Among the Stars
on August 15, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Growing up poor in the hills of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, I was forever intrigued with the idea of flying and space. My pets were often wild birds—George the Hawk; Timmy the Crow; Donald the Mallard…I would toss a feathered corncob with a scrap of meat attached high into the air to watch George snatch it out of the sky. Timmy followed me wherever I went in the hills, flying overhead or riding my shoulder.
I decided I could fly like them when I was about twelve. I built wings out of an old bedsheet and, flapping my arms, jumped off the top of the barn. You can imagine the crash.
Nights out ‘coon or ‘possum hunting, I lay in the grass or on a boulder and gazed up into the stars and wondered…
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy the day after I graduated high school. As a Naval Journalist stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, I not only wrote for the base newspaper but launched and edited a Naval aviation safety bulletin. Which gave me access to fly with pilots anywhere in the world—A3D jets, helicopters, cargo planes… Whatever flew, I was bound to be aboard at some point.
Later, as a Miami, Florida, cop, I earned a pilot’s license to fly small aircraft. I took my sons flying when they were still toddlers. One of them later became an Air Force flight surgeon.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army Special Forces, I parachuted out of airplanes on missions all over the world—Asia, Europe, Latin America… After I grew too old to remain in the military, I became a member of the World War II Parachute Demonstration Team in order to continue jumping.
In 2001, I set a transcontinental flight record by being the first to fly across the U.S. from San Diego to St. Mary’s, Georgia, in an ultralite aircraft called a “powered parachute.”
But the highlight, the epitome of my flying career came in 1986-87 when I was selected as a finalist to fly the space shuttle into space with NASA’s “Journalist-in-Space Project.” I had an opportunity to actually fly among the stars.
Unfortunately, the shuttle with the “Teacher-in-Space” aboard crashed—and NASA cancelled “Journalist-in-Space” and all subsequent projects of that nature.
A huge disappointment.
NASA sent me a letter asking if I would still be interested in the project were it reinstated. I replied with a single sentence: “In a heartbeat.”
Charles W. Sasser is a freelance journalist/author/photographer with over 60 books and thousands of magazine articles in publication. Naturally, his publications include works on paratroopers, pilots, space, and SciFi.
Never a dull moment, or surprise. The world is a more interesting place with Chuck Sasser in it.
Morning, Jim. You are so kind and gracious. Thank you. It’s my pleasure to call you a true friend. chuck sasser
Good to here from you, Chuck. I hope all is well.
Chuck, I was lucky enough to learn to fly and later became a flight instructor being paid for doing what I loved. I eventually was able to buy my own used Beech Sport (2+2 seater) and put a lot of hours on it. I still have to look up every time an airplane passes overhead. While a teenager in 1957 I belonged to a astronomy group and was lucky enough to spend an entire afternoon with Arthur C. Clark who was delivering a speech to us that night. His visions for space exploration really set me on fire. When this life is over I hope my soul can fly all through the universe I have only seen from afar.
Jim! You certainly understand then the allure of flying. And Arthur C. Clark! Next time we get together, you have got to tell me all about it. chuck sasser
Interesting, as always, Chuck. You’re an inspiration. I hope you do get to fly into space someday.
Morning, Julie. Thank you. I’ve asked God that if I do make it to Heaven, will he let me fly all over the universe exploring. I think He surely must. thank you for your kind comment, Julie. Hope to see you at the next Nightwriters. . . But I haven’t been doing much flying lately. Give my best to everyone–but I have sold a new novel. chuck sasser
My dad had an old Boy Scout manual, probably the very first because it doesn’t seem to have a publication date. It has instructions on how to build a hang-glider with instructions to jump off a hill. I don’t think there was any seat belt or even a seat. The world has changed.