Avionics News January 2015 - 36
series
MY LIFE IN AVIONICS
B Y
J E R R Y
G O R D O N
The Air Force
years remembered
EDITOR'S NOTE:
This is part one of a series that
focuses on the avionics career
of Jerry Gordon, who recently
turned 80 years old. For many
years, Gordon wrote a column
for Avionics News titled "The
Technician's
Notebook."
The
column offered experienced advice
and procedures to assist avionics
technicians in performing their
duties on a daily basis. During
his career, Gordon helped start
13 avionics shops from scratch.
Readers will enjoy reliving a bit of
avionics history through the eyes
of a man who dedicated his career
serving the industry. The first
article tells a fascinating tale about
how the author was first introduced
to avionics through the United
States Air Force in the 1950s.
36
avionics news
*
january
2015
I fondly remember the lyrics to a famous
song from the 1980s sung by the The Judds,
"Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days." Well,
I'm going to tell you 'bout the old days, and you
can judge whether they were good or not.
Several decades ago, I was 18, married, and wondering
what I would do with my life. Airplanes were my dream, soloing
at age 16. I wanted to fly, and there was no better place to fly
than the United States Air Force. A recruiter assured me it was
a good life and the opportunities were endless. Being married
was no problem; the pay was adjusted for married life off base
- $88 per month. I was lucky making 50 cents per hour as a
civilian. There were all sorts of benefits, and I would be crazy
to pass it up.
So I enlisted Nov. 4, 1952, the day Dwight D. Eisenhower
was elected president. How could I go wrong with a military
man as commander in chief? I said goodbye to my parents
and wife in Detroit before boarding the train to California for
basic training. We recruits filled a Pullman car and had our own
personal attendant to serve our needs. Meals were free, and
at night, the attendant made the seats into individual beds. We
were treated like kings.
This is going to be a lot of fun, I thought. We passed through
Reno, Nevada, at night, and I remember seeing a brightly lit
Avionics News January 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News January 2015
Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View from Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
Tackling Aviation's Universal Needs
Member Profile
Avionics in the Year 2025
A Conversation With...
My Life in Avionics
Marketing Tech Connections
What's Working?
Before & After
Business Basics
Debt Collection Tips
Aviation Aces
Legal Ease
Repair Stations
What's New
Avionics News January 2015 - Intro
Avionics News January 2015 - Cover1
Avionics News January 2015 - Cover2
Avionics News January 2015 - 1
Avionics News January 2015 - 2
Avionics News January 2015 - 3
Avionics News January 2015 - Point of Communication
Avionics News January 2015 - 5
Avionics News January 2015 - AEA Now
Avionics News January 2015 - 7
Avionics News January 2015 - 8
Avionics News January 2015 - 9
Avionics News January 2015 - 10
Avionics News January 2015 - 11
Avionics News January 2015 - The View from Washington
Avionics News January 2015 - 13
Avionics News January 2015 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News January 2015 - 15
Avionics News January 2015 - 16
Avionics News January 2015 - 17
Avionics News January 2015 - Tackling Aviation's Universal Needs
Avionics News January 2015 - 19
Avionics News January 2015 - 20
Avionics News January 2015 - 21
Avionics News January 2015 - 22
Avionics News January 2015 - 23
Avionics News January 2015 - Member Profile
Avionics News January 2015 - 25
Avionics News January 2015 - 26
Avionics News January 2015 - 27
Avionics News January 2015 - Avionics in the Year 2025
Avionics News January 2015 - 29
Avionics News January 2015 - 30
Avionics News January 2015 - 31
Avionics News January 2015 - 32
Avionics News January 2015 - 33
Avionics News January 2015 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News January 2015 - 35
Avionics News January 2015 - My Life in Avionics
Avionics News January 2015 - 37
Avionics News January 2015 - 38
Avionics News January 2015 - 39
Avionics News January 2015 - Marketing Tech Connections
Avionics News January 2015 - 41
Avionics News January 2015 - 42
Avionics News January 2015 - 43
Avionics News January 2015 - What's Working?
Avionics News January 2015 - 45
Avionics News January 2015 - 46
Avionics News January 2015 - Before & After
Avionics News January 2015 - Business Basics
Avionics News January 2015 - 49
Avionics News January 2015 - Debt Collection Tips
Avionics News January 2015 - 51
Avionics News January 2015 - Aviation Aces
Avionics News January 2015 - 53
Avionics News January 2015 - 54
Avionics News January 2015 - 55
Avionics News January 2015 - Legal Ease
Avionics News January 2015 - 57
Avionics News January 2015 - Repair Stations
Avionics News January 2015 - 59
Avionics News January 2015 - 60
Avionics News January 2015 - 61
Avionics News January 2015 - 62
Avionics News January 2015 - 63
Avionics News January 2015 - What's New
Avionics News January 2015 - 65
Avionics News January 2015 - 66
Avionics News January 2015 - 67
Avionics News January 2015 - 68
Avionics News January 2015 - 69
Avionics News January 2015 - 70
Avionics News January 2015 - 71
Avionics News January 2015 - 72
Avionics News January 2015 - Cover3
Avionics News January 2015 - Cover4
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