Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs!

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs!

Folks, it’s been a crazy week—and that’s not even talking politics!

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs George Nolly F-4

Cap’n George in his trusty F-4, somewhere over Viet Nam!

I’m excited to announce that my good Blog Buddy and fellow Pilot-Author-Blogger, Captain George Nolly (Ret.) has released his latest podcast. And, it’s an in-depth chat with Yours Truly! I always enjoy being interviewed on podcasts, but this one was particularly enjoyable, what with Captain George being a former airline pilot, not to mention his F-4 driving back in the ‘Nam days. I think I asked as many questions of his adventures, as he of mine!

But First . . .

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

CONGRATULATIONS, CAP’N RANDY!

I just finished a trip with FO Randy. Guess what? It was his very last flight as a First Officer!

Yep, he’s moving to the Left Seat of the Airbus! Randy has been flying for us—get this—for 20 years! Now, he could have upgraded long ago, but instead, he chose to hold back, and be a “lifestyler.” That is, as an FO, he was very senior, so could get his pick of schedules, holidays and weekends off, etc.

Cap’n Randy and his fan club! Well, actually it’s our crew from our PHX-DEN flight!

In the Left Seat, however, he would be much more junior. While it would come with a nice pay raise, he would either be on Reserve (no schedule, but waiting for the phone to ring to fill in for a sick pilot, for example,) or be flying a very junior schedule—most likely working weekends, redeyes, and missing holidays. By holding back, Randy will now have a fairly decent schedule, along with the perks and pay of the Cap’ns seat.

For those of you getting into the business, this is a very important consideration, especially if you have a family and young kids!

Once again, Cap’n Randy, CONGRATULATIONS!

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

ONE MEMORABLE “THERE I WUZ!” FLIGHT!

Ask any airline pilot, and they’ll tell you: every flight affords amazing scenes of beauty, awe and spectacle. In my Alaska bush flying days, I’ve seen a 360° rainbow, a brown bear taking a swipe at me (from several hundred feet below), and the full moon rise over the snowcapped Chugach range—in full daylight! From the cockpit of my Airbus, I’ve seen the galaxy Andromeda, and, while on approach into MIA, a nighttime rocket launch off Cape Canaveral. The most amazing thing I’ve ever seen is the Northern Lights seeming to be playing with the contrail of comet Swift–Tuttle. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen from the cockpit.

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

Our view of SpaceX (Stage 1 or 2) returning to earth!

Until last night…

It was the last leg home on a 2-day trip. We ended with a SLC “turn” (fly into SLC, then turn around and fly back.) Our last leg home to PHX was at night, around 8pm.

On takeoff, FO Mike and I witness an amazing sight: a SpaceX rocket had just launched from Vandenberg Airforce base in California. Its first stage, designed to return to earth, did just that—and that, I believe, is what we witnessed while climbing out! Over several hundred miles away, and we could see it, plain as day. Here’s a (sadly inadequate) shot for you of what we saw out our front window.

Apparently, the good people of Southern California were treated to an even better show, such as this time lapse YouTube video:

Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-x7ruR5Vygc

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

UFO!

UFO Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

Sigh…so many whackos, so few comets!

Approximately 45′ later on that same flight, FO Randy and I exchanged glances when AeroMexico reported an unknown object crossing beneath them, and then changing course to fly along side them. ATC reported no radar return on the object.

Searching the skies, the only anomaly we could find was a distant red blob of light ahead. It looked like Mars, but bigger and brighter, and much lower on the horizon than the ecliptic, ahead to our south. We were wondering if that was it, when it suddenly, for lack of a better term, “wink out.” At that exact same moment, Aeromexico reported that it had disappeared (Insert Twilight Zone theme here!)

Several seconds later, Aeromexico reported the object reappeared, but we didn’t see it again from our perspective.

Now, doing the math, one would expect that, if these two rare events happened on the same flight, then they must be related. The most likely explanation was that the “UFO” was simply part of the space junk from the rocket launch reentering the atmosphere and burning up. I would definitely assume that, except that Aeromexico claimed it had actually passed them, then changed course and paralleled them!

So, strictly speaking, I’d have to say it was a true “UFO.” That is, it was a Flying Object that was Unidentified.

UFO Phoenix Lights Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

The “mysterious Phoenix Lights.” Sigh… Something I’ve seen regularly from the cockpit!

Now, that does NOT automatically mean that it was an alien flying saucer warping in from the Pleiades to come harvest the innards of cows, and maybe abduct a Roswell conspiracy theorist or two.

In fact, several years ago, I had fun with a blog post debunking the famed “Phoenix Lights,” one of the most celebrated events in the UFO community. Well, the moment I saw the pics and vids of the alleged “UFO,” I knew EXACTLY what they were. In other words, the “mysterious Phoenix Lights” weren’t even a UFO—they were Identified!

That post can also be found in

TIW 4 Read! Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOsThere I Wuz! Adventures From 3 Decades in the Sky Volume 4

Direct Link:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076J39CB6

Check it out!

 

And Now…

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

Cap’n Nolly’s Podcast!

Captain George Nolly Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOsAs mentioned, I had a wonderful time chatting with former airline captain George Nolly.

He just published the podcast, out this week! Check it out!

Nolly podcast Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

Link: http://readyfortakeoffpodcast.com/rft-228-airline-pilot-author-eric-auxier/

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

George Nolly’s excellent Hamfist series!

While you’re listening to our fun chat, be sure to check out George’s wonderful Hamfist series, a novel which takes place over the skies of Viet Nam during the war.

Just like my novel The Last Bush Pilots, Nolly was able to write first hand about the true challenges of flying in those volatile skies. The first book is FREE on eBook, so don’t miss it!

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hamfist-Trilogy-Adventures-Hamilton-Hancock/dp/0975436260

Free ebook available at the bottom of George’s Podcast Page:

Link http://readyfortakeoffpodcast.com/rft-228-airline-pilot-author-eric-auxier/

 

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

And Finally…

Congratulations to fellow Pilot-Author-Blogger Cap’n Mark Berry, author of the incredible flying memoir,

13,760 Feet—My Personal Hole in the Sky,

on his new digs—complete with airplane hangar!

A former TWA pilot, Mark enlisted me to ship to him a spectacular piece of TWA memorabilia. A gorgeous piece of artwork, the sucker weighed about 80 pounds!

It was quite a challenge, but worth it.

Check out the pics!

The piece arrives in one—well, two—pieces! And…

Wa la! The final product!

THIS POST DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF

OUR BELOVED AUNT PAT

Bunny and I visit one of the happiest ladies on the planet: our dear Aunt Pat!

Aunt Pat, I always cherished my childhood memories of visiting you and Uncle Neal’s house in Southern California, and in later years visiting you with Bunny. Thank you for such wonderful memories, and an amazing life, well lived.

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU DEARLY!!!

Of Podcasts, SpaceX, and UFOs

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