Seeds That Take Time

When I was 12 years old, I was introduced to aviation by a local World War II legend named Red McCord. Red was a salty old guy with a cigarette always dangling from his mouth. He was a legend in the EAA and promoted aviation to anyone within his reach. One day, he took me on my very first flight.

But here is what made it unforgettable.

Instead of making it a thrill ride, Red took the time to introduce me to flying as if I were already a student pilot. He explained things carefully, showed me how the airplane worked, and even let me fly.

That moment planted a seed. A seed that lasted a lifetime.

Now, nearly 50 years later, with thousands of hours of PIC time in the cockpit, I still think about Red McCord. He has long since passed away, but I will never be able to thank him enough for what he unknowingly gave me that day.

Because the story I am telling you, at its very essence, is what aviation is really all about.

It is one generation passing along its knowledge, discipline, values, and dreams to the next generation.

It is mentorship.

A few weeks ago, I was doing a book signing in Hinesville, Georgia, when a mother and her 12-year-old son approached my table. The boy immediately gravitated toward my novel, Cleared to Land. She bought the book, I autographed it, and we spent a few moments talking about aviation and life. Moments like that often happen at book signings, and it is always an honor to talk about what aviation has done for my life.

But then something unexpected happened.

About three weeks later, I was doing another signing in South Carolina when that same mother drove nearly two hours just to see me again. She wanted to thank me. She told me her son could not put the book down. Ever since reading it, all he talks about is flying and wanting to join the Civil Air Patrol.

Then I asked her what stood out most to her as a mother.

Her answer stopped me in my tracks.

“I got mentorship, discipline, goal setting, family values, direction, and inspiration from the very first page.”

That answer stayed with me because those are exactly the same things aviation gave me.

Not just airplanes.Not just flying.

But purpose.Responsibility.Confidence.Direction.

And most importantly, mentors like Red McCord.

In that moment, I realized something powerful.

What Red McCord once did for me, I had unknowingly passed along to another 12-year-old boy.

That is how aviation survives.

One mentor. One conversation. One flight. One book. One seed at a time.

Sometimes the greatest thing we ever do in life is simply plant a seed in the heart of a young person that continues growing long after we are gone.

Red McCord planted one in me.

And perhaps Cleared to Land planted one in another young dreamer.

https://www.amazon.com/Cleared-Land-Boy-Seat-14C/dp/B0GSMVJQ7W/