Tommy wanted to be a pilot from the time he was ten years old and he received a small glider for his birthday. It was basically a toy and never really got off the ground but it felt like to Tommy that he was soaring through the sky and wanted to be on that thing from the moment he woke up until the moment he went to bed. It was his uncle that gave him the gift and at first his mother thought he was a hero because it was an excellent tool for occupying the active boy that Tommy was. However, once it became nearly impossible to remove him from the glider and he threw fits every time he had to leave it, Tommy’s mother was no longer a fan of his uncle. This was all in good humor and they were actually all rather amazed with the amount of attention and love little Tommy gave his glider. It was actually the glider that taught him how to properly care for his belongings.

Naturally, when Tommy entered Junior high and his friends and teachers began talking about career decisions Tommy didn’t have to wonder about his possibilities. Without hesitation he announced that he would be a pilot when the class survey came around to him. When Tommy was fifteen his uncle invited him to go with him on a business trip he was taking to Dayton, Ohio. They would stay in the hotel room provided by his company and explore some special features of the town when he was off work. Tommy and his uncle were close so he accepted without question. The true reason for the invitation, however, was so his uncle could take him to the home where the Wright Brother’s grew up. In addition to flying Tommy had a fascination with history and loved to tour museums and various historical sites. He also planned to take him to the Dayton Aviation Heritage, a National Historic Park dedicated to the accomplishments of the Wright Brothers and other early aeronautic pioneers.