Lt-Col Jack William Kaiser

Jack would always come into his flying school with a huge smile on his face. The clerk would ask him "Hi Jack, how are you today?" He would grin and say "Well~! the Good Guys are here! I am still ALIVE, thank you!"

Lt-Col Jack William Kaiser retired from the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1975, that's the same year that I was born. Raised as a farm boy in rural Saskatchewan, he borrowed his older brother's id and began flight training, soloing in 1941 on the Tiger Moth. In 1942 he enlisted in Saskatoon and went to war. Flew 30 sorties in the Lancaster for the Royal Air Force.

Jack once showed me a picture of his Lancaster crew taken at the end of their 30th sortie. He was only 23 years old in that picture but he looked like a haggard 50 year old. Such were the stresses of war.  

He was my Multi Engine and Multi Engine IFR* instructor. A few lessons he taught that will always stick with me:

1. LOOK OUTSIDE!

Now....you would think this is common sense when one is piloting a heavier than air machine....! With today's myriad of advance Liquid Crystal Display flight instruments coupled to Laser Gyros and GPS coupled navigation displays, pilots spend 95% of their time just staring at these beautiful screens. More than a few near air miss are averted not by staring at these screens, but looking out the front windscreen!  

2. SLOW DOWN, THERE IS ALWAYS TIME!

Being a young student pilot, I like to rush through my preflight checks and pride myself for knowing my prestart checklists by memory. WRONG! Jack will say "What's the bloody hurry? You continue down this path at this speed, you will hurry to your grave!!!" "Now, lets do that checklist again, half the speed, pause and appreciate each and every action and why you are flicking that switch or pushing that button!!!" I carry this habit everytime I strap onto my 93 tons electric aluminium submarine. 

Jack gave me my first job in aviation. I cleaned, fueled, oiled and de-iced airplanes. Prepared their logbooks and keys for the renters. I am forever indebted for his kindness.

Jack has flown west for his last sortie a few years back, I miss him greatly and will always remember to LOOK OUTSIDE and SLOW DOWN everytime I launch into the wild blue yonder.

*IFR - Instrument Flight Rating