Tony Bill - Filmmaker, Aviator

Tony Bill

Tony Bill - Filmmaker, Aviator

It was a beautiful clear morning in Venice Beach, California. I had driven there early because I was afraid I wouldn't get a parking spot. But there was no problem on this Monday.

I was there at the steps to Barnstorm Films, the production company owned by filmmaker Tony Bill. My goal was to interview Tony for a short video biography I am making for the Legends of Aviation tribute dinner scheduled on Jan 22 in Beverly Hills.

Tony was being recognized for his life-long love for aviation and for his contributions to promote the Aviation industry through his films, including his recent film FLYBOYS.

I remember Tony from my early days as a student at UCLA. Tony Bill had just made the movie MY BODYGUARD and was very inspirational to me because he had made a hit movie from a low budget film he had struggled to complete.

Over the years Tony had produced and directed many successful filmmaking ventures.

That Monday, I interviewed Tony on a patio beside his upstairs office. His office was real cool, with lots of great movie posters, including one big one from the movie THE STING, which Tony had co-produced. It was one of my very favorite movies.

During our interview, Tony talked about his love for flying. He talked about how he first learned to fly and his love for gliders and soaring. Tony told me about how much he loved sailing and how the gliders were awesome. He told me how he had switched to powered aircraft many years ago and how he has flown over 50 different kinds of aircraft over the years. Tony said that maybe he would return to gliders one day.

He called his company Barnstorm because of his passion and love for the freedom of flying to the small towns all across America. He said that flying gives you freedom and it is a fantastic way to see this country.

Tony talked about his love for aviation and his great admiration of guys like Bob Hoover and the other Legends of Aviation. I could sense that he really does love these guys.

I really liked my short interview with Tony. As I was leaving, I told him a little about my new documentary SHIP OF MIRACLES and asked if it would be ok to send him a copy. He say sure. I really think it would be great to make a feature film around the story behind SHIP OF MIRACLES, because its a great Christmas story, with all the great elements of a good movie, including heroes, villains, suspense, compassion, and a happy ending. I told Tony about how it was a true Christmas story of how Americans saved 100,000 civilian refugees on Christmas 1950 during the Korean War.

I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet these great Legends of Aviation. They are true heroes and deserve the recognition they will receive at the event next week.

I hope they like the videos we are making for them.

Luke & Wes Myers - Grandsons of a Hero Aviator

Luke & Wes Myers

Luke & Wes Myers, Grandsons of a Hero Aviator.

It was a gorgeous Sunday morning in Southern California. I drove up the beach past Malibu in my rental car, looking at all the joggers in bikinis. After a brutal winter up in Seattle, this sunshine was a great change for me.

I drove up the hill in Pacific Palisades to meet with Luke and Wes Myers, two grandsons of the legendary fighter pilot and test pilot pioneer Johnny Myers.

I was there to interview these grandsons for a short video biography I am making for the Legends of Aviation tribute dinner scheduled for Jan 22 in Beverly Hills.

Wes and Luke are great guys. They showed me terrific hospitality and generosity. I quickly set up my lights and camera and sound equipment.

They told me incredible stories about their memories of their grandfather. I could tell that they both had a tremendously close relationship with their grandfather. Both Luke and Wes were pilots too. There is aviation in the Myers blood.

I really enjoyed hearing the funny stories about the character and courage of Johnny Myers. He was an attorney who gave up his law practice because he wanted to fly. Over the years he flew them all. Johnny Myers had made many friends over the years and he was an iconic person.

Johnny Myers was world famous for his help in developing the Flying Wing and the Night fighter jets, predecessors to the Stealth bombers used today.

Wes and Luke brought out lots of great pictures of their grandfather. They told me some awesome stories about how Johnny flew helicopters and flew airplanes in his 80s. He loved to fly in the Reno Air Races, too.

Johnny had died less than a year ago at the age of 96 and it was a bit emotional for the family to talk about him. I could sense the pride and love these grandsons had for their grandfather.

I really enjoyed meeting Luke and Wes. I hope they like the video biography I am making about their grandfather.

Linden Blue - Legend of Aviation - Entrepreneur

Linden Blue - Legend of Aviation - Entrepreneur

The sun was shining and it was an awesome California day in January. Totally clear skies and no smog. I drove down south towards San Diego on my way to meet Linden Blue at his office at the Palomar Airport near Carlsbad.

I was there to interview Linden Blue for a short video biography I was creating for the Legends of Aviation tribute event scheduled for Jan 22 in Beverly Hills. This is like the Academy Awards for the Aviation industry. I have been really enjoying the opportunity to meet and interview such American heroes.

Linden greeted me at the entrance to his office. He had made a special trip in to meet with me on a Saturday. He took me into a hangar and I found a good spot to do the interview, inside of a cockpit. I quickly setup my lights and camera and sound equipment. And the interview began.

Linden Blue was living a great American success story.

Linden told me stories about how when he was a kid he saw the townspeople of the small town in Colorado where he lived gather together to create a runway on the edge of the town. He talked about how he was mesmerized by the sight of his first airplane land on that runway. He was hooked on aviation.

While in college he and his brother Neal had learned to fly. They had dreams of flying and living in South America, becoming successful businessmen. Well their dreams came true. It did not take long for their picture to make to the cover of Life Magazine and instantly they became world famous.

Over the years Linden and his brother flew many times up and down from Latin America where they had bought a banana plantation.

Later Linden went to work for Lear Jets in the early days of the business-class aircraft industry. Linden Blue worked in strategic planning, and he learned a lot about the ways aircraft were designed.

Linden told me how he wanted to build lower cost, more efficient aircraft.

Today Linden is a successful businessman, involved in several important industries including nuclear power, aviation drones, and new aviation technologies.

I learned in my interview that Linden was a nice guy who loved aviation down to his core. When we talked about flying, his face lit up, just like that little boy who saw that first airplane on that runway in Colorado.

Bob Hoover - America's Greatest Living Pilot?

Bob Hoover - America's Greatest Living Pilot?

It was a beautiful sunny day in California. I had gotten up real early that morning in Seattle, fighting snow and bitter cold to get to the airport on time. I had slept a little on the plane, so when I saw the sunshine, it really made me feel alive.

I rented a car and drove straight to Palos Verdes. It was about an hour from the airport, south and then straight up a large, very large hill. I made it to the top and could not believe the incredible views. It was a crystal clear morning, so you could see for probably a hundred miles.

I rang the bell and was met by a very tall, slender gentleman named Bob Hoover. I was there with Bob for the purpose of doing a video interview for the Legends of Aviation project for Airport Journals.

I set up my lights and high definition video camera, tripod, and sound equipment. There was a magnificent view out the back deck. On the inside walls were probably a hundred photos of very famous people. While setting up my equipment, I could not help but notice people like Presidents of the United States and other famous people in the photos.

Bob and I sat down and talked for about three hours. Bob told me how he learned to fly when he was a young boy near Nashville. He told me in detail how he overcame his air sickness problem and how he taught himself how to do rolls in the airplane. He was in the Tennessee National Guard, and became a top pilot for the US Army.

Bob told me how he had the job to bring over new planes for the pilots in Europe and to take back the shot up ones. Bob earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage in bringing back a very important airplane from Europe.

Bob had 58 successful missions in the 52nd Fighter Group flying the Spitfires. He was shot down on his next mission and was taken a prisoner by the Germans. He was put into a Stalag prison camp.

Bob told me his incredible story of escaping from the Stalag, stealing a German plane and flying to the Netherlands, where he got surrounded by people with pitchforks because they thought he was a German because of the plane he flew.

After World War II, Bob became a test pilot and worked closely with Chuck Yaeger on the X-1 program to break the sound barrier. Later he became a test pilot for North American Aviation, and helped train the American pilots on the F-86 in the Korean War. Bob told me a great story about how, even though he was technically a civilian, he blew up a bridge for the Allies in Korea.

Bob holds several record for flying. He is very famous for a stunt where he poured a glass of ice tea while doing rolls in his plane, all without spilling a drop. You can see this stunt on You Tube.

Bob really is a true hero and seems like a living-John Wayne to me. He is a great guy who has mentored many pilots over the years. Bob told me about his friendship with lots of great pilots, like Charles Lindberg and Jimmy Doolittle.

After my interview with Bob, I started looking all over the internet and on Youtube to see him in action. I am going to buy Bob's book to read more about his interesting life.

When I got back to Seattle I couldn't wait to see the interview footage. Bob did a super job. I hope he likes the short video we are making about him.

Johnny Myers - American Hero Test Pilot

Johnny Myers: American Hero - Test Pilot, Aviator, Attorney

A few months ago I was contacted by a Writer-Director, Robert Dal Collette, who told me about an exciting project about fighter pilots, jet test pilots, and legendary pioneers of aviation. It was called the "Legends of Aviation" tribute to be held in January in Beverly Hills. Sort of like the Academy Awards for Aviators. Robert explained that we would be creating about nine short biographical videos for the recipients of this years awards. I became very excited about this project, because creating video biographies are my favorite thing in the world.

The first of the nine projects was to be a tribute film about the recently iconic aviation test pilot Johnny Myers. I had never heard of Johnny Myers, but every pilot I asked, surely knew of him. He was a great mentor to so many people. He once was a very successful lawyer for famous movie stars like Bing Crosby, but he gave up his lawyer life so he could pursue his love for flying.

Johnny Myers became the top test pilot at Northrup, courageously testing several of the top secret jets over many years. He is very famous for his role in testing and developing the first night fighter plane, the Black Widow P-61.

His nickname was "Maestro."

Charles Lindbergh credited Johnny Myers for saving his life once down in New Guinea.

Johnny Myers had passed away last year so we couldn't interview him, so I was fortunate to interview two of his grandchildren, veteran pilots Bob Hoover, Clay Lacy, Bill Anders, Tony Bill, Linden Blue, Barron Hilton, and several other pilots who all knew his story.

The tribute dinner is coming up this January 22nd at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. I hope everyone likes our video biography.

Martie Johnson - West Point - Marines - Iraq - Chaplain

Martie Johnson, Jr.

My life will never be the same after meeting Martie Johnson, Jr.

Martie was kind enough to come to our Inventive Productions studios to be interviewed for my new documentary, "The New Fighting Seabees."

In came this loud, confident, and boisterous man named Martie. He was a bundle of energy. He came into the studio dressed in his US Navy uniform.

As I began to interview Martie on camera, I started to realize that this interview was going to be full of surprises.

Martie was born in Philadelphia in 1965. His father and mother led a career Army family. In his childhood Martie moved every two years. His father's career took them all across America and Europe.

Martie talked about the special proud moment he told his parents that he had been accepted to West Point. He talked about the painful heartbreak he caused when he quit West Point three years later. Martie talked about how he went to Wall Street and became a stockbroker. Then he talked about how he enlisted in the Marines and how he handled all the pressures. He talked about how he was on the front lines in Iraq. Then he talked about how he became a Chaplain.

Martie talked about his love for the Seabees and what they stand for. He talked about the incredible experience of being there in Mississippi with the Seabees during and following the Katrina Hurricane destruction.

Overall, Martie's interview taught me a lot of lessons about life. He showed how a man could dedicate his life to helping others, one hundred percent.

Thanks Martie for taking the time to let me interview you.

Patti Payne - Voice Over Talent - Writer

Patti Payne

I was first introduced to Patti Payne by Jeff Kirby, CEO of Puget Sound Security in Bellevue. Jeff suggested I use Patti's great voice over skills for the video we are creating for Jeff. This last week, Patti came to our studio and recorded that very Voice Over. She came to the studio totally prepared and really did a super job. Our video for Puget Sound Security should be finished in a few days. Patti's voice turned out great. Thanks very much for your help, Patti.

Brian Sweet - US Navy - Seabees - Iraq

Brian Sweet

Brian came over to our Inventive Productions studios in Redmond, WA to be interviewed for the new documentary "The New Fighting Seabees." While he was here, we also asked him other questions so we could send in his DVD footage to the Library of Congress under the Veterans History Program.

Brian has served in the US Navy since 1986 until his retirement in Oct 2008. He reached the rank of Commander. Brian served in numerous posts including time at Norfolk, Virginia and in Falluja, Iraq.

Brian told us some incredible stories about his experiences working with the Seabees.

For more information about the NEW Fighting Seabees documentary, go to http://www.seabeesmovie.com/

Bill Neubauer - US Navy - Seabees - 1953 to 1991

Bill Neubauer

I really enjoyed my time interviewing Bill Neubauer. Bill is a great guy.

Bill was at our green screen studio for an interview for the new documentary film, "The New Fighting Seabees."

Bill was born in 1932 in Omaha, Nebraska. He served in the US Navy, both Regular Navy and Seabee. He enlisted in the Navy in January 1953 during the Korean War and finally ended as an E-6 First Class Builder in 1991.

Bill served in the Far East, including Singapore, Phillipines, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Bill told some great stories about the humanitarian work the Seabees have done over the years.

Greg Shaw - US Army- 1st Calvary Division - Vietnam

Greg Shaw (1969)

Greg Shaw (today)

Greg Shaw came to our green screen studio to record his free interview for the Veteran's History Project for the Library of Congress.

We have volunteered to do 100 free video interviews of veterans for the great Library of Congress program called the Veterans History Project.

Greg Shaw served for his country in the US Army during the Vietnam era.

His job was to receive the missions reports and then to give them to the officers on the front lines in Chinook helicopters. Greg had some incredible photos from his time in Vietnam.

Greg left the service as an E-5 Specialist. Today Greg is a successful real estate broker working in Magnolia for Windermere.

Bob Moeller - US Navy Seabee - 30 years

Bob Moeller

Bob Moeller came in to our green screen studio in Redmond to be interviewed for our new documentary film "The NEW Fighting Seabees."

Bob served over 30 years in the US Navy, including time in Vietnam, Japan, and several places in the US.

Bob earned two Legion of Merit Awards plus many other medals. He was a Vice Commander, Naval Facilities Command.

While Bob was here we went ahead and asked our normal 124 questions we ask in a regular video biography interview.

Thanks, Bob, for all your help with our documentary project.

Ted Taylor - Seabee - Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Pentagon

Ted Taylor









Today I had the priviledge to interview a true American Hero, Rear Admiral Ted Taylor (retired).



Ted was kind enough to allow me to interview him for my documentary "THE NEW FIGHTING SEABEES" and then I convinced him to let me send the DVD to the Library of Congress for the Veterans History Project.



Once I had Ted in my green screen studio, I told him that since we were there it would be criminal to not take advantage of the situation and to go ahead and record his answers to my special 124 questions I use during my normal video biographies.



Ted is a real nice guy. He is from the midwest. He grew up in Kansas and decided to join the service during the Korean conflict. He loved engineering so he had a choice of either the Army Corp of Engineers or the Navy Seabees. He chose the Seabees because he wanted to see the world.



Ted told some incredible stories about his experiences in Korea, back in the USA, Alaska, London, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Alaska, Guantanimo Bay, Vietnam, Gulfport, Mississippi, and his work at the Pentagon.



Ted acknowledged that the true hero in his family was his wife Rosalie and his kids because they had to cope with moving every two years.



Ted said one of his proudest moments was when he heard he was becoming a Rear Admiral.



After over twenty years in service to his country, Ted and his family truly inspired me. They represent the very best in those Americans who dedicate their lives to their country.



During my interview with Ted, we started by talking about the Seabees and we finished by talking about the Seabees. He said that once a Seabee always a Seabee.



Over the years, Ted had been involved and led the building and construction of probably a thousand buildings, bridges, waterways, power plants, roads, runways, etc. But when it came down to his legacy, Ted said that his kids were his legacy. I had to agree with him.



Thanks, Ted, for your service to America and us all.

Al Bentley - Seabee - Greece, Spain, & Antarctica

I really had a super time interviewing Al Bentley yesterday.

Al came in to do an interview for my new documentary "The New Fighting Seabees" and while he was here he went ahead and let me ask him 124 questions about his life. I recorded the interview in our green screen room, on high definition video.

Al told some incredible stories about how he got into the Seabees and his adventures in Greece, Spain, and Anarctica. He talked about the incredible comraderie among Seabees and about the different projects his battalion built over the years.

He told an amazing, scary story about how his team got stranded on the South Pole for four days. The Seabees really are an remarkable group.

At the end, Al shared his feelings about life and the importance of family, especially his kids and grandkids.

Gordon Perin - US Navy Seabee

Gordon Perin

This morning I interviewed Gordon Perin who served as a US Navy Seabee during the Cold War. His parents were both private pilots who died in a plane crash when Gordon was only 12 years old. From that moment on, he learned to be self reliant.

During his four years with the Seabees he served in Guam and Alaska.

He said that his time as a Seabee was probably the favorite chapter in his entire life.

After his time in the service, Gordon worked for the post office until his retirement.

Jon Koenig - Seabee, Seven Kids, and Self Reliance

Jon Koenig

I really enjoyed interviewing Jon Koenig. Jon came over to our green screen studio to be interviewed for my new documentary, "The New Fighting Seabees." The first thing I found out about Jon was that he had served with my youngest sister, Patty McHatton, as a Seabee in Iraq. Jon had worked for many years in the construction industry and about twenty years ago was recruited to be a Seabees in the US Navy Reserves. Next our discussion went to his experience in Iraq with my sister. It really is a small world.

While Jon was here, we went ahead and interviewed him for the Veterans History Project. We have volunteered to interview veterans for the Library of Congress program, the Veterans History Project.

Since we had Jon here, we went ahead and asked him my normal 124 specialized question about his life. I really learned a lot of wisdom from Jon. He inspired me to want to become a better parent.

Francis Meyers - Seabee from WW2

Frank Meyers

I really enjoyed shooting my video interview with Frank Meyers for my new documentary "The New Fighting Seabees."

Frank and his wife Barbara came by the studio. Frank told me stories about his being drafted after Pearl Harbor and about his service in England, France, and in the South Pacific.

I especially appreciated when Frank talked about his adoption of four children.

The NEW Fighting Seabees Movie

The New Seabees Documentary Film


Award-winning director RJ McHatton was going to make a movie about his sister Patty and her experience serving her nation as a Navy Seabee in Iraq. Then the word got out and RJ started getting calls from Seabees from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. The calls were very emotional and powerful. Everyone told RJ that there really needs to be a real movie made about the Seabees.

So RJ McHatton has taken on the task to create a new documentary film about the NEW fighting Seabees. Using interviews with the men and women who have served as a Seabee, our goal is to tell the history and human story of the Navy Seabees.

History of the Seabees WORLD WAR II KOREAN WAR
SEABEES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AFTER VIETNAM
DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM IRAQI FREEDOM
AFGHANISTAN

We need your help! If you are a Seabee, we need your Story!

To see a video clip from our movie, go to http://www.seabeesmovie.com/

To be interviewed for this documentary film, please contact

RJ McHatton
Inventive Productions LLC
(425) 284-1900
http://www.inventiveproductions.com/

Congrats to Dion McIntosh

Congratulations to DION McINTOSH, who was on the new ABC Television show "Rediscovered" last night. Dion won $50,000 and will be heading to Las Vegas to open for Donny and Marie Osmand.

Last year RJ and the Inventive Productions crew of Charles McHatton and Tyler Griffin drove down to Dana Point, California to shoot the unbelievable wedding of Amy and Dion.

It was a fantastic, incredible experience meeting Dion and Amy's families and friends. I am very proud of how the wedding video turned out, too.

Last night Dion McIntosh appeared on the ABC show in a singing competition between people who were close to being childhood stars, and never quite made it. Dion is an amazing singer, father, friend, and man. Everyone was inspired.

So, congratulations again to DION McINTOSH. He really is a good guy.

You can learn more about his wife Amy and her singing career at http://e2ma.net/go/1603532167/1454410/53288051/goto:http://www.myspace.com/frankiejordan

You can see some short video clips from their wedding video by CLICKING HERE

We wish Dion and Amy great luck. Congratulations on your new baby, too.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

RJ

Meeting Clay Lacy

Clay Lacy

My day started great when the hotel lady said "You have a great smile!"

Clay Lacy.

I arrived at Clay Lacy Aviation about fifteen minutes early.

I had woken up at 8am, thought it was enough time to prepare for a 10am meeting. I started reading an article on my laptop about Clay Lacy's life and the next thing I knew it was 9am and I hadn't even taken a shower yet. I rushed and it all worked out.Lacy Aviation is located right at the Van Nuys Airport. I parked in visitor parking and then walked to the front door.

It was a beautiful sunny California day. Just yesterday I was in the storms of frigid cold Seattle, but here today I was in Sunny Southern California, 75 degrees, tee shirts and shorts everywhere.

I was met by a cute receptionisth who called up to Melanie, Mr. Lacy's executive assistant. Melanie came down and unlocked a large conference room for me. I began to set up my equipment. The walls of the conference room were covered by numerous original paintings of the many airplanes and aircraft from Clay Lacy's life. There was a large painting about a very strange looking plane called a "guppy."

I asked the receptionist for a blank piece of white paper that I could use to set my "white balance" on my High Definition camera. I used it for the white balance and also to write down the main subjects that I wanted to discuss. I set up the lights and camera and angled it all so a nice model of a jet would be right behind the subject's right shoulder.

Clay Lacy came in wearing a brown suit with a tie. Clay is a big man with lots of wrinkles from a a good life. We shook hands and he asked, "So, what's this all about?" I told him I was a professional video biographer who has been hired to shoot videos for the Legends of Aviation event to be held in Beverly Hills in January.

I told him that if Airport Journals likes the videos we might go back and do video interviews with all the previous 7 years recipients, including himself, who was a true Legend of Aviation.

I talked to Clay about my pro-bono work with the Veterans History Project and my goal to interview 100 World War II veterans. We sat down an the interview began. I asked Clay to talk about the legendary aviator Johnny Myers. Clay talked for a good length of time about Johnny Myers, and then he talked about other legends including Bob Hoover, Linden Blue, and Sidney Pollock the film director. We talked about Milt Kuolt for a while and then we talked about the difference between a pilot and an aviator.

Clay told some great stories about his friendship with aviators and entrepreneurs. As we wrapped up the inteview, Clay asked if I wanted a tour of his aircraft. I asked if I could take my camera. He said "Sure."

Clay loaded us into his white Lexus SUV and we drove around the air hangars for about an hour. I was able to record a lot of great footage and Clay telling great stories about each plane. He showed me several different kinds of planes including a Citation, a P-51, and lots more. Along the way we talked about his dad and his mentors and his life. We talked about his 52000 hours logged as a pilot, and some of the changes he has seen in his life.

We returned to his office and he showed me his incredible wall of photos from the movies (including TOP GUN) he has shot and the planes he has flown. There were pictures of Clay with lots of movie stars including Danny Kaye and Frank Sinatra.

Clay said I should shoot an interview with a guy named "B-27 Ben" who flew 35 missions over Tokyo during World War II. Clay said he would call me with Ben's phone number. We shook hands and I grabbed my equipment.

As I was leaving I saw Clay was busy with one of his employees, so I gave him a salute goodbye.

I really enjoyed my short visit with Clay Lacy. A real nice guy.

Emily Howell Warner

Emily Howell Warner

RJMcHatton with Legend of Aviation

Emily Howell Hanrahan Warner

I flew on Frontier Airlines that day to Denver to go interview an American hero, Emily Howell Warner.

I only got two hours to sleep when my Blackberry alarm went off. I was on my way within a half hour. It was spitting snow all over Seattle but no one but me on the roadways.

The flight to Denver went well. I got a chance to write some notes and to listen to some great podcasts on my ipod.

I rented a car from Budget. The girl at the counter called everyone "Sweetie" because she was the only girl working there. I told her that she had the "power." She smiled. I got my keys and GPS machine and I was on my way to see Emily.

I was in Denver to interview Emily for the Airport Journals video project called the "Legends of Aviation." Emily Howell Warner is being recognized for her groundbreaking aviation career and also for being the first woman pilot to work for a US Airline.

I had put Emily's name into Google a few weeks ago and I was tanken by her awesome smile. In all of her photos, Emily had this giant smile. Like she was always happy and having a good time.

After a quick Starbucks stop where I could double check my equipment, I headed to Emily's house. I had called Emily about a week ago and found her to be very nice and cordial.It was unbelievably sunny in Denver that day. Blue skies all the way to the Rockies.

It had been 40 years since I had lived in Denver and it looked different but felt the same.I lived in Denver from 1965 to 1971. I remember playing football as a kid and always it would snow at night but be sunny during the day. Not sometimes, but all the time it was that way. Stormy at night, sunny during the day.

The GPS machine gave me great directions. The woman's voice saying "Left in point two miles, right in point two miles." I heard that some of the GPS machines had voices with different accents, like Australian. Not this GPS machine, though. It only had one voice. I wish it had a southern accent or a New York accent, or especially a Philly accent. My dad was from Philadelphia and I liked the unique accent from there, especially my late Grandmother's voice.

I drove through many different kinds of neighborhoods. Hispanic, African American, Asian, and then the houses turned all at once from older neighborhoods, to new townhouses and condos. I would learn later from Emily that this area used to be Lowry Air Force Base but it had been re-developed to housing and retail.

Emily met me at her door with her big smile and her puppy. Emily was dressed very nicely. She is a tall, slender woman with short, well-groomed hair. She showed me her small office area where there was a wall full of placques and trophies and photos. She said there was also a larger display at the Wings Museum located about three blocks away.

I went out to my rented SUV and got my lights, camera, and cases. I set up very quickly. I could tell Emily was a very organized, prepared person. She had all of her photos and materials ready for me. After a few moments of making some adjustments to the white balance, I positioned the camera so a model 737 would be seen above her right shoulder in the camera frame. I told her I was ready.

We had a really great interview. At first I asked her about her family history. I learned that she was a twin and that her family came to America from Ireland. Emily was very proud of her Irish roots. She remarked several times that her maiden name was Hanrahan and of her Irish determination.

We talked about her parents and then her childhood. Emily loved her childhood. She talked about her close relationship with her father. We talked about Emily's first learning about flying from a book she read. She talked about her favorite teacher who was a num at St. Catherine's. Emily talked about how she got her first job at May Company, which allowed her to earn her own money.

She talked about how a girlfriend wanted to be a stewardess. Emily thought for a while about being a stewardess, but one day her friend suggested to her the idea of Emily learning how to fly. Emily talked about how she went down by herself on a two hour bus ride to learn about what it would take to learn how to fly.

She found out that it cost $12.50 per hour to learn how to fly, which was a lot of money in those days. She only earned $36 a week at the May Company. Emily talked about how her mother thought she was being foolish, spending do much money on flying. Her mother had survived the Great Depression and every penny counted.But that did not stop Emily.

She kept taking those lessons and one day she did her solo. Emily lit up with emotion when she talked about her first solo. Like it happened this morning. Emily remembered every moment. She talked about how she told her mother that she had just solo'd and that for the first time her mother said it wasn't foolish.

Emily talked about how she became the first woman flight instructor in her area and then how she decided to become the first woman pilot for an American airline. She told me exactly how she did it and how she never gave up.Even though everyone told her it was hopeless, she kept on. Eventually becoming the first Captain. Emily has flown over 21000 hours in an aircraft. She is so inspiring to us all.

After the interview, Emily had me follow her over to the Wings Museum. She showed me her placques and photos. She told me how the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC had called her one day asking if they could have her uniform or flight suit for the Smithsonian Museum. I could tell that Emily was very proud and honored to have helped inspire so many others.Emily told me there are now 6000 women pilots out of 50,000. Still a long way to go.

As we left the Museum, Emily gave me a copy of her book and she signed it "To RJ. Happy Landings, Emily."

We then went back to her home and I got some photos of her with her husband Julius and then Julius took one of Emily and me!

I really enjoyed my short visit and two hour interview with Emily Howell Hanrahan Warner. As with most heroic people I have met over the years, Emily was humble, caring, and focused on helping others. Emily still flies occasionally and she spends a lot of her time mentoring young people about the benefits of learning how to fly.

She told me she had over 21,000 air hours as a pilot. I asked her what her goals were for the next five years. She said that she wants to inspire more young women to become pilots and then she smiled and said "I would like to go up in one of those rockets, once the price comes down."

You could see her love for flying in her eyes and that big bright smile. I looked over at a photo of Emily that was taken 30 years ago when she was "Captain Emily." She had that same smile in the picture and in real life. Emily said once they asked her what her title should be--should it be "Aviatrix" or "captain" or ? Emily said that "Captain" sounded pretty good.