EP 360: Golden Age Pilot and Author Calvin Shields

Send us Fan MailBuy the book herehttps://www.amazon.fr/Dancing-Skies-Falling-Calvin-Shields/dp/1800160798Instagram: calvinshields01I was useless at English at school I trained to be an airline pilot at 18 years old and had to retire at 65 due age. I only ever flew long haul very large jets. Moved to South of France in 2000During my career I experienced 1. The golden age of flying. Less controlled, more romantic and more dangerous 2. War in Nigeria, war in Uganda, civil war in the Lebanon etc constant threat of hijack 3. I was arrested by a dictator in Uganda (Idi Amin) 4. I saw kids dying in the streets from famine in Calcutta 5. I visited AIDS wards in orphanages in Malawi and East Africa the 1980’s 6. First hand experience of the transition of apartheid in South Africa 7. Hurricanes, typhoons and enormous thunderstorm’s 8. Amazing views of our planet and the heavens 9. I sneaked into Afghanistan when it was at war with Russia to find my Grandfathers grave 10. I had to clean a man out of my engine after he committed suicide by jumping into it in Trinidad 11. Experienced numerous engine failures and mechanical problems.After retirement I missed the adrenaline and excitement so I walked across Greenland with a French guide and three other skiers half my age. It was 600 Km, took 4 weeks and we pulled 85 kg sledges over the ice cap, sleeping in tents at -40 deg centigrade Once again missing the challenges and adrenaline I attempted to cross Corsica at 68 years old on skis but unfortunately I has a stroke 100 m from the top of Monte Renoso. I am extremely lucky I have no after effects at all but while in hospital I was made aware of my mortality and I decided to write my story. I self published and it has also been published in UK by Pegasus. I have sold a few thousand copies The names are all changed for obvious reasons and I have intended it to be humorous but the story is 90 % true.I now teach French students 20-30years old) to fly at Cannes Airport My book is called “Dancing the skies and falling with style”. (There is a reason for the title) Dancing the skies and falling with style https://amzn.eu/d/cAgtSTW I am currently writing an historical novel based on the last few months of the Second World War in the Alpes Maritimes. There is an interesting dynamic between the various resistance groups who didn’t see eye to eye, Vichy France, Germany and the Allies As far as inspirations are concerned I believe that anybody can do anything they want so long as they have confidence and drive, research well and have the right tools Age, for example, is just a number. You can do anything you want Writing: attend writing courses, read a lot and put that dream on paper Everyone has a story to tell.Support the show🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/