After all these years away from the excitement of flying planes over wild fires, I find myself with a heart full of sorrow. We lost one of our own a couple of days ago. I can not explain what its like or why we do it, but flying on a fire fighting aircraft is something thats in your blood. You can not just go and do it. You either have it or you dont.... Most of the people that do this dont fit in with the office crowd. When I was hired for crew chief on an C 47, the chief pilot gave me two weeks to find my way around and silently watched me. One day he called me to his office for a little pow wow. I was scared that maybe I was not accepted by the others or maybe I didnt fit their mold. But when I walked in and the guy over me walked out shutting the door behind me and the chief pilot asked if I like it there, I knew I was accepted. Why it meant anything to me, I dont know. This is the message he gave me. In this line of work you will never get paid what you are worth. You will not be able to explain why you do this and your relationships will suffer. There is only three ways out once you are in... You will die, or you will get injured and in able to do this work, or you will live long enough to be too old to do it. It will always be a monkey on your back. It is like a drug and the only cure is walking through those pearly gates. This is the one and only chance get out and no one here would even think bad of you if you want to walk. Well I couldnt even conceive the idea to walk. Then 10 years later I was paralyzed in my left leg and and after three months I was able to walk enough to show up for work and sent home three months later. I wish I could share what I feel with everyone here. The desire..the life style...the rush.. But I cannot. Rest in peace my fellow birds.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 00:35:56 +0000
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