Wisconsin Author's 'Flight' Is Harrowing Air America Tale

WAUWATOSA, WI — A frequent speaker at the Wauwatosa Public Library is preparing for his new book launch, and says it's the tale of his adventuresome life path.

Wisconsin resident Neil Hansen says he began his aviation career as a pilot for Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, and later spent nearly a decade in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era as a captain for Air America, the CIA's airline that operated there during the Vietnam era and the 'Secret War' in Laos.

Neil says he reveled in the risky flying that fed his adrenaline addiction. Upon returning to the States, ultimately unable to find work and unable to let go of the Air America exhilaration rush, he saw the profession he loved come to an end when his trajectory veered off course.

Neil's new book, "Flight: An Air America Pilot's Story of Adventure, Descent and Redemption" (History Publishing Company) by Hansen and Luann Grosscup, is said to be a historical aviation narrative that incorporates the pathos of a war zone, humor and candid insight.

The book will be available in March through major booksellers and amazon.com. A book launch is being hosted by the EAA Aviation Center, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, in the Founders' Wing Theater.

One characterization of Neil's work stated that "the story pulls the reader directly into the cockpit, onto dirt mountain landing strips, into the raunchy brothels of Laos, alongside his first toddling steps into Buddhism, aboard the plane he flew out of Cambodia hours before it fell to the Khmer Rouge, down the road of self-destruction and beside him as he regains a foothold on the path to integrity. "