Earlier Days Flying

Buckle up for the wild, exhilarating ride of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas McElmurry-one of the U.S. Air Force's most daring fighter and test pilots, a NASA trailblazer, and a man who lived for the thrill of the skies. From enlisting in the Army at seventeen to shaping the future of space flight, McElmurry's memoirs hurl you into six decades of heart-pounding aviation history, told with the grit, humor, and swagger of a true adrenaline junkie.

Picture this: a young pilot skimming hilltops with guns blazing-only to find every enemy barrel waiting for him. Or swapping seats mid-flight in a rickety BT-13 just to see if he could. McElmurry's journey takes you from the chaotic early days of military aviation, through close calls in global hotspots with the Air Force, to NASA's inner sanctum as Chief of Flight Crew Operations for Skylab. Along the way, he rubs shoulders with legends like Chuck Yeager, Frank Borman, and Deke Slayton, and spills never-before-told tales-like his role in the Sidewinder Missile Project-that will leave you wide-eyed.

This isn't just a book for aviation buffs. It's a front-row seat to a life of war, peace, and unrelenting passion for flight-perfect for anyone who loves a gripping story of courage, ingenuity, and the sheer audacity of the human spirit. McElmurry's voice leaps off the page, blending laugh-out-loud antics with moments of raw danger that defined an era. If you've ever marveled at the pioneers who conquered the skies, Earlier Days Flying will keep you soaring from cover to cover.