Category: Auto-biographical (tuna helicopters)

  A Blip on the Radar Part 29(C) “Hotel Excelsior ” Hotel Excelsior, Manilla, Philippines June 1997 For once I was a passenger. Flying back to the Tuna Fields, via scheduled airline to Fiji and Papua New Guinea. With a layover for one night at Manilla. On the approach, gazing down from my comfortable seat…

Photo: Advocates for Human Rights A Blip on the Radar Part 29B: An Old Sailor’s Poem I remember reading a poem, written by an old seaman. An old tuna fishing captain. In it, he reminisced. About the old days, when Yellow Fin tuna were so large, that the sailors working the nets below the nets…

Photo: Jorge A Blip on the Radar Part 29(A) “The Hookers are coming “ I remember one night, in port, in Guam. I was standing quietly alone, away up on the helideck, above it all, just taking in Nature. The dark sky, the lights of Guam, the hustle and bustle on the working decks below,…

A Blip on the Radar Blip# 35 “Die with the Dolphins (2) ” Surrounded and blinded by bubbles, he thought only of his mouthpiece. Experimentally, he sucked air, and relief flooded through him as his lungs expanded normally. The bubbles occasioned by his mighty splash entry abated a little, and now he could see that…

A Blip on the Radar (Blip# 34) Note: although this is part of my draft for a novel, it actually truthfully describes an experience I went through. Everything is factual, including the outcome… DIE WITH THE DOLPHINS (novel excerpt) He had heard the Fishmaster’s shouted ‘Let Go!’ in the distance, through a haze of sleep,…

A Blip on the Radar Part 27 (B) “The Quiet Observer” One day we were told (by a displeased Captain) that we would be receiving an official observer on board ship, who would be making a trip with us. The news was greeted with annoyance by the ship’s officers, and by mild curiosity by the…

Photo by Wayne Sutherland A Blip on the Radar Part 27A: “Musing about Mother Earth “ A) Environmental issues Most people are vaguely aware of the many threats to our little planet home we call “Earth”. Depending on your outlook, you care a lot, a little, or not at all.It’s hard sometimes to even begin…

Photo by “Konr4d “ A Blip on the Radar Part 26: The Funny Guy Question: What is it, that keeps us alive? Us half crazy guys, that fly helicopters in far off places, jump out of airplanes, fly aerobatics, participate in open cockpit biplane mock dog fights, race motorbikes, but who point blank refuse to…

A Blip on the Radar (Part 25) “Floored by a Russian Hooker “ I miss Steve. Steve Hoffman. Tuna Pilot. Owner, operator, of “Hoffman helicopters, Guam” for many years. He’s long since dead now. Many years. At a young age. Poor old boy. Steve ran a fleet of really fine Hughes 500 Tuna spotting helicopters.…

A Blip on the Radar (Part 24E) “What did you do THAT for…??” I had let it go as long as I possibly dared. Longer. I had given this Commercial Pilot every opportunity to recover. To get with the action. Hell, to blessed well get involved, even. But no… Too busy waving The Royal Wave…