Following a somewhat short but very rewarding career as a military and civilian helicopter pilot, at the age of 41 I experienced a debilitating depression which resulted in my medical grounding. I was subsequently diagnosed manic-depressive, medically discharged from the army, and forced to face a future without something which had been a major part of my life since the age of 13.
Whilst contemplating my seemingly non-existent options for a return to a workforce without flying, I began a project which had been in the back of my mind for some years and undertook the writing and publication of Rotor in the Green. Rotor... is an autobiography covering my life and flying career up to the time of my grounding.
I found the writing of my life experiences most therapeutic, as I was forced to address areas of my life which had hitherto been ignored as unimportant. Also, during the research phase of Rotor... two very important events happened in my life.
First I became a born-again Christian, and since this time I have never been more aware of the Lord working in my daily life, as He had always been. Even through my depressions, when life became seemingly too much to bear, He was there with me knowing that I had greater things to achieve in His name.
It was around this same time that I became aware of an organisation called Helimission, a non-denominational, Christian faith-missionary society which used helicopters in support of missionary work in third-world countries. While Helimission was based in Switzerland, much of its work was done in Africa.
Helimission's missionary pilots flew evangelistic and medical teams, along with supplies and equipment, into remote areas; transported construction materials for mission stations, hospitals, churches and schools; assisted in medical clinics and relief work; built landing strips for missionary aeroplanes; responded to emergencies, and ministered the Lord's Gospel at every opportunity.
I knew of aeroplane organisations which provided this kind of support worldwide, but I was totally unaware of the existence of similar work for helicopter pilots. Interestingly enough, among other things Helimission pilots were required to have a born-again experience. So with my newfound faith, I made a promise to the Lord that should I ever return to flying one day that I would devote part of my life to serving Him in the mission field.
The second important event which happened occurred six months after the Lord entered my life, when I was told there was no medical reason why a return to flying was not possible at some time in the future. Three years later I received a medical certificate allowing this goal to be realised.
In Rotor... the chapter on my spirituality is titled Soaring On Broken Wings. This was inspired by a book of the same name, and to me embraced both the earthly concept of having my wings broken through my medical grounding, and the spiritual of being able to soar once again, but this time with my Lord through my newfound faith.
I guess With Wings as Eagles had its beginnings long before Rotor... even went to print. For while I had still not been cleared to return to flying, I was confident that if this was what the Lord wanted for me then I knew that it would only be a matter of time. This sequel to Rotor... tells the story of how I did return to flying, but I was soon to learn that personal, selfish ambitions, count for nothing if the Lord has other plans for you.
The title came to me from a bookmark I have and it seemed so appropriate. For it speaks to me of the great strength and promise which awaits those who are prepared to place God first in their life.
"And the God of all grace… after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:10