Allan Avery

I do not remember a time when my life was not associated with airplanes. My father was a crop duster pilot and an A&E mechanic for Eastern Air Lines. In my memory I see my parents sewing fabric on a J-3 Cub wing in the back bedroom of our home, an engine run on a military surplus wingless Stearman in the front yard, my father flying a J-3 Cub, sprayer rigged, off the field road behind the house. Sunday afternoon drives to little airports just to see what types of airplanes were there. My first flight was at night. Dad strapped my sister and me into the front seat of an Aeronca Champ and took us up to see the Christmas lights. The memory will always be with me.

After completion of the Marine Corps PLC officer program I was discharged before commissioning as part of the post Viet Nam force reduction. I put my college forestry degree to work for two years in the Florida panhandle before wrangling a spot in Air Force navigator training. Upon completion I flew the B-52 as an Electronic Warfare Officer. After four years in the USAF I was able to make an inter-service transfer back to the Marines. There, I flew the EA-6A Electric Intruder as an Electronic Counter Measures Officer including an aircraft carrier tour aboard the USS Coral Sea with a cross deck to the USS Midway. Finally, I was sent to Pensacola and became a Naval Aviator, a pilot, and flew the KC-130 Hercules, C-9B Skytrain II, and the T-39 Sabreliner.

Upon "graduation" from twenty years of military flying I became an airline pilot flying the DC-9, B-727, DC-10, Airbus A-300, and A-310. After forty plus years in the cockpit I "timed" out.

I have always enjoyed writing and have kept personal journals my grandchildren may someday read. Personally, I want to keep writing and enjoying my family and friends. Maybe even fly again.