Hidden Courage (Atlantis) Read Online Free
Author: Christopher David Petersen
ATC with his position and within seconds he was being vectored to his destination.
With a second set of ‘eyes’ watching his flight path, Jack felt he could now relax a bit and take in the sights of the ocean and the city. The water wasn’t exactly the Caribbean blue-green color he’d seen in brochures. It was an ugly, dark and brownish color, much like that of the Mississippi river . He could see oil rigs way off in the distance, dotting the horizon.
‘Ugly and disappointing,’ Jack thought to himself as a first impression.
He lined up for his approach to the runway, and moments later he was down. As he taxied along the runway, the control tower asked his destination on the ‘field’.
“General aviation,” Jack replied.
They gave him directions as he rolled across runways and taxiways, until he parked at the Fixed Based Operator – or FBO for short – where general aviation business was conducted on the field, usually supplying fuel, weather services and aviation-related products.
Day two was now behind him. He found the pilots’ lounge, then prepared for the next day’s flight into Mexico while he ate another peanut butter sandwich. Once again, having completed his duties, he laid down on the couch and fell asleep.
DAY 3
Jack woke the next morning, excited. This was the first time he was crossing out of the country. Flying the coastline of other countries brought visions of lush tropical vacations that Jack had only seen in magazines. He would be experiencing them for real now. His first destination was Brownsville , Texas , the last city before entering Mexico . He departed before dawn and headed out over the Gulf of Mexico .
Three hours later, having pushed the limits of his fuel, he could clearly see Brownsville . As he flew along South Padre Island , a huge sandbar that sat just beyond the mainland, he looked down at the high rise tourist hotels and beaches. As he descended, he could see people out for their morning walks along the beach, and felt envious that he wasn’t staying there also. He then realized the irony of this, knowing that his adventure was bigger than their stay on the island.
Jack lightly touched down on the runway and rolled into the nearby FBO, where he refueled and ate a peanut butter sandwich. He then made his way to customs for last minute advice when crossing into Mexico . With his paperwork in order, he was ready for the ‘real’ adventure to begin.
Stepping into his plane, he gave one last look around at American soil. This would be the last time he would feel safe for quite some time. He cleared his mind of everything negative he’d read about flying outside of US soil, and concentrated on the next leg of his flight.
Jack rolled to the beginning of the runway and the tower cleared him for takeoff. He added power and lifted off into a slow steady climb. A few minutes later, he was in Mexican airspace and hugging the shoreline of the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico .
Jack chose not to fly at 8,000 feet this time, instead electing to fly at a much lower 3,000 feet. Flying close to the shoreline with floats, he felt that he could land safely anywhere in case of an emergency. In addition, at this lower altitude he could really see the countryside in more detail.
As he skirted the Mexican shoreline, he occasionally found things of interest that caused him to investigate at lower altitudes. The shoreline was essentially a far reaching sandbar, periodic breaks carved out by rivers and bays. Jack marveled at how deserted such beautiful beaches appeared.
“Man, such beautiful beaches and so empty,” he remarked to himself.
Jack opened the vents to let in some fresh air and cool down the interior. As he flew south, he could feel the hotter temperatures in this region of the world. He laughed to himself that three days before, he was freezing in the backseat of his parents’ car and now,
With a second set of ‘eyes’ watching his flight path, Jack felt he could now relax a bit and take in the sights of the ocean and the city. The water wasn’t exactly the Caribbean blue-green color he’d seen in brochures. It was an ugly, dark and brownish color, much like that of the Mississippi river . He could see oil rigs way off in the distance, dotting the horizon.
‘Ugly and disappointing,’ Jack thought to himself as a first impression.
He lined up for his approach to the runway, and moments later he was down. As he taxied along the runway, the control tower asked his destination on the ‘field’.
“General aviation,” Jack replied.
They gave him directions as he rolled across runways and taxiways, until he parked at the Fixed Based Operator – or FBO for short – where general aviation business was conducted on the field, usually supplying fuel, weather services and aviation-related products.
Day two was now behind him. He found the pilots’ lounge, then prepared for the next day’s flight into Mexico while he ate another peanut butter sandwich. Once again, having completed his duties, he laid down on the couch and fell asleep.
DAY 3
Jack woke the next morning, excited. This was the first time he was crossing out of the country. Flying the coastline of other countries brought visions of lush tropical vacations that Jack had only seen in magazines. He would be experiencing them for real now. His first destination was Brownsville , Texas , the last city before entering Mexico . He departed before dawn and headed out over the Gulf of Mexico .
Three hours later, having pushed the limits of his fuel, he could clearly see Brownsville . As he flew along South Padre Island , a huge sandbar that sat just beyond the mainland, he looked down at the high rise tourist hotels and beaches. As he descended, he could see people out for their morning walks along the beach, and felt envious that he wasn’t staying there also. He then realized the irony of this, knowing that his adventure was bigger than their stay on the island.
Jack lightly touched down on the runway and rolled into the nearby FBO, where he refueled and ate a peanut butter sandwich. He then made his way to customs for last minute advice when crossing into Mexico . With his paperwork in order, he was ready for the ‘real’ adventure to begin.
Stepping into his plane, he gave one last look around at American soil. This would be the last time he would feel safe for quite some time. He cleared his mind of everything negative he’d read about flying outside of US soil, and concentrated on the next leg of his flight.
Jack rolled to the beginning of the runway and the tower cleared him for takeoff. He added power and lifted off into a slow steady climb. A few minutes later, he was in Mexican airspace and hugging the shoreline of the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico .
Jack chose not to fly at 8,000 feet this time, instead electing to fly at a much lower 3,000 feet. Flying close to the shoreline with floats, he felt that he could land safely anywhere in case of an emergency. In addition, at this lower altitude he could really see the countryside in more detail.
As he skirted the Mexican shoreline, he occasionally found things of interest that caused him to investigate at lower altitudes. The shoreline was essentially a far reaching sandbar, periodic breaks carved out by rivers and bays. Jack marveled at how deserted such beautiful beaches appeared.
“Man, such beautiful beaches and so empty,” he remarked to himself.
Jack opened the vents to let in some fresh air and cool down the interior. As he flew south, he could feel the hotter temperatures in this region of the world. He laughed to himself that three days before, he was freezing in the backseat of his parents’ car and now,
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