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MWSA Review
Kick the Tires and Light the Fires is an in-depth account of a lifetime devoted to aviation. The story chronicles the author’s pursuit of his aspirations while being guided by the tenets of personal integrity and unwavering adherence to principles.
This memoir covers the author’s life from early childhood through his time as a combat naval aviator and his career as a civilian test pilot. Undaunted by a childhood injury that could easily have kept him from pursuing any number of occupation paths, the author decided early on that he wanted to become a professional aviator. This initial hurdle offered the first of many examples of his determination to overcome obstacles that could have easily derailed his quest to achieve his personal and professional goals.
The first-person narrative style is clear and forthright and is easily followed when the author is describing his personal experiences and observations. He does not gloss over his own mistakes and faults and does not shy away from assessing the shortcomings of some of his associates and higher-ups.
The account is exceptionally well documented. A basic set of military and technical terms and acronyms are defined in a glossary, and many more are embedded throughout the narrative. These elements can occasionally dominate the story. This may discourage all but the most dedicated readers.
Kick the Tires and Light the Fires could easily be overlooked as just one of the many published memoirs offered up by former U.S. naval aviators. What sets this account apart is the author’s singular career as a non-military test pilot after leaving naval service. Highlights for the reader are the many instances of the author’s courage to stand by his convictions: “Doing what I believed was the right thing at the right time was the only way to do it, even if it meant the possibility of losing my job.”
Review by Peter Young
Author's Synopsis
This memoir covers the author's life from his childhood in the 1940s and 1950s in Ironwood, Michigan; his education at the U.S. Naval Academy and subsequent training as a carrier pilot; tour of duty during the Vietnam War; attending the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School; serving as a test pilot for Northrop Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration, where he served on the team that developed the TCAS II; and completing his career in aviation as a Designated Engineering Representative and aviation consultant.
Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 298 / 74,500