The book came in yesterday from Amazon and I couldn’t help but start in. Readers wonÂ’t be disappointed!
Jim, I am puzzled by one thing. You most likely recognize that the readership for the book will include many veterans, yet you use the term “civilians” to describe a specific group of the flying public. In the Marine Corps (and I suspect in the other services), referring to someone as a “civilian” was pretty much the same as giving someone the “thumb and index finger” loser salute made famous in Jerry Maguire! Using that term for a group you have no intention to negatively characterize was either an oversight or you are giving far too much credit to us veterans who need to re-think the definition each time we read the word. As you know, the Marines change your brain-housing group and spent cartridges don’t always eject. 
Jim, I am puzzled by one thing. You most likely recognize that the readership for the book will include many veterans, yet you use the term “civilians” to describe a specific group of the flying public. In the Marine Corps (and I suspect in the other services), referring to someone as a “civilian” was pretty much the same as giving someone the “thumb and index finger” loser salute made famous in Jerry Maguire!
I actually had a semi-whimsical intention in doing this. Background: I say early in the book that the population can, for flying purposes, be divided into “enthusiasts” and “civilians.” Enthusiasts are people who love airplanes as airplanes – who love the complications of the systems, who consciously accept the risk, who are willing to train in spamcans, who learn the FARs… people like us.
Civilians are those for whom airplanes are transportation.
I know the wry connotations of “civilians” in various usages – in the criminal world (or so I read), “civilians” are people with jobs. Anyhow, in context it seemed to fit the distinctions I wanted to make between today’s flying public and the long-term market for air taxis etc. But, hey, I guess people will just have to judge for themselves after reading the whole book!! 
By the way, were else can you get instant explanation from the writer about what he had in mind!
after reading the whole book!! 
Which I will do as I depart tomorrow at 6:45am out of Santa Ana on a commercial flight to Dulles via Dallas to rent a car to get to Charlottesville because I couldn’t get a direct flight that would allow me to make a subsequent trip to St Thomas via Miami. Oh, did I mention this is on American, and the flight attendants are considering a strike unless W saves the day and that I only have an eticket which can’t be endorsed(because it doesn’t exist)over to another airline. As long as I’m at it, why the hell don’t parents realize that my wife and I are childless by choice, and that their damn kid kicking the back of my seat for 6 hours aint exactly my idea of a happy meal.
I think you cover that in the next chapter…
WOW, ken!
As for that damn kid kicking the back of your seat for 6 hours, make nice. In 30 years that same kid may well be flying the airliner, and sure as hell will be financing our social security and medicare costs at a rate perhaps double today’s 15.3% of gross pay, unless somebody with some gonads steps up soon in DC and addresses that financing problem which is directly a function of known demographics. :~)
Cheers all!
Pete
after reading the whole book!!
Which I will do as I depart tomorrow at 6:45am out of Santa Ana on a commercial flight to Dulles via Dallas to rent a car to get to Charlottesville because I couldn’t get a direct flight that would allow me to make a subsequent trip to St Thomas via Miami. Oh, did I mention this is on American, and the flight attendants are considering a strike unless W saves the day and that I only have an eticket which can’t be endorsed(because it doesn’t exist)over to another airline. As long as I’m at it, why the hell don’t parents realize that my wife and I are childless by choice, and that their damn kid kicking the back of my seat for 6 hours aint exactly my idea of a happy meal.
I think you cover that in the next chapter…
OOPS! The haste I was mentioning in reply was mine, not Ken’s! I really appreciate your attention to the book. jf
OOPS! The haste I was mentioning in reply was mine, not Ken’s! I really appreciate your attention to the book. jf
Jim, I took your subject line as intended. My post was just making light of my upcoming commercial travel and the zany things we have to do to go from point A to B. The route I have to take does make a case for the air travel you foresee. I love the book and wish I were jumping in an Eclipse tomorrow am. Good selling to you! 
Ken Hansen