Sam had equipped me with a headset for cockpit communication, but I was quiet during our ascent south out of Leavenworth’s army airfield on a bearing that would take us to northern Arkansas, where a homeless bloodhound awaited our arrival. Though not really familiar with cockpit protocol, I assumed shutting up on takeoff was a good idea. I watched the city of Leavenworth gradually recede, looked at the wispy morning mist hanging over the wide Missouri River, and let my eye follow the train tracks running alongside the levy. I was, inexplicably, very relaxed.
Once we reached our cruising altitude of thirty-five hundred feet, I adjusted the mouthpiece of the headset and resumed my line of questioning, working through the instruments (all analogue, most original equipment vintage 1964) on the panel one by one: “What’s this do?” “How’s this work?” “What’s this called?” Sam resumed his role as remedial teacher and answered every query dutifully and patiently. Finally, after being informed that our airspeed was about 110 knots—or about 125 MPH—I asked another: “How slow can you fly and stay in the air?”
“I don’t know,” he shot back. “Do you want to find out?” No further questions—at least for a while.
I survived that mission with Sam and many others in the months that followed. Telling friends about our animal-rescue adventures in Sam’s Lyndon Johnson–era plane, I’m often met with a concerned look meant, I suppose, to remind me that I have two young sons at home. I sometimes try to explain my blind confidence in Sam, but if they ever met him, no explanation would be needed. He’s a pilot through and through; and after all the hours we’ve flown together—even through some “interesting” weather—I’m confident that even if he were flying a 1964 John Deere riding mower, he could safely land her should the engine fail at three thousand feet.
Flying with Sam has afforded me some incredible benefits, not the least of which was providing me with the perspective and experience necessary to do a credible job of writing this book. Best of all, though, has been the time spent together in flight, watching the humble, workmanlike way he goes about the business of saving dogs by moving them from point A to point B in old November-Seven-Six-Zero-Niner-Whiskey—and listening through the headset while a patient teacher, a top-notch pilot, and a very good man shares a small percentage of what he knows about flying and life.
Thanks, Sam.
—PR
APPENDIX
Airplanes Used in Animal Transports
Story Airplane
1. “Cassidy Rides Again” Cessna P210
2. “Home at Last, Home for Good” Mooney M20E
Piper PA-28 Cherokee
3. “Appetite for Aviation” 1972 Cessna 180 Skywagon
4. “Angel Gets Her Wings” Baron B55 (Jim Carney)
Cessna 182 (Keith Decker)
Piper Cherokee 140 (Jim Bordoni)
Cessna 172 (Mitchell Stafford)
5. “Mojo and Mom” 1977 Piper PA-32
6. “A Sweet Southern Girl” Piper Aztec
7. “Pups on Approach” Cirrus SR22
8. “A Pilot’s Pilot” Unknown
9. “Boxer, Undefeated” 1966 Piper Cherokee
2006 Van’s RV-9A
10. “Runt Triumphant” Cessna 182
11. “Up in the Air with Uncle Jim” Baron B55
Cessna 182
12. “Pilot Sam Gets a Few Pointers” 1964 Piper Cherokee 180
13. “Hell on Wheels” Piper Cherokee 140
14. “Preston” Cessna 172
1972 Beechcraft Baron
15. “Phoenix Rising” Baron B55
16. “A Moving Story” Cessna 152
17. “All-Species Airways” Cirrus SR22
18. “Honorable Discharge” Hawker 800
19. “Ernie’s Journey” Cessna 172
20. “Chance Encounter” Grumman Tiger
22. “Dorie’s Story” 1964 Piper Cherokee 180
23. “The Round-Tripper” Cessna 182T
24. “Out of New Orleans” Various
25. “Saving Christmas” Piper Seneca II
26. “Learning to Fly” Piper Cherokee Six
Beechcraft Bonanza
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every year, approximately four million shelter animals are euthanized in the United States. Here are some ways you can help homeless animals find loving homes and put an end to pet overpopulation:
•Go to PilotsNPaws.org to learn more about how to volunteer as a pilot or foster-care provider.
•Contact your local animal shelter and ask how you can get involved.
•Microchip and register your pet.
•Most importantly, please be a responsible pet owner and spay/neuter your pet.
If you have your own story about an animal rescue accomplished with the help of Pilots N Paws, we’d love to consider including it in a future story collection. Please e-mail your story and contact information to [email protected].
PHOTO CREDITS
Jill Clover
Sam Taylor
Jim Carney
Lynn Murphy
Louise Vickerman
Brett Grooms; Jim Carney
Lynn Murphy
Miles Cary
Mike Yoder
Marjean Greenway; Rhonda Mills
Rhonda Mills; Jim Carney
Patrick Lofvenholm
(clockwise from top) Sam Taylor; Linda Schroeder; Jim Carney; Jim Bordoni
Joe Radford
Terry Fiala
Mary Vitt
(top) Mary Vitt; (bottom) Colleen Wyatt
(top) Pauline Stevens
(bottom) Tom Nalle
(top) Caitlin Nalle; (bottom) Janet Plumb
(bottom) Rhonda Miles
(top) Jim Bordoni; (bottom) Keith Decker
Jim Bordoni
Devon Barger
Sawyer Thompson
Steve Clegg
(bottom) Brad Elliott
Rachel Haymes
Robin Lee
Stephanie Ogata
(bottom right) Pete Howell
Pete Howell
Stephanie Murphy
Jim Carney
(bottom) Patrick Regan
Sam Taylor
Liza Bondarek
Sarah Owens
Jim Bordoni
Sara Henderson
Jim Carney
Jim Carney; Teka Clark; Roxie Amsden
Tom Scott
(top) Glen Phelps
(bottom) Kathy Chase
Wanda Taylor
Tammy Rieser
Patrick Regan
(left) Vicki McPherson; (right) Donna Lohmann
Donna Lohmann
Linda Gail Stevens
Betsy Quandt
Linda Gail Stevens
(top) Linda Gail Stevens; (bottom) Laura Bradshaw
Linda Gail Stevens
Betsy Quandt
Patrick Regan
Dog Is My Copilot copyright © 2012 by Patrick Regan. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.
Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
an Andrews McMeel Universal company
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
ISBN: 978-1-4494-0761-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011932645
Cover photo by Jill Clover
Author photo by Patrick Regan
Jacket design by Johnny Stiff
ATTENTION: SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES
Andrews McMeel books are available at quantity discounts with bulk purchase for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail the Andrews McMeel Publishing Special Sales Department: [email protected]
Cover photo: “Chipper” awaits takeoff in Evanston, Wyoming. He was en route to a Border Collie rescue in Glenrock, Wyoming. Photo by Jill Clover.
“Penny,” a rescued Pitbull
with Courtnee Mulroy in Onawa, Iowa. Photo by Wendee Mulroy.
The author (left), in flight with Enzo and Pilot Sam.
Patrick Regan lives quite contentedly in the middle of flyover country with his lovely wife, clever sons, and their mostly good dog, Pearl (rescued, naturally). While writing this book, he flew on several animal rescue missions with his pilot friend, Sam Taylor, to whom he is most grateful.
Learn more about Patrick's books, past and upcoming, at patrickreganbooks.com.
A percentage of proceeds from this book will be donated by the author to Pilots N Paws, a national charitable organization that helps connect homeless pets with loving families. Learn more at pilotsnpaws.org.
Dog Is My Copilot: Rescue Tales of Flying Dogs, Second Chances, and the Hero Who Might Live Next Door Page 11
