by Ed Nelson
There were four people standing outside of the car, two adults and two children. I dithered for a moment but decided I had to try something. There was no way to land on the road with a normal long glide in approach. If what I was about to try worked I would owe Mr. McGarry a big thank you for teaching me various ways to strafe a runway.
One of those was to swoop almost directly down and pull out at the last second then machine-gunning the aircraft on the ground. I, of course, didn’t have a machine gun but it would let me land without going through the murderous updraft from the fire.
Heart in hand I did just that. I dove down on the highway pulling out at the last second then made the shortest stop I could. It took me almost to the family. Leaving the port engine idling I shut down the starboard and opened the door.
The family needed no urging as they had run the short distance down the road. The parents put the children on the wing and followed them up and through the door, I opened.
I didn’t wait for them to be seated and buckled in. I started the starboard engine back up and started taxiing down the road towards the furthest flame-free point. When I thought I would have enough room to take off I gunned it down the runway. I can think of at least a hundred safety rules and regulations I broke but we got safely into the air.
There was a lot of buffeting as we flew through the updraft, but since we were trying to climb it generally worked in our favor. I say generally because the wind did cause the plane to nose down at one point. I was able to fight the controls to get us back up.
The whole incident from me deciding to land to clearing the fire couldn’t have been five minutes, in that five minutes flames had engulfed the car. Between crying children and parents trying to thank me, it took a while to get them settled and buckled in.
I flew back to Ontario where I was going to have to explain how the aircraft would need a complete inspection for damage. I had stressed the heck out of the airframe with my stunt. I might be buying a replacement.
All of this didn’t happen in a vacuum. When I got to close to the fire ATC warned me that I was in a no-fly-zone. When I landed and went off their radar they went crazy, well as crazy as they ever get in that flat business as usual voice, they have.
When I came back up on the radar screen again there were calls for me to report in. Once I had the family settled I did that. Using my aircraft tail number I reported that we were now headed to Ontario Airport with five souls on board. I had learned that in the TWA incident.
Since I had taken off from Ontario they knew I had been alone. That required clarification. When they found out I had landed and picked up people it became dead air or silence for a few seconds.
“Cessna 310 land and taxi to the main apron and turn off your engines, you will be met by an FAA official, the medical team and law enforcement. Well, I knew I had broken a lot of rules.
I greased the landing which was nice. There was a group waiting for me at the main apron in front of the terminal, they even had brought out the fire engine. First out was the family whose name I hadn’t even learned.
They were surrounded by the medical team. The law enforcement contingent turned out to be one deputy sheriff who had nothing to do. I also recognized a stringer for one of Dad’s newspapers.
The FAA guy immediately wanted to know who I was, my flying background and what was I thinking. I answered making certain that the reporter heard me.
“I was thinking that those people would die if I didn’t help.”
That took the FAA man, Mr. Thompson back a little.
“Okay, I get that. However I see you are not licensed to carry passengers yet, you landed in a no-fly-zone and certainly carried out maneuvers that aircraft wasn’t built for.”
“You are right on all counts except the aircraft maneuvers. The Cessna 310 is built for such stress, though it will need a complete inspection.”
By that time a savior walked up, Mr. McGarry.
“Rick, what have you been up to?”
I described how I had landed and taken off. He nodded his head and told Mr. Thompson that it was within the airframes capabilities and that he had taught me how to do that approach.
That helped somewhat.
“Well, his license is still suspended until there is a hearing on his going into a no-fly-zone and hauling passengers.”
As this was the normal procedure in any event like this I wasn’t too concerned.
The man whose family I had saved came over. He handed a business card to me and Mr. Thompson. It read Marshall F. McComb, Associate Justice the Supreme Court of the State of California.
I don’t think I had too many worries.
I introduced myself to the Judge who told me his kids, ages nine and twelve had figured out who I was. He and his wife thank me again, and again from saving their family from certain death.
The reporter by this time had a camera out and was taking pictures of everyone. Oh well, I had been through this before.
Mr. Thompson who had been professional every bit of the way told me I would receive a notice in writing about the hearing but didn’t think I had too much to worry about. I had acted within the scope of my training and the capabilities of the aircraft so there was no reckless endangerment. Nothing succeeds like success.
Mr. McGarry and I talked for a while about what I had done.
“Rick it was like combat you did what had to be done. Rules at that point become guidelines. Yeah, you shut the engine down so people don’t fall in the prop. You don’t worry about clearances from someone not involved. I would say you got it completely right. Of course, if you had died you would be considered a stupid failure.”
“Now are you settled down enough to drive home?”
I had to stop and think for a moment.
“Yes I am, that was what this conversation was really about, giving me time to get the adrenalin out of my system.”
“You’re learning son, you’re learning.”
From there I drove home. I had to shower and change clothes. I was really stinking from sweat by the time I walked in the house. Enough the cook shank away from me as I went by her. I hadn’t noticed at the time but stress does make you sweat.
When I came back downstairs Dad was walking in the door.
“Rick, are you alright?”
“Yes Dad, I guess you heard.”
“I got a call from the San Bernardino paper. They are all over the story and it is out on the AP wire. Sir Richard does it again. Of course, there will be Sir Richard is reckless again.”
“Those don’t even bother me that much anymore. What I hate is all the requests for interviews that will now be coming my way. That reminds me I had better call Sharon Wallace.”
Sharon hadn’t heard anything about the latest so I had to go into detail with her.
“Rick let me get this straight. You landed that airplane using the same technique as strafing a runway?”
“Yes, I did.”
“That is fantastic, remember when you were in court taking your tenth-grade exam a big deal was made about it, to the point Bill McGarry had separate stories written about him. This will give the publicity legs.”
“Uh Sharon, you know how I feel about all those interviews.”
“Okay how about one press conference at the Ontario airport and an interview on KTLA?”
“I can do that.”
“I will try to set them up for tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a plan, Thanks, Sharon.”
That ended my day. I retreated to the tower and read.
Chapter 19
Monday was another practice day. The course was full of players for next Saturday. I met three others in my group and they made no impression on me at all. I focused on playing the course as I would on Saturday. The only thing I couldn’t plan for was the time of day I would tee off. This was very important on this course as the sea breeze really kicked up about two in the afternoon.
I was hoping for an early tee time. I had seen wh
at those “breezes’ could do. Gale force in my opinion at least when they were affecting the golf ball.
I deliberately did nothing for the rest of the day. I wanted to be calm and centered, not for the coming golf match but to sing with Sinatra tomorrow. I had sung with him but had never been in the studio with him. I heard he could be demanding.
Tuesday I woke up and realized that I didn’t know the words to the ‘Coffee Pot’ song. I looked up music stores in the yellow pages and called around until I found one in Santa Anna that had the sheet music. By the time I drove there and back it was time to go to the studio. Of course, the first thing they handed me when I walked in was the sheet music.
Mr. Sinatra hadn’t shown up yet. He had left word that I was to learn the words and practice the song. There was one musician there with a guitar to keep me in time and on the tune or was it on time and in tune. Either way, I thought I was pathetic.
I practiced most of the afternoon. I finally figured out Mr. Sinatra knew what he was doing. He had me work for the day knowing I wouldn’t be ready to actually try it.
Wednesday was another day at the Country Club. If nothing else the staff was beginning to recognize me and so did many of the other members. We didn’t really talk but did say, “Hello,” to each other. They were all older than me. Since it was the school year there were no kids my age hanging out.
My practice round went okay. I played the course straight today to see how I would do. I had a sixty-nine which was probably good enough to qualify but I knew I could do better. My putting was my weak spot.
On Thursday Mr. Sinatra or as he told me, Frank, was at the studio. He had me do a run through. I don’t speak Italian but I did recognize some of the swear words he used. Then he surprised the heck out of me. He had us try the duet but in a very low key manner. We sang it softly with the guitar for accompaniment. There was an ensemble there but he had them sit it out. He made me sing it without the energy the song was supposed to have. We ran through it four or five times then took a break.
If nothing else I was learning the words and getting a little relaxed. He then had us pick up the tempo. Again we repeated it several times. Finally, he brought in the full music group.
After six full run-throughs and many a stop, the man in the recording booth held up his hand. He then played back our last trial. Frank smiled and shook my hand.
“I think we have a winner here. It will be part of an album but if it plays well we’ll put a single.”
“Could I ask a favor?”
“What do you need?”
“An autographed copy when it comes out. Mr. Norman, the head of the Queens Messengers is a huge fan. I don’t know if you are aware but I am one of those messengers.”
“I’ll sign one and send it to you. You can then sign it then present it to him.”
“Thanks, I really appreciate this.”
I still can’t believe that anyone thinks I can sing. I was impressed with what a recording studio can do to strengthen a weak voice and a professional like Mr. Sinatra could carry me through.
Friday was the big day I was waiting for. Today I would win the local qualifying round of the US Open Golf Championship as an amateur. That may sound overconfident but I know my skills and that of the rest of the field.
After a light workout and breakfast, I headed over to the Country Club. The normal laid back atmosphere of the club seemed charged today. People were everywhere as they came in to watch or play. The usually quiet locker room was buzzing. It was filled with strangers as they changed into their golfing outfits.
I saw the two thirty-year-olds and Mr. Swartz but didn’t have an opportunity to say hello. I couldn’t wait to see the look on the two guy’s faces when they figured out who I was. The one guy was nice and it would be fun to surprise him. The arrogant one I wanted to shock.
My tee time was 10:06 so I had some time to use the practice greens. This proved to be futile as they were almost trampled by the early birds and so many of us trying to use them. I gave it up and found a seat in a corner where I could watch people tee off. John Jacobs found me there and joined me.
The PAR 5 first hole is 503 yards and plays straight from the black tees. Most people were hitting their first shot anywhere from 210 to 240 yards in the middle of the fairway. It was the second shot that would make or break this hole. Very few would ever hit the green on their second shot. Even if I got out to almost three hundred yards it would be dicey.
The pin on the first green was on the right side tight against the front. This meant you had to layup in front of the sand trap in front of the green and chip it over the trap and make it set down immediately. That or you could challenge the trap protecting the left side of the green which would allow you to do a pitch and run-up to the hole. Depending on how close the ball was to the hole it would set it up for a Birdie or possibly an Eagle.
Those who tried the left side were invariably hitting or rolling into the trap or flying over the trap and ending up in the rough to the back of the green.
That is why I would only try that shot if I was desperate and was almost three hundred yards out in the center of the green.
When my tee time came I was in with three people I had never met. We introduced ourselves and teed off I was second. Not wanting to get in trouble on the first hole I kept it in the middle and didn’t go for distance. Instead, I hit it out about two hundred and forty yards. This left me in a good position for my second shot.
Instead of lying up in front of the trap I angled to the left but didn’t challenge the trap or go for the green. I landed on the fringe of the green with a very long putt but was laying two.
I was able to get the ball close enough to the pin on my first putt that I had easy in for a Birdie. Nice start.
The second hole is a 471-yard par 4. Here you are hitting directly into a constant sea breeze which will blow your ball off course easily. There are trees on the right and the out-of-bounds driving range on the left. Here I hit to the left side of the fairway keeping it shy of the deep trap. From there a five iron put me on the elevated green where I two-putted for par.
The third is a 434-yard par 4. I carried the left side bunker to set up my approach. The trick then was not to go by the hole which sloped away from the fairway. I got lucky and hit the fringe and the ball popped up in the air a little which slowed it down and rolled within two feet of the pin for an easy Birdie.
The fourth hole is a 236-yard par 3. I had to hit directly into the sea breeze. This was one of the high-risk shots that I had been making so I attempted and carried the 60-yard long bunker in front of the green. I was close enough to the pin the hard right to left slope didn’t come into play. This gave me another Birdie.
On the fifth which is a 419-yard par 4, they are really nasty. The tee shot is semi-blind to the hole. However, I had practiced this enough I had no problem staying to the right and landing in a nice position. From there I was able to hit the large putting surface and only go a little past the green. I thought it would be another Birdie but choked and took a Bogey. John was quick to remind me I was playing to win, not set a course record.
The sixth hole is a 169-yard par three. The hole is unique in that it has a sand trap built into the back center of the green. The pin was placed to the back right. I suspect they were saving the more difficult back left for next week. I had a simple solution to this hole. I hit directly to the pin for an easy roll in for a Birdie.
The seventh hole is a 408-yard par 4. There is a long bunker up the left side of the fairway. The fairway narrows at the 270-yard marker. Most golfers will layup just short of this. Heres another one of the risky shots. I was doing well enough that when I asked John for my driver he nodded his head yes.
I went for it booming it out to the left 290 yards. This left me an easy layup to the green and another Birdie. I came within inches of an Eagle.
The eighth hole is weird it has a split fairway. The hole is a 416-yard par. Today the pin was set up that it would pay
to stay to the right. This made the eighth play longer and I was satisfied with a par.
Nine is 420 yards and a par 3. The trick to this one is to end up about 270 yards out, just short of the last bunker. Today the pin was front right and I was able to hit the green and roll up to the pin leaving me in position for a par which I made.
As we made the turn at nine I managed to get a coke and a hotdog to tide me over.
The tenth is a 315-yard par 4. Considering how short it is one would have thought it should be a par 3. The green is angled and extremely narrow with a dangerous right to left slope. Though reachable only a perfect drive will hold the green. I made the smart play here by hitting my two-iron down the left side. This left me in position for the par, which I got. This was one of the high-risk holes that I made about half the time. I would only go for the green if I was down a stroke.
Eleven, a par 5 is a straight shot of 581 yards. One has to keep it in the center of the fairway to avoid the trees. I managed to hit one of my longer drives of the day which rolled to 310 yards. From there it was easy to get over the barranca grass cutting across the fairway. After all that good work I parred.
I was lucky to be playing twelve early in the day. The afternoon wind had not kicked up yet so I didn’t have to drive into it making the 410-yard par 4 much easier. I was able to get over the deep bunker on the right with no problem ending up close enough to the pin for another Birdie.
The thirteenth is one of the most demanding holes on the course. It is a 438-yard par 4. What makes it tough is the fairway bending left around the barranca and it is flanked on both sides by tall stands of trees. It took me a controlled long draw and then a five iron to the large green. Fortunately, the pin was not in the back left corner which was the hardest position, again it was probably being saved for next week. I ended up at par.
Fourteen is 182-yard par 3. Again the wind hadn’t really kicked up yet so it was an easy Birdie for me.
Fifteen is a nasty dogleg right par 4 at 443 yards. This was another one of the risky shots that I had been making. By this time the wind had kicked up and I paid for it. My drive was shortened enough that I ended up on the wrong side of the swale which divides the green. This resulted in a Bogey.