"Mayday, Mayday! I'm going down!"

Join the adventure in my new novel, “The Last Bush Pilots”

TOP 100—AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARDS 2013!

Available in PRINT or eBOOK on Amazon.com
(coming to iBookstore soon; for iPads, use the Kindle app!)

“Mayday, Mayday!  I'm going down!"

So begins the literary thrill ride, The Last Bush Pilots.

Two young pilots, Daniel “DC” Alva and Allen David Foley, take on the world’s most dangerous flying:  the Alaska bush.  But Mother Nature—and a sexy Native Alaskan—stand in their way.

Airline captain and blogger Eric Auxier brings his former Alaska bush flying to life in his second novel, The Last Bush Pilots.  Exhilarating flying, tall tales and larger-than-life characters abound in a wild land that truly is America’s Last Frontier.

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“Eric Auxier is the next Tom Clancy of aviation.”
    —Tawni Waters, author, Gold Dust;  Immortelle; 1st place, Top Travel Writers of 2010

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Southeast Alaska Seaplanes, Juneau.  Retired airline Captain and  Chief Pilot Dusty Tucker pilots a renegade band of flying misfits.    Meet legendary bush pilot Jake “Crash” Whitakker, equally adept at landing planes and ladies—and “crashin’ ‘em” as well; prankster pilot Ralph Olaphsen, who once set an extinct volcano ablaze on April Fool’s Day; and no-nonsense Check Airman Holly Innes, trying to cut a respectable niche in the notoriously macho bush pilot world—while escaping a dangerous past.

Amid Alaska’s volatile skies, DC and Allen face escalating challenges in and out of the cockpit.  While learning the ropes, the two cheechackos, or greenhorns, are also roped into Crash and Ralph’s hare-brained scheme, Operation Dirty Harry.  Under the suspicious nose of Draconian FAA Inspector Frederick Bruner, the pilots hatch a plot to hijack and rescue a planeload of orphaned bear cubs.  Moreover, mischievous Tlingit Indian Tonya Hunter, as wild and unpredictable as the land in which she lives, plays the two lovestruck cheechackos against each other.

But the true villain of the story is Mother Nature herself.  Alaska’s notoriously fickle weather and rugged terrain take on a life of their own.  Can the two cheechackos survive Her relentless onslaught and launch their fledgeling airline careers?

What others are saying about "The Last Bush Pilots"

 “With 12,000+ hours of arctic Alaskan bush flying, reading The Last Bush Pilots was like a glance in a forty year old mirror.  Nice work, Eric.” 
—CloudDancer, author, CloudDancer's Alaskan Chronicles.

“I’m much more familiar with Conrad and O'Connor than Clancy and Koontz, but I do know good writing when I see it.  Excellent work on so many levels, with characters as complete as in McPhee's Coming Into the Country.  The plot is beautifully crafted, the use of dialogue skillful.  Most impressive is his technical credibility, whether talking rock climbing, weather, or aircraft.”

—W.J. Findley, Airline Captain

"Wow, wow and wow!  Great characters, and great story, in and out of the dangerously beautiful Alaskan skies.  Sheer brilliance! 
—Mary L., Flight Attendant 

“Takes the reader on heart-stopping adventures in the beautiful Alaskan landscape.  Where life can change in a moment’s notice!” 

—Miss TWA, MissTWA.blogspot.com

“I’m no aviation buff, but the author knows how to deliver heart-thumping adventure.  I loved his wit, humor, and style.  Completely captivating!”
—BonRip, Amazon 

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A portion of ALL proceeds go to benefit the American Bald Eagle Foundation and the Alaska Conservation Foundation.

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View the 30-second BookTrailer:

Last Bush Pilot Trailer 2 from Capnaux on Vimeo.

From the Preface:

People will inevitably ask me just how much of this book is true.  While this novel is entirely fictional, many larger-than-life characters and “tall tales” are inspired by real people and events I encountered while flying the Alaska bush in the summer of’87...

In The Last Bush Pilots, Mother Nature is personified as the Ultimate Adversary, and modern day bush pilots would do well to think of Her as such.  She dominates every decision we make.  To that end, the most accurate scenes in this book are the ones that take place in the air.
Enjoy!

PEAK INSIDE!

Click here to read "Prologue:  A Crash in the Wilderness"

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Photos from author Cap'n Aux
Scroll through my real-life Alaska bush pilot photos that inspired my novel
 The Last Bush Pilots

Foggy Juneau Airport (JNU)—just another day's work for the Alaska Bush pilot.

Juneau Sectional—the Bush Pilot's guide to mountainous terrain.

The stunning Juneau Icefield—beautiful and deadly all at once.

My real-life buddy Kevin, inspiration for one of the novel's characters!

One of my favorite-ever pics, of Dozer the Fuel Dog!  He inspired the K-9 character of "Eluk" the flying Malamute in the story!

Beach landing.  A whole lotta this going on in the novel!

"Devil's Paw", JNU Icefield, which is featured in the book...

...and this young "Cheechacko" (local's term for Greenhorn) pilot graces the cover.

"Flightseeing" over the Herbert Glacier—lovely, but no place to land.

My best pics from Alaska

On approach to JNU

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This post and this novel are dedicated to the memory of my wonderful friend, Steve Wilson, career Alaska bush pilot. 

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 Makes a great gift for the aviation enthusiast, adrenaline junky or voracious reader in your family!

ORDER NOW 
to receive in time for Christmas!

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NEXT BLOG POST,  11/21/12:

HUGO, PART 2:  LEFT BEHIND-the Aftermath

"Chaos reigned.  Looting was rampant.  Gunshots rang through the night.   For two weeks, I carried a machete."