Have you ever dreamed of being able to change your destiny? The opportunity of a new exciting career, beautiful location and a man to die for. But is the grass always greener on the other side? Catherine Kane soon finds out and is in for a roller coaster ride and perhaps what she's left behind is what she could have been looking for in the first place.

The author grew up in the Cincinnati, OH area and in Kentucky. He used to play in his grandmas barn, and would jump down on bales of hay. That was the beginning to, "let's learn to fly." It is said, "you can't teach a dog new tricks," but being so young, he tried to learn them all, tricks that is. This book is an offering of many of his accomplishments in the flying arena along with excerpts from some of the funniest statements by many of his pilot friends. You might say some are almost like short stories in themselves. So much happens during the flying period of time for a pilot. The responsibility and learning factor is huge. Most will say "it is all worth it." The book, hopefully, will bring laughter & a time to relax to all of who choose to read it. ENJOY

In the late 1950s I left a world of simple pleasures, where the pace of life was slow and time almost stood still, and I arrived in a place where my every movement was to be governed by the ticking of the clock. In this new world I had no time to stand and stare, nor to sit amongst the flowers or to count the bees rather than the hours, and I ve lived between these two worlds ever since.Nothing seems ever to stand still. For when I began my journey from my place of birth and native land, there was a rural village with rocks and stones at the seashore. We used these same rocks and stones to build our homes.I remember the palm trees and grape trees. The trees had formed an alliance that protected the land from the onslaught of the huge Atlantic waves. The Atlantic eventually overcame the alliance and swept away the rocks, the stones, and the palm trees.And, as I look back, I ask myself two questions: What has become of my island 's people?Their slow pace of life and the simple pleasures that they once enjoyed have been replaced by twenty-four-hour television and gadgets imported from abroad. The old fashioned, friendly buses that carried the people with their produce to the market have been replaced by vans that drive at great speed along narrow winding roads. To pay for these new pleasures, the islanders have exported their brightest, youngest, and most talented people.And what has happened to the place that I now call home; how has it changed?Gone are the British Council 's representatives reassuring smiles of welcome to young students at the ports. Gone are the smoking chimneys, the back-to-back urban houses, and their friendly neighbourhoods.Acres of land and fields have been given over to long hypnotic stretches of motorways. Elegant Georgian and Victorian homes have been replaced by large estates, and the skyline is interrupted by high-rise blocks of metal and concrete.But there are many remaining joys that I cherish. These include the stoicism of the people and their humour, the easy access to places of culture, and the deep and lasting friendships that I have made.

While admittedly somewhat limited (about the width and height of an aircraft windscreen) and woefully short of the "big picture," the pilot's perspective offers some unique insights into the vagaries of life. Those insights are presented in "This Is Your Captain Speaking" as a series of tales that, while amusing and lighthearted, give reason to pause and think.

Put your seatbacks into the full-upright and locked position, stow and lock your tray tables, and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Spacecraft Technology: The early years charts the fascinating story of the early Space Age, encompassing the launch of the first satellites and the landing of men on the Moon. While concentrating on the most significant technology developments, it places them in the context of historical events, specific missions and the individuals that made it all happen. Following a chapter on the pre-history of space exploration and another on the development of rocketry, the book covers the early development of space science satellites, Earth observation satellites, communications satellites, lunar probes and manned space capsules. Three chapters are dedicated to the hardware designed for the Apollo programme and its role in transporting men to the Moon, landing them there and transporting them across the lunar surface. Spacecraft Technology: The early years is aimed at scientists and engineers with an interest in the history of space activity and the general reader who enjoys delving into the background of modern technology.