Leaving on a jet plane

the long version

The Captain's airline career is the story of the remarkable period in the 20th century we call "The Jet Age", one filled with adventure, tragedy, humor, good fortune and bad passengers. We learn of the adventures of Apple Core Annie, whose nickname "Hardcore" reveals much. There is the food fight at 35,000 feet, as 40 summer camp bound youths nearly destroy a Boeing 727, and the Christmas Eve riot as 200 New York bound passengers "duke it out" over no smoking seats. Never to be forgotten are the tragic events where close friends are killed in senseless training accidents and innocent passengers lives are lost in sometimes-inexplicable circumstances. Bankruptcies, deregulation, hijackings and famous people are all part of the memories of the veteran captain whose career spanned the era when the jet plane became mass transportation.--From cover