Let’s go get some gas at 30,000 feet-

Ever wonder what it’s like to take off in a B-52 bomber? Let’s give it a try on paper from one who remembers hundreds of these takeoffs.

We are now lined up on over two miles of straight bone white concrete know as a runway with all eight engines running at idle. My hands are large so I can comfortably wrap them around all eight throttle knobs. This particular B-52, the (H) model, is the most advanced in its series and requires a thrust gate so the overpowered TF-33 Pratt Whitney turbines don’t blow off the wings on cold day take offs. Since the day is cool on this particular flight we will only use 85% available thrust during takeoff roll. The gate is set accordingly as I gradually push the stalk of levers forward giving the turbines time to spool up.

As we begin our roll a slight push of your body into the injection seat is felt. On the ground the massive wings slope downward due to fuel load and sheer size. They are supported by small wingtip landing gear that hide in the wheel wells at “gear up.”  The planes appearance on the ground is ominous and ugly. The large tires directly under the slim fuselage begin a “lump- lump” rhythm as they roll over the tar filled seams of the concrete runway. Today we are relatively heavy at 191,000 pounds so our speed will be higher at liftoff. The “lump- lump” quickens as we accelerate to liftoff. At 150 knots on the airspeed indicator we begin to pull back the yoke that features the Boeing logo on it as the aircraft climbs in a strange nose down attitude. In the cockpit it is not noticeable, but to the observer on the ground the angle is visually unnatural. This strange angle is due to the large deflection of the massive flaps and the wind resistance on the chubby wheel trucks. Shortly after becoming airborne and over the next few seconds the big aluminum bird undergoes a stylish metamorphosis.

When the high wing bomber rotates and is supported by the wings rather than the wheels the flexible wings rotate 12 feet at the tips. No longer sloping downward the positive dihedral brings the wings slightly higher than the top of the fuselage. The extreme wing sweep of the BUF (affectionately referring to a B52 as a “big ugly flying” machine) begins to resemble a svelte science fiction war bird from a futuristic movie. This plane was designed in 1955 and it is still impressively sleek in the air. Once the gear and flaps are retracted the airplane assumes a more normal nose up rate of climb. This is a B-52H and its power is awesome. The climb-out is swift and smooth.

Today’s flight will be fourteen hours long so we need to get some gas to fly for that duration. The large wheel mass of the B52 does not allow it to take off at its maximum gross weight since the weight spread over the larger tires is not distributed evenly enough to meet runway strength. In other words, at max gross weight the wheels would crush the runway. We always take off very light. Today’s takeoff weight is less than half the maximum gross weight of the plane. Twenty minutes after takeoff we rendezvous with a KC 135 tanker from another Air Force Base to grab our fuel. The KC 135 was designed to be a refueling platform for numerous military aircraft. We are 1000 feet below the tanker as we initially fly a racetrack pattern to ease up under its belly. The KC 135 (a Boeing 707 modified) is no small plane itself and grows larger as we close up from below.  The series of lights on the back belly of the KC 135 begin to light up as we close to within twenty feet under the tanker. As I look up I wave to the Boomer (person who works the fuel control arm). He can see my hands on the throttle quadrant from his vantage point. The Boomer actually lies on his chest as he maneuvers the refueling boom to our receptacle. During refueling I am in constant radio contact with the boomer.

The receptacle on the BUF is located on the top front of the fuselage just behind the pilot’s positions. The boom from the KC-135 is telescopically lengthened by hydraulics by the Boomer.  In addition, the boom itself has two wings on opposite sides that are controlled by the Boomer during aerial refueling. This is for enhanced stability. We fly up to about fifteen feet under the KC 135 belly looking for green lights on the indicators. Once in place the Boomer lowers the fuel arm down into our receptacle. Today the air is smooth and the Boomer welcomes us with a squirt of fuel on the windshield. Jet fuel evaporates almost immediately so there is no fire danger. Nonetheless, the new co-pilot is startled by the practical joke. When we are hooked up and the green “in cockpit” light is illuminated the fuel gauge begins to go in reverse towards full.  Another aircraft metamorphosis occurs as fuel is imported into the waiting fuel cells. The aircraft will gobble up over 37,000 gallons of gas. Jet fuel weighs about 6.7 pounds per gallon so that equates to an additional 250,000 pounds of weight that must be supported by the large wings. The airplane morphs from 190,000 pounds to its max gross weight of  440,000 pounds in just over twenty minutes on the boom. As the aircraft gains weight the flight characteristics change dramatically as the B-52 becomes as sluggish as a human who just devoured a large pizza. This is due to the slower speed used during refueling. We call it sloppy. The control surfaces such as ailerons, rudder and elevators require more force in order to command the aircraft to do what you want it to; it becomes physically difficult to fly in formation.

After gas up the boom is disconnected and retracted and the KC 135 climbs as we descend and accelerate. Both of us proceed towards our separate missions.  Ahead of us is over thirteen airborne hours with various maneuvers and mission requirements. As I glance out the left cockpit window I can see the billowing ice particles directly behind the jet exhaust forming miles of contrails at my altitude. As day drifts to night we settle in for our day at the office.

At the ripe old age of twenty five I flew the venerable B 52 H. The “H” model is the only class still flying from classifications A through H. Today about 90 BUFs are still flying. Their mission is shorter and totally different than ours back in the days of Vietnam and the Cold War. Fathers and their sons have at times flown the B-52 and I am certain grandsons and granddaughters will follow as this aircraft continues to fly new missions credibly. Up we go into the wild blue yonder.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog as much as I did writing it. If you like the style and content I invite you to visit Amazon or Kindle and download or buy “Poison Pill in Paradise” and soon (4 weeks) “Mayor of the Skies.” Thanks for visiting.

 Poison Pill in Paradise is available for purchase at Amazon.com. click here

“If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive my e-newsletter at http://stephengravett.com/ – Then enter your e-mail address above the SUBSCRIBE box and follow the prompts.  I’ll be sending out information periodically about new BLOGS. book releases, book events and signings and special offers.”

Sincerest Regards,

Steve Gravett

As I tweet, like and browse I find more and more INDIE authors who have confidence that the books they have written will all be best sellers. An INDIE is an independent author publishing in the electronic media. I feel the same way about my novels. What keeps this rather large group of people going? What is it then that motivates a person to spend five to twelve months typing a storyline of ninety to one hundred thousand words in hopes of selling their books to thousands of people knowing the odds are thin that they will get a promising look from a big name literary agent or a publisher? It is partly due to one’s love of the craft no matter what; but still five to twelve months?

I think everyone out there who writes a book and goes through the diligent process of publishing their work is highly motivated and continually optimistic. They are also to be congratulated. The process of starting and writing a novel is probably driven more by motivation than optimism, but when the final proof is printed for public consumption, optimism takes over as the INDIE starts the grueling task of marketing the book. Now the task of selling your work over the various social networks (inexact at best) and through book fairs and guest signings begins. This requires a little more than optimism. It requires hard work; as much work as writing the book in the first place. Evening after evening and weekend after weekend in front of the computer screen making new friends with many people like you who are aspiring writers themselves. But it can be done.

John Locke and Amanda Hocking have accomplished what most of us aspire to do when we penned our first book. They have reached the status of INDIE best sellers and members of the coveted “one million” e-books sold club. The INDIE can no longer be called a vanity published author. Well, he or she could be, but it would not be accurate.  Publishing your work on Amazon and Kindle has made fame and recognition attainable to many talented people who otherwise might go unnoticed. When Lock and Hocking validate this statement we all become a little more optimistic. That optimism gets us out of a rut or increases our already dedicated effort to do the same as they have. Soon one of us will join that elite club and others will become optimistic and driven to their success. This cycle will repeat itself many times. As one INDIE succeeds we all benefit.

Hocking and Locke were so certain that they would succeed, that they continued writing more and more books before any became best sellers. Even as their first books struggled to sell, they kept writing and stayed optimistic. Their marketing efforts eventually brought them success. Once they went viral on the Internet and on the social networks the dominoes began falling their way and their success was assured. For Locke after six or seven books his momentum sped towards “one million” sold. For Hocking it was a few more before she hit one million. I admire their success, but I also admire the work they put into their success. They deserve it. When they succeed, we all succeed. Hard work and motivation got them to start and finish their books, but optimism kept them going book after book until success reached their doorstep. INDIE writers stay optimistic your day will come.

I hope you enjoy this blog. It is meant to showcase my style as a writer as well as being informative. I have completed two novels to date and I have started a third book in the Randall Penn series. Poison Pill in Paradise was launched in the summer of 2011 and is selling well. My recently completed book called Mayor of the Skies will hit Amazon and Kindle in about five to six weeks. If you enjoyed this blog, please leave your comments. If you enjoyed my writing style I would be flattered if you read Poison Pill in Paradise. Thanks for visiting.

 Poison Pill in Paradise is available for purchase at Amazon.com. click here

“If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive my e-newsletter at http://stephengravett.com/ – Then enter your e-mail address above the SUBSCRIBE box and follow the prompts.  I’ll be sending out information periodically about new BLOGS. book releases, book events and signings and special offers.”

All the best, Stephen Gravett.

I have never seen more Doctors, Lawyers, Judges and ex-politicians on television than I have in the last few years. Ex-athletes as sportscasters don’t count. That has occurred for eons. Of course many of these professionals turned TV hosts are on daytime TV. TiVo has solved that problem for everyone who is not retired and wants to get in on the action.

Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz certainly must have been good Doctors, but think how much more they have learned on air with a staff and producers that can access any fact in minutes. Working for a producer doing new shows every day is much more demanding than working for patients. These Docs are quite camera friendly and seem to adapt well to the nuances of live TV; including pauses for commercials. Their message is popular and it seems that they here to stay.

Then there is Doctor Jerry Punch who is a track side announcer for NASCAR. Being a NASCAR fan I can attest to his abilities. He’s extremely knowledgeable about his craft; auto racing. This ex-assistant coach under Lou Holtz graduated from Med School and for a short time worked as an emergency room physician before getting hired by ESPN. On two occasions at tracks where he was working as the announcer he was required to use his medical skills where drivers sustained injuries from crashes and needed immediate medical attention.

Of course there are all the female lawyers on FOX news that analyze every detail of every fact that gets the attention of the news editor. These are beautiful women, knowledgeable in the law, yet they have decided to seek fame and fortune in TV. The most notable lawyer on TV is Greta Van Susteren. Her job interview with FOX lasted as long as the OJ trial.

Then we have the parade of Judges whose shows air from a courtroom. Personally I feel sorry for the poor defendants that not only go down in flames most of the time, but do so in front of millions of witnesses in TV Land. That’s expensive moral HAM.

Ex-Politician Mike Huckabee has found a nice niche on FOX news. His soft Southern style and friendly smile belie the usual stereotype of most politicians we see today.

What conclusions have I drawn from this diverse group of professionals that strayed into the small screen from other high paying professions? I believe deep down we are all HAMS looking for a modicum of fame. I would love to have my own show and pontificate and profess. Apparently the idea of us all being HAMS has not gone unnoticed. Reality TV is dominating the ratings. Every kind of reality you can think of has been made into a TV show: housewives, pawn shops, pickers, celebrities, musicians, car mechanics, realtors, interior designers, contractors, wood workers, company owners and many more.

We live in a world where so much information is available literally at our finger tips that we crave more and more information to feed our habit. Because of this demand Hollywood (and New York) has developed the reality entertainment we want. This phenomenon has produced a country of HAMS and unusual TV stars. I admit it; I want to be a HAM too.

This blog is meant to be fun and informative and to showcase my writing style as an author. Poison Pill in Paradise is my latest novel and is for sale on Amazon. Please follow me on twitter @randallpenn. You may also e-mail me at randallpenn@stephengravett.com. I hope you have enjoyed this story.

 Poison Pill in Paradise is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

“If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive my e-newsletter at http://stephengravett.com/ – Then enter your e-mail address above the SUBSCRIBE box and follow the prompts.  I’ll be sending out information periodically about new BLOGS. book releases, book events and signings and special offers.”

Sincerest Regards,
Steve Gravett

It’s a simple statement that says it all, but only scratches the surface when spoken. Thinking back over the past half century is almost as exciting as looking ahead; for some you say yes but not for everyone. Yes it is true that many would like to forget. For me it has been an up and down adventure and one that I could never have imagined.

The fabled statement that comes to mind goes like this, “if you fail to plan you have planned to fail.” Perhaps, but that may matter more for some than for others. We all have seen young adults on their parent’s career paths, most are successful, and some are not. Ninety five percent are bored and looking for that missing “thing” they secretly dreamed of but knew it was never in their plan. Don’t get me wrong, the world needs planners. But sometimes even the best laid plans are side tracked for reasons beyond our control.

My life has had such a course correction, many in fact. But I would not change a thing. I never had much self-esteem as a young child. But I should have. I was handsome, athletic, funny, lots of common sense but very insecure. I partied hard in Ft. Lauderdale during my youth, a town in the 60’s and 70’s beyond great for growing up. It had beaches, boating, diving, the weather and the tan young girls. Ft. Lauderdale had it all. None of us had time to think about what we wanted to do – there was no plan. My senior year of high school I was fairly popular mostly for my athletics. I was the MVP of the basketball team that went to the state final four for the first time in twenty years for our school. I wish I had known how special those times were so I could have savored them more fully. The last two years of high school my self-esteem was temporarily put on hold – no real issues. The moment I graduated from high school though that part of my life was closed like a chapter in a book. The next chapter was college and I was ill prepared for my freshman year. After one semester I nearly failed out, left school and came back to Ft. Lauderdale with my tail between my legs and my self-esteem at near zero.

You guessed it, I needed a plan. But what to do? I loved aviation and my friend had a plane. His father was a Captain flying for Eastern Airlines. I talked to his dad, flew some more with my friend and decided this was for me. Six months later I enrolled in a two year program at our local junior college that had an aviation course to train students to become commercial pilots. My plan was to be an airline pilot. I studied hard and made the dean’s list every semester. When I graduated with a two year degree I applied to every airline. No joy. The standard line was, “we are only hiring military pilots.” How do I become a military pilot I asked? All you need is a college degree, 20/20 vision and some brains. I had two of the three, so I modified my plan (it’s okay to modify a plan to reach the aforementioned goal). I enrolled in a university, studied business and flew a little. Because my plan was going well, I was highly motivated. But, my lingering lack of self-esteem was still giving me nightmares of failing. Again I made the dean’s list every semester, I had figured out how to study. But, even my last semester, making all A’s, I still had nightmares of somehow not graduating. Sound familiar? But I did graduate, and with honors; off to the military I went.

The military for me was a life changer, especially OTS (officer training school). It taught me things someone else saw in me that I never saw in myself. This was in the plan, but not exactly what I expected- it was better. My pilot training was hard work. Flying all day and academics at night was like being back in college again. Ten months after starting pilot’s training I graduated with my wings ready to ship off to my new squadron assigned to fly the venerable B-52 bomber. The plan was on track. From this point on I never doubted my self-esteem or my confidence. The United States Air Force had cured me.

After four years in the Air Force I was released from the service early when the Vietnam War closed out. Pilots were expensive and I was raring to get to the airlines with my military flying experience and finish my plan. It was now within my grasp. But, the airlines were not doing well and over 850 pilots were on furlough. They told me it would be years before I could expect a call. This was not part of the plan and through no fault of my own.

I could have waited, working at some meaningless job until I was called up. But I decided to do something I had never done before. I sold real estate during the day and worked as a bartender at night. Then something from left field landed in my lap. My best customer was an attorney whose client was a young successful builder looking for a right hand man. I got the job and now 36 years later I am doing what I love – building and developing real estate. Moreover, I now have the time to finish something that I started while I was in the military- writing a novel. I hope you enjoy reading Poison Pill in Paradise as much as I enjoyed writing it. As you can see it was years in the making. So much for the plan.

 Poison Pill in Paradise is available for purchase at Amazon.com. click here

“If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive my e-newsletter at http://stephengravett.com/ - Then enter your e-mail address above the SUBSCRIBE box and follow the prompts.  I’ll be sending out information periodically about new BLOGS. book releases, book events and signings and special offers.”

Sincerest Regards,
Steve Gravett