What is this place?
I've put this web page together to combine a couple of my main
interest
areas: Homebuilt aircraft and Nautical History, especially during
the Napoleonic
era.
My wife, Lisa, is a published author of romance
novels. She writes as Lisa McAllister (Harlequin) and
Catriona
MacGregor (Elora's Cave).
Looking for some Seattle-Area EAA Chapters?
Chapter 26
(Seattle)
Chapter 441
(Kent)
Chapter 326
(Puyallup)
Chapter 1440
(Seattle Eastside)
Who the Heck is Ron Wanttaja?
As well
you might
ask. I'm a Systems Engineer, engaged in satellite
orbit/constellation design
and analysis, launch vehicle and onboard propulsion system trades,
and
operations concepts for space systems. I worked on the early
design
studies for the International
Space Station. Back in my Air Force days, I was an
on-duty operator
for the Defense
Support Program missile early-warning satellite. In the
meantime,
I've done a few odd things...I'm the author of the old "IFR Flight
Simulator"
program for the Commodore VIC-20 and C-64 (Click
here for a writeup on how it came about), I used to run the
only
submarine
in North Dakota, and I'm a former Cadet
Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.
Oh, and I also occasionally speak to writer's groups and schools
about
what it was like to live aboard the sailing ships of the early
19th century.
In case you were wondering about the sailor suit....
I'm also a freelance aviation journalist. I've written for a
number
of magazines, including PRIVATE PILOT, FLYING, SPORT AVIATION,
FLIGHT LINE,
FLANEWS, and KITPLANES. I write mostly for KITPLANES, mainly
because
they treat freelancers very, very well. Note, though, that I have
no official
connection with the magazine...I'm a private individual who takes
occasional
assignments from them and/or submits articles on speculation. As a
freelancer,
I highly recommend KITPLANES as a good place to submit.
Finally, I write books. Currently, I am writing a series of
historical
novels set in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812. The first of
the series,
The
Key to Honor, came out in early 1996. Other books include Kitplane
Construction and Airplane Ownership, both
non-fiction.
My writing has brought me several awards, including the FLYING
Magazine
"Bax Seat Trophy" and a journalism award from the Aviation/Space
Writer's
Association.
About My Books
I'm fortunate enough to be fully-employed as an engineer, so I can
write
what I want, when I want. Here's a quick synopsis of my books, plus
a couple
of ways to order.
Kit Airplane Construction, Third Edition
This book is a basic 'primer' covering the basic skills and
knowledge necessary
to build your own homebuilt aircraft. Chapters cover selecting the
right
kitplane, engine selection, workshop setup, aircraft-quality
workmanship,
and specific information on all modes of construction. The first
edition
won the Aviation/Space Writer's Association 1992 Journalism Award in
the
Technical/Training books category.
TO ORDER: Kitplane Construction can be ordered from just
about
any aviation book supplier. There are a number of online sources
as well,
such as Amazon.com
or
Barnesandnoble.com
.. Or you can order directly from McGraw-Hill, the publisher, at
(800)
822-8158.
Airplane Ownership, Second Edition
This book covers the basic of buying and owning your own plane. The
book
includes a frank assessment of the costs of ownership, the shopping
and
buying process, and includes a guide to basic maintenance.
TO ORDER: Airplane Ownership can be ordered from just
about any
aviation book supplier. There are a number of online sources as
well, such
as Amazon.com
or Barnesandnoble.com
.. Or you can order directly from McGraw-Hill, the publisher, at
(800)
822-8158..
The Key to Honor
This young-adult novel is set in the U.S. Navy during the War of
1812.
Everyone saw fifteen-year-old Nate Lawton save the Captain's life
when
"Old Ironsides" defeated HMS Guerriere. But nobody saw him
run away
afterwards. Promoted to Midshipman's rank and assigned to the United
States
Frigate Chesapeake , Nate is determined to regain his lost
honor.
The book is written for ten to fifteen-year-olds, is 180 pages long,
and
includes a detailed glossary as well as black-and-white drawings
illustrating
the layout of the ship. Before it was published, it won second place
in
the Young Adult category in the Pacific Northwest Writer's
Conference contest.
Further information can be found on my Nautical
Page .
You can order this book from any bookseller, but I recommend The
Sea Room online bookstore.
The Price of Command
This sequel to The Key to Honor finds Midshipman Nate Lawton
assigned
to the Lake Erie fleet under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Much to
his
delight, Perry's fleet is short of officers, and Nate soon finds
himself
thrust into the position of acting first lieutenant of a Brig o'
War. But
Command has its price...a price Nate's Captain is unwilling to pay.
Nate
finds himself caught between the rocks of Naval discipline and the
shoals
of a senior officer's unbending ambition. Information on how
this
book came about can be found on my Nautical
Page .
You can order this book from any bookseller, but I recommend The
Sea Room online bookstore.
Comments? Contact me at ron@wanttaja.com
.
Proud Member of

Who are the RAH-15? Fifteen participants in an Internet
newsgroup
who were hit with a SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public
Participation)
for exercising their right of free speech by publicly
disagreeing with
the editorial coverage of a nationally-distributed aviation
magazine.
For more information, see the Zoomland
page maintained by my fellow co-defendant, John Ousterhout.