Anonymously Famous

Take a Look Inside Book Four in the From Outlaw Biker to Airline Pilot and Beyond Series

For some reason, I had always been fascinated with big, powerful rifles. Perhaps from my time in Alaska and Africa. Works of art like bolt-action rifles from Rigby and Holland and Holland, or the British big-bore double rifles with cartridges as big as a Cuban cigar.

 I couldn’t afford those, but one of my favorite toys was a .460 Weatherby. With its deep blue steel and elegantly marbled American walnut stock, I loved its beautiful looks and fearsome reputation. When you fired it, the recoil would make a kick by a mule seem mild. To me, it spoke of power and adventure. For years I spent a lot of time at the shooting range with it.

One day at a gun store, I was captivated by an enormous Barrett .50 BMG semi-automatic rifle. It was way more powerful than the Weatherby and brought to mind the TV show Tool Time with Tim Allen. I thought to myself, ‘If Tim ‘the Tool Man’ Taylor was into guns, he’d have one of these.’

Of course I bought it.

A few months after 9-11 found me at the schoolhouse again, transitioning back to captain on the F-100. I was paired with Marc, a first officer who was a former Navy pilot. Somehow the subject of guns came up, and we hit it off right away.

9-11 hit us personally; our airplanes were used, our coworkers were killed. I used to fly Flight 77, the one that crashed into the Pentagon. There was a lot of talk in the news about arming pilots. Late-night comedians were making jokes about it. The president, who had Air Force One, was against it, but Congress, who flew commercial, were for it.

 After the training, before leaving on a trip, I had this picture taken as a joke. Outside of a tactical nuke, there is no weapon more unsuitable for use in a cockpit than a fifty-caliber rifle. I emailed it to only two people; social media had not been invented yet.

I sent it to my buddy Marc. He thought it was funny but said, “Don’t let anyone else see that. You could get in big trouble.” 

The other one was a captain I had flown with years before, and I knew he was into guns. Without asking, he forwarded it to everyone on his email list. In a couple of weeks, it seemed to go around the world. 

My brother-in-law in Denmark sent me an email with the picture asking, “Is this really you?” 

I said, “Yes, where did you get it?” 

“From a buddy of mine in Italy.” 

I groaned, “I was trying to keep it quiet.” 

He said, “I think it’s too late for that.”

People took it as an anti-terrorism statement. Crewmembers and passengers recognized me at work. Copies were posted on bulletin boards in flight operations around the country. Two flight attendants I met had printed it out and carried it with them. They asked for autographs. 

One night, a mechanic in Minneapolis walked up and looked at me in awe and said, “I just want to shake the hand of someone who has some balls.” 

I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was just a joke.

I held my breath as some said I was sure to get fired. At some point, it was sure to get back to the company. 

So much for keeping a low profile!

This picture is now part of the cover of my new book, On Wings of Luck, From Outlaw Biker to Airline Pilot and Beyond.

Did I get in trouble for it? You’ll have to read Book Four.

Anonymously… famous