Q & A AMA - Eugene Grovington

[Eugene]

Has there ever been a time that you regretted joining ACME?

Nothing beyond the usual workplace grumblings. My role as Chief Pilot here is infinitely more fulfilling than the monotony of my previous job. Also, ACME lets me play with the toys on the top shelf.

 

[Eugene]

What is one of your most memorable experiences while flying? Has there ever been a time where you thought you wouldn't walk away from the landing?

(There is a journal in the pipeline expanding on Eugene's hallucination in Ultramarine. It will be at least a partial answer to the second part of your question.)

Besides one notable event, I haven't been the subject of any catastrophic aviation incidents. There have been close calls though, more than I can easily count, despite my precautionary efforts. The more mundane ones consist of equipment failure, severe weather, or some ungodly combination of severe weather and equipment failure.

The more colorful moments involved close calls with terrain (both intentional and happenstance), angry locals, people who don't want to leave, people who really want to leave, and the people who make both happen.

More than any of those adrenaline provoking times, my most memorable moments are during the quiet times, when I get to see things that very few others do; flying under the aurora borealis at the height of a solar storm, looking out at distant lightning on a moonless night, skirting the edges of a TFR during Super Bowl or the World Cup, approaching a beachfront airport over a bay packed with sailboats readying for an offshore race. I could go on and on. It's impossible to pick just one.

 

[Chase]

Remember when the C-5 was declared non-functional and we started renting planes to fill flights until we were able to order in a full collection of commercial carriers? That was probably the longest and largest 'operation' that you were a part of, and even instrumental in.

Off the top of your head, what other operations could you recall from memory?

 

[Deric Storm]

What's your favorite aircraft to fly?

• Prior to moving to his current apartment, Eugene lived out of the back of an aircraft at ACME Field

What made you move out of the plane? Sounds like a cool way to live.

 

[Eugene]

What's your favorite aircraft to fly?

Throwing all sensibility and practicality out the window, I got a chance at some stick time in an F-4D Phantom. That aircraft has been called, among other things, "a triumph of thrust over aerodynamics." After that experience, I understand why.

What made you move out of the plane? Sounds like a cool way to live.

It wasn't a bad life, and you couldn't beat the commute, but I needed a real kitchen and bed. My MRE and cot days are behind me.

 

[Eugene]

Remember when the C-5 was declared non-functional and we started renting planes to fill flights until we were able to order in a full collection of commercial carriers? That was probably the longest and largest 'operation' that you were a part of, and even instrumental in.

Off the top of your head, what other operations could you recall from memory?

I think our operation in Luxembourg was the most memorable. It wasn't death defying or excessively risky or any other superlative, but as my first field operation after joining ACME, it stuck with me.

There was also the time you, me, Mikal, and [REDACTED] went to deal with [REDACTED] and Mikal bought some liquor I had never tried before.

 

[Lee]

Burgers or pizza?

 

[Charlet]

Favorite cloud you seen while flying ? Describe it

 

[Lucy]

If you could give one piece of advice to the whole world, what would it be?

 

[Mikal]

Would you like to go grab coffee after you are done teaching young kids to fly dangerous airplanes?

 

[Joe Kerr]

What was Eugene's life like before ACME? Did he do anything that he regrets to this day?

 

[Eugene]

If you could give one piece of advice to the whole world, what would it be?

I don't do so great with advice, either giving or receiving, but I suppose one thing I've learned over the years is to not let anyone else drive your morals; not your boss, your friends, your employers. In the end, ethical decisions are worthless if they aren't made with actual ethical considerations in mind.