ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Thomson took his first flight at the age of 14. He fell in love with flying and he knew it would become his life's work. He grew up in a small town in middle Tennessee and during his teenage years he worked at a small airport where he received his basic flying skills and Private Pilot's License. From there he built on his skills and began his military and civilian flying career. He accumulated about 15,000 hours of flight time. 10,000 hours in Helicopters and 5,000 in Airplanes. 5,000 hours of the total 15,000 hours were as an Instructor and Examiner. Over the course of his 50 years of flying he held many types of Certificates and Positions in aviation. These included; Private, Commercial, ATP (Airline Transport Pilot), Instructor and Instrument Instructor, and Designated Pilot Examiner in both Airplanes and Helicopters. He was also a Maintenance Test Pilot in Helicopters, and President/CEO of an Aviation Company. During his Military Career, he was awarded Two Distinguished Flying Crosses, The Soldier's Medal, The Bronze Star, The Legion of Merit, Thirty Six Air Medals, Two Purple Hearts and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry just to name a few. Welcome to this book that will take you through his exciting life of flying!