The Last Flight: Michael J Bryant

By Michael J Bryant

Captain Michael James is a young hot-dogging pilot that braves the chilling weather up in Alaska, Aleutian Islands and beyond. While he doesn't always follow orders, he still feels at the top of his game in piloting tourists around the many glaciers and frozen wonderlands way up north. Perhaps he still has a hard lesson to learn feeling he couldn't be replaced. At least not anytime soon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9781304693228

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By

                            Michael J Bryant

            Copyright 2024 Lulu Author,

Michael J Bryant

                        All rights reserved.

    ISBN # 9781304693228

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All contents herein, ideas, fictional events, characters, story lines, and anything else pertaining to this story of The Last Flight belong to the author Michael J Bryant, exclusively written and designed for this book alone.

                                Written By: Michael J. Bryant

                            Copyright By: Michael J. Bryant 

Created Jan. 17, 2024. All rights reserved.

                          US Copyright Office Washington, DC

                                        Contents 

Rescue Mission                                                      Chapter 1 

Approaching Blizzard                                            Chapter 2

The Stranded Twin Otter                                        Chapter 3

Deicing for Flight                                                    Chapter 4

Distress Call   Chapter 5

Rescuers Need Rescuing Chapter 6

Unalaska Alaska Chapter 7

Without a Trace Chapter 8

                                          Introduction

Captain Michael James is a young hot-dogging pilot that braves the chilling weather up in Alaska, Aleutian Islands and beyond. While he doesn’t always follow orders, he still feels at the top of his game in piloting tourists around the many glaciers and frozen wonderlands way up north. Perhaps he still had a hard lesson to learn, feeling he couldn’t be replaced. At least not anytime soon.

Rescue Mission        Chapter 1

    The original amphibious flying boats were produced from around 1936 to the end of WWII in 1945. They were developed for long operational ranges to attack enemy transport ships. The PBY Catilina’s also served very well in resupplying troops where there were no runways. In fact, the flying boats didn’t need runways and had the huge advantage of having the entire ocean available. The PBY’s served in every branch of the United States Armed Forces as well as being used in many other nations militaries. 

                                      The last PBY Catalinas serving in the United States military retired in the 1980’s. They are still widely used today for private service, waterbombers in aerial firefighting and a few others may still be flying in other parts of the world. These were the most widely used seaplanes and the most successful ones in WWII. Even though the Catalina’s were slow and ungainly, they were still used for many missions it was never intended to perform such as anti-submarine warfare, convoy escorts, search and rescue missions and cargo transports. Because of their long-range capability, they were widely used for enemy patrolling. 

                                      Now stationed in Anchorage Alaska, one such surviving PBY 5A Catalina operates in flying customers to and from the Alaskan Island Chain during the open tourist seasons. Open tourist season in Alaska lasts from early April to late October. After that the state sees fewer visitors, colder temperatures and shorter daylight hours.  

                                      One of the last of its kind still operating in this part of the world is an 83-year-old Consolidated PBY Catalina 5A named Island Hopper. This amphibious boat plane was put into service back in 1940 and has been recently refitted with a glass cockpit set up, satellite communications, new engines making it a bit faster between stops as well as new seating arrangements for passengers.   

                                      The designation PBY stood for the aircrafts military roll of being a Patrol Bomber even though it was a flying boat. The Y is a manufacturing code which stands for Consolidated. The Island Hopper was purchased a couple years ago from an Arizona military aircraft boneyard and then flown to Alaska to the Island Hoppers main headquarters.  

                                     Using a small hanger that the company Island Hoppers owns at the main Anchorage airport called Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, the Catalina was stored inside. From there, it was completely stripped and rebuilt from the inside out. All the flight cables and electrical wiring were replaced. New engines were installed, all the flight equipment and communication hardware were also updated and installed. It was even fitted with a new modern day glass cockpit. After nearly a year of maintenance and repair the aircraft was now a brand new updated 83-year-old PBY Catalina ready for service again.  

                                     Along with other employees for the Island Hoppers Company, the PBY’s crew consists of Pilot Captain Michael James, Copilot Ms. Jeanne Karen Colins, and the flight engineer and mechanic Matthew Brooks. These three young people, two men and a woman make up the entire crew for the companies PBY Catalina operations.  

                                       During the war, the Catalina had a crew of 10 people needed to operate the aircraft. There was a Pilot, Copilot, Radioman, Navigator, Flight Engineer, 2 Waist Gunners, a Nose Bow Gunner, a rear bottom Stern Gunner and a Radar Operator if equipped with Radar. In peacetime there is no need for gunners and with the new updated version of the Catalina, you only needed a pilot, copilot and a flight engineer and mechanic onboard to fully operate the boat plane.  

                                      Captain James was in an office on the hanger floor when Jeanne came in to sit near him asking, What is left to do? 

                                      Smiling, the captain replied, I think this touring season is about over. It is getting to be late October, so our jobs are about finished here for the year. 

                                       Everything on the Island Hopper has been checked and all onboard equipment is accounted for, she explained, I believe Matthew is about finished checking the engines. Last time I saw him he was closing the cowlings. 

                                       Great, the captain said, We have had a very good season this year. The PBY Island Hopper has flown nearly nonstop since the tourist season opened in April. We have had a successful two years of operations ever sense we started flying that PBY. 

                                       We sure have, she agreed, Someone sure is rolling in the bucks.

                                      Captain Michael James just laughed as he replied, Got to make a profit to stay in business my dear. 

                                      The phone started ringing as the captain