Reckless Beginnings: A Pilot's Memoir

War taught him how to push the limit. Civilian life gave him nowhere to stop. This is the story of how a naïve young man chased flight with single-minded ambition—through war zones, deserts, and backwater airstrips—and nearly didn’t survive it. From combat missions in Vietnam to training cadets in Iran, from charter runs and bush strips to stunt shows and student cockpits, he flew for the thrill, not the rules. Along the way, his choices left turbulence behind him—at home, at work, and in the air. Spanning the manic early years of a 53-year flying career, this is a memoir about risk, recklessness, and the long descent toward clarity.