One Foot on the Ground: A Pilot's Memoirs of Aviators & Aviation

Rochester: ATC Press, 1998. Third Edition. Trade Paperback. Near Fine. 6x0x9. Signed by author. Third edition, 2nd printing. Inscribed and signed by author on title page ('To: Fred, July 8, 2007, Hope you enjoy the book! Paul I. Roxin'). 1998 Trade Paperback. xv, 209 pp. "One Foot on the Ground is a collection of short pieces on early aircraft in America and aviators, as experience by Paul I. Roxin, himself a pilot and flight instructor prior to World War II. Roxin's 60-some stories are highly readable, lively and entertaining, and gives the reader a bird's-eye view of what early aviation was like in this country, from its rudimentary beginnings through World War II. The articles frequently cite the exploits (and sometimes misadventures) of well-known persons such as Charles Lindbergh, Douglas MacArthur, lowell Thomas, and James Doolittle, as well as others of lesser fame such as 'Getaway Gertie,' Marvin 'Pee Wee' Horstman, and Doug 'Wrong Way' Corrigan. About the Author: Paul Roxin is especially suited to writing a book such as One Foot on the Ground having had a lifetime of experience with all facets of aviation - from early aircraft and the famous and not-so-famous who flew them, to training fliers during this country's volatile war years of the '40s. Along the way, Mr. Roxin has, in one form or another, gotten to know all about airfields and airports - how they developed and where, and what marvelous advances have been made in aviation from the early '20s to the present time. Fascinated by flying since the age of 7, Mr. Roxin obtained his pilot's license in 1936. He was an instructor and became involved in aircraft communications and airway traffic control for the Bureau of Air Commerce (now known as the Federal Aviation Administration) (FAA) through the '50s. During World War II, when there was a desperate need for trained pilots, he taught 'ground school' - civil air regulations, meteorology, navigation, and morse code. For the next 28 years, he was affiliated with General Electric Radio Co., a job in which he applied his knowledge of aircraft communications; today, in his eighties, he is only semi-retired, still having a hand in that field. In the '90s, Roxin began publishing a series of historical articles on aviation history for the Brighton-Pittsford Post, and Gannett Rochester Newspapers. During this period, he was instrumental in forming the distinctive 'Geriatric Pilot's Association,' comprised mostly of pilots from World War II. The group convenes periodically. One Foot on the Ground has elicited much favorable response from readers and many organizations. Mr. Roxin has been invited to contribute articles on New York State aviation history for the New York State Encyclopedia published by Syracuse University Press. The book is currently in the reference library of the 8th Air Force Museum, Duxford, England, the Cambridge University Museum, and is in the University of Rochester's Rare Books Collection. Music has been a special interest of his, and in 1974 he formed the Brighton (NY) Symphony Orchestra and was actively involved in the Brighton Light Opera Co. from 1980 to 1989." -- Wikipedia