-seater fighters at Guadalcanal and the Battle of Midway. He also flew the wounded out of Guam before the conflict had even ended. He moved up through the ranks and began flying DC-3’s, 4’s, 5’s (for a short time), 6’s and on to the Super Constellation (‘Connies’ as he still lovingly refers to them). He flew as the ‘Connie’ Captain for Admiral Arthur W. Radford, and while his plane was out of service, he flew President Eisenhower from Singapore to Taipei. Upon his discharge he was recommended to Pratt & Whitney as a pilot and field engineer. While with Pratt & Whitney he became type-rated on the 757 and then oversaw delivery and maintenance for airlines that had purchased aircraft with PW engines. He lived in Mumbai while working under Air India and India Airlines, Tulsa while working under American Airlines, Yokota while working for Japan Airlines, Minneapolis where he oversaw the delivery of the first 757’s to Northwest Airlines, and then finally to PW Los Angeles (to be closer to his grandchildren). To this day, at age 86, I believe he could disassemble and reassemble any number of PW engines with his eyes closed.
I could go on and on about the career of a man whom I admire more than anyone in this world. As you can tell, his career stories are endless. But it’s not solely his career that defines him. He is a loving, caring and fiercely loyal individual. Although he will tell you aviation is his love, I know that above all, his dedication to his family has always been his first priority. He married a phenomenal woman, and together they raised another incredible pilot, my father (but that’s another story).
So no wonder it took me so long to come to flying…although aviation has always been a part of my life on some level, how could I ever place myself in a category shared by someone so honorable? Never once did he put himself up on that pedestal, it was I who put him there, along with his plaques, models and military honors; and it’s where he still sits for me, now and forever, as my hero. His loyalty continues to this day and it’s with his support that I pursue this career. Since I have begun flying I realize that the innate love I have for taking to the skies runs through the blood of both of us. It is something special we share, and long after he is gone, I will always carry a part of him with me as soon as I rotate and climb into the sky.
I grew up in awe of my Grandfather’s plaques and model airplanes. They were always placed high on the shelves, out of the reach of curious hands, and in their rightful and honorable place. Flying, like the plaques and models, seemed so high on that shelf, just out of my reach. However, looking at them now, I know that the ultimate inspiration in my life and career is the owner of those plaques, Captain John Turner, my Grandpa.
Captain John Turner is a 25,000+ hour pilot, who at age 10 would leave his brownstone on W. 31st street in Manhattan and find his way out to Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, where he would clean airplanes in exchange for rides around the city. After joining the Navy, a sympathetic officer helped get him off of the ill-fated USS Helena and down to Pensacola to earn his wings. During his career in the Navy he flew 2-seater fighters at Guadalcanal and the Battle of Midway. He also flew the wounded out of Guam before the conflict had even ended. He moved up through the ranks and began flying DC-3’s, 4’s, 5’s (for a short time), 6’s and on to the Super Constellation (‘Connies’ as he still lovingly refers to them). He flew as the ‘Connie’ Captain for Admiral Arthur W. Radford, and while his plane was out of service, he flew President Eisenhower from Singapore to Taipei. Upon his discharge he was recommended to Pratt & Whitney as a pilot and field engineer. While with Pratt & Whitney he became type-rated on the 757 and then oversaw delivery and maintenance for airlines that had purchased aircraft with PW engines. He lived in Mumbai while working under Air India and India Airlines, Tulsa while working under American Airlines, Yokota while working for Japan Airlines, Minneapolis where he oversaw the delivery of the first 757’s to Northwest Airlines, and then finally to PW Los Angeles (to be closer to his grandchildren). To this day, at age 86, I believe he could disassemble and reassemble any number of PW engines with his eyes closed.
I could go on and on about the career of a man whom I admire more than anyone in this world. As you can tell, his career stories are endless. But it’s not solely his career that defines him. He is a loving, caring and fiercely loyal individual. Although he will tell you aviation is his love, I know that above all, his dedication to his family has always been his first priority. He married a phenomenal woman, and together they raised another incredible pilot, my father (but that’s another story).
So no wonder it took me so long to come to flying…although aviation has always been a part of my life on some level, how could I ever place myself in a category shared by someone so honorable? Never once did he put himself up on that pedestal, it was I who put him there, along with his plaques, models and military honors; and it’s where he still sits for me, now and forever, as my hero. His loyalty continues to this day and it’s with his support that I pursue this career. Since I have begun flying I realize that the innate love I have for taking to the skies runs through the blood of both of us. It is something special we share, and long after he is gone, I will always carry a part of him with me as soon as I rotate and climb into the sky.
Total Comments 6
Comments
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Great story, and very motivational!Posted July 21st, 2008 at 10:18 by Ian J 
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Very cool. You are fortunate to have someone like Him near you to learn from and hear jis stories! I love to hear from those who have "been there" before me.Posted July 21st, 2008 at 12:03 by mooneyguy -
Very nice blog and obviously a GREAT family..Posted March 28th, 2009 at 09:37 by moegreen -
That was a great story. Thank you for sharing!Posted March 28th, 2009 at 13:02 by Douglas -
Awesome story and so perfectly describing someone who has affected your life in such good ways! Be proud of him, like I am of mine, they won't do it themselfes.Posted March 30th, 2009 at 01:52 by Cessna414JJB - You obviously have a great love for your grandfather and aviation. I think that's an excellent combination. Good luck with your career.
Posted September 8th, 2009 at 20:12 by t-cart 
