Overview

Strap in for this thrilling true-to-life account of the dangerous career of bootlegging pilot Chuck Stewart. From his home base in McAllen, Texas, Chuck flew to clandestine strips all over Mexico--mostly in twin-engine DC-3 and Beech 18 aircraft--and battled everything from treacherous weather and mechanical failures to unexpected duck attacks and unfriendly fire from the Mexican Federales. Along the way, he ferried electronic equipment, desperate patients seeking medical care, VHS tapes, and other goods across the border--everything but drugs, a line he refused to cross. Through his remembrances of a high-stakes career, Chuck offers readers an inside look into the dangers, adventures, and rewards of smuggling badly needed supplies as a member of the ""South of the Border Club.""Chuck's dramatic account includes pulling his copilot out of a downed plane before it burst into flames, maneuvering in the dead of night on cactus-filled runways, outracing authorities in his trusty Five Seven Sugar, and more. This is not just a recounting of perilous flights and gallant deeds--it is a glimpse at one man's life that was rich with family, friendship, faith, and the unique camaraderie that can only be found among these unconventional aviators. Smuggler's Flight is a vivid portrait of what it means to live life to the fullest on the edge of the law.

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9781642342161

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Charles ""Chuck"" Stewart (1949-2023) realized his passion for aviation at the age of twenty-eight after serving as a construction engineer in the US Army in Vietnam. In 1978, he closed his construction business in Belleville, Michigan, and used his VA benefits to obtain his Commercial Pilot Certificate and Flight Instructor Certificates. That decision kickstarted decades of exploits that culminated in over eighteen thousand flight hours and numerous close calls. Stewart spent his final years enjoying life and adventuring in McAllen, Texas, with his wife, four grown children, and five grandchildren.

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