My dad was involved in aviation and I have always been interested in aviation and spaceflight. I watched Star Trek reruns and every other sci fi show I could find growing up, had books about airplanes and spaceships, built flying model airplanes and tried to build a model rocket (couldn't get a motor because of the cryptofascist state I grew up in which made them almost impossible for young boys to get). I remember having a book with the X-15 and the X-20 Dynasoar in it and gazing endlessly at it. I always wanted my very own hypersonic rocketship.