Rebecca Wallick - Growing Up Boeing: The Early Jet Age Through the Eyes of a Test Pilots Daughter

The Early Jet Age Through the Eyes of a Test PilotsDaughter

REBECCA WALLICK

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Rebecca M. Wallick

All rights reserved.

This book or any portion thereof may not bereproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the expresswritten permission of the publisher except for the use of briefquotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, February 2014

ISBN (print): 0991364805

ISBN-13 (print): 978-0-9913648-0-0

ISBN (ebook): 0991364813

ISBN-13 (ebook): 978-0-9913648-1-7

Maian Meadows Publishing

3322-164th St. SW

Lynnwood, WA 98087

www.growingupboeing.com

Cover art: Sherri Shaftic

www.sherribydesign.com

Editing: Dana Delamar at By Your Side Self-Publishing www.byyoursideselfpub.com

Photos: Cover (background): Sherri Shaftic; photosnot part of the authors personal collection are courtesy of BoeingArchives (unless otherwise noted)

PRAISE FOR GROWING UP BOEING

You need not have grown up in the Puget Sound regionto identify with much of what Rebecca Wallick has so poignantlyrelated for posterity in this highly personal and nearly poeticaccount. But if you were fortunate enough to have done so, you willembrace this labor of love and honor, and see yourself mirrored inso many of its scenes. Historians have labored to record theevolution of the company we all know as Boeing, but have, for themost part, produced nuts-and-bolts, enthusiast-style publicationsthat do little for the soul or for the unique community that hasnurtured and enabled the beautiful aircraft which have resulted.This artfully narrated account breathes life into the extremelypersonal and human experiences that have, in some magical way, beenshared at some level by so many, and provides more than a hint ofwhat has made this aircraft manufacturer legendary. Lew Wallickwould be so proud.

Dan Hagedorn, Senior Curator, Museum of Flight

This is an extraordinary book for aviation buffs andhistorians written by one of the few people that could write it. Itis a fascinating story about the pioneers of jet transport flighttestinga story of the major contributions made by teams of pilots,engineers, and maintenance personnel while dealing with a largearea of new aviation knowledge. It is also the story of thefamilies that supported them and gave them some semblance ofnormalcy despite the exciting and sometimes dangerous aspects oftheir jobs. They were all an extraordinary group of individualswhose ground-breaking work is still used today, several generationslater.

John Cashman, Chief Test Pilot (Retired), BoeingCommercial Airplanes

Becky Wallick has written a compelling narrativeabout her father, legendary Boeing test pilot S. L. Lew Wallick,and his compatriots in a heady profession usually shrouded inmystique, even among aviation experts. Lew and his band ofbrothers come to life under Beckys pen. The camaraderie, thestraightforward acceptance of risk and flying adventure, the dailyroutine mixing flying and family, are all captured. So are thetragedies inherent in the profession, and their impact on lives ofsurvivors. Aviation history also comes alive in thiswell-researched book, smoothly integrated into the story line.There are hair-raising moments as Becky matter-of-factly describesthe hazards, the incidents, near accidents, and tragic eventsinherent in exploring the limits of aeronautical technology and newairplane designs. The contributions to design by the test pilotsbecome clear; once a deficiency or product improvement opportunitysurfaces through testing, then engineers have data to change theairplanes for the benefit of airlines, pilots, and passengers.Becky titles her book Growing Up Boeing. Some of us whoseentire professional life occurred at Boeing are still growing upBoeing, more so now because this book reveals much that went onbehind the scenes: little secrets, big secrets, closing the looparound stories previously only partially told. Literally, this is acant put down book that will capture the aviation and lay readeralike. It is a must read for engineers and pilots, especially theyoung people who are inspired by the stories of Lew and hiscomrades and see themselves in a test pilot career.

Peter Morton, Boeing engineer and Vice President ofHuman Resources (retired)

Rebecca Wallicks delightful story of the lives ofthe test pilots who served Boeing during that companys goldenyears of military and commercial jets will more than exciteaviation buffs. She tells her own story in parallel with that ofher father, Lew Wallick, one of the truly great test pilots. Thereare periods of intense pressure on the flight test community ofpilots and engineers, many humorous anecdotes, and some downrightdangerous moments. From the B-47 to the 767, a well-written sweepof Flight Test history.

Brien Wygle, Boeing test pilot and VP of FlightOperations (retired)

To my father.

I walked into the hotel banquet room, acavernous space with lots of big round tables covered in whitelinen cloths, eight place settings and chairs to a table. Dimmedchandeliers high overhead created an intimate mood. People dressedin evening finery moved about or stood in small groups, drinks inhand, chatting happily. Nondescript carpet dampened the loudbuzzing of their voices and laughter. Everyone was happy,celebrating and toasting the guest of honor.

It was April Fools Day, 1986. Afterthirty-five years as a Boeing test pilot, Lew Wallickmy fatherwasretiring.

There were many familiar facesmy fatherscolleagues and friends, many I had known my entire life. Two of mythree brothers and their wives, and my Uncle Jesse and Aunt Annettewere also there. I was twenty-nine years old, and I had travelledfrom eastern Washington, where I had begun my career as asmall-town attorney, to attend the soiree. Wed all been invitedfor an evening of food and drink, stories, jokes, and a slide showhighlighting my fathers life and career milestones.

Eventually the crowd was asked to find theirtables for dinner. My familys table was in the center of the room,and I took a chair next to my father. Amid the laughter and highspirits, meals were served. Soon, the lights dimmed to near totaldarkness, signaling the start of the slide show presentation.

Dennis Mahan, a flight test engineer who hadworked closely with my father for many years, had created the slideshow. Id known Dennis since I was a kid. He was one of the youngerguys in Flight Test working with my father, often showing up atsocial functions. He sported the look of the stereotypical Boeingengineer: thick-rimmed glasses; hair slightly long, but nottoo long, and neatly combed off his face; trim mustache; andjust a touch of the nerd in his conservative yet casual dress.Dennis always wore a big smile, displaying a great sense of humorwith a gleam in his eye. He was a bit of a prankster, very muchlike my father. To create the slide show, Dennis had acquiredphotos from my family, the Boeing Archives, and whatever sources hecould hunt down.