In Mid-Air

Captain Hans Wink holds airline certifications for Europe and the US. In addition to the military operations under UN mandate he has flown both VIP and medical emergency response teams on a worldwide scale. The cultural and social differences he encountered and the pain and suffering he observed has helped to form hid personality, his philosophy and his approach toward living. He chose autobiographical narrative nonfiction to combine the dramas of his personal life with his experience traveling the world. Join Hans in his cockpit as he soars above the clouds!

Everyone faces challenges in life. Hans Wink, born behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany at the height of the cold war wasn’t going anywhere fast. When he was forced out of vocational school at 16 for his “behavior unbecoming of a young communist,” his only hope was taking over his father’s tailor shop at some point. The only thing keeping him going was a series of cheap romances fueled by even cheaper liquor. Then, shortly before his 18th birthday, his father died and his step-mother slammed the door in his face. "IN MID-AIR" is the unbelievably true story of a rebellious teenager locked in an authoritarian regime. A coming of age drama of what it took to overcome his childhood and family, the Berlin Wall, culture shock, language barriers and a love so passionate that it nearly destroyed him. It is the story of a fairy-tale marriage, a beautiful family and a horrific divorce. It’s about accepting defeat, yet never giving up and never losing hope. It’s about setting your goals high, starting over as many times as you have to and working hard to achieve those goals. The sky is literally the limit. This book is for anyone facing a challenge in life, for anyone who needs a little inspiration to help them get up, brush themselves off and get going again. Now that Captain Hans Wink has flown air-ambulance and diplomatic missions around the world for over two decades, you can say he’s been around the block a few times. This autobiography includes some of Hans’ observations, seen from air bases from Afghanistan to Uganda and from his two homelands – Germany and Florida. But don’t worry; there’s action. From police interrogations, border guards and jail cells to car chases, fights and jet landings in war zones "IN MID-AIR" is an extraordinary autobiography that once it lifts you up, won’t let you down.

Born in East Germany under the communist regime, Hans Wink experienced a difficult childhood that involved the divorce of his parents, an abusive stepfather and poor performance in school. Yearning for a better life, he escaped through the Iron Curtain for freedom in the West, finally landing in America. As a young man in Miami, Hans ran the gamut of the American experience, from tumultuous relationships to drugs and vice. In the year 2000, he escaped once again—this time from the love of his life after a devastating breakup. It was a tragic fall that would have shattered him to pieces if not for the door that opened to a new profession—aviation! Hans was destined to succeed and became a commercial pilot. He flew worldwide air-ambulance missions saving countless lives. In 2009, Hans accepted a three-year contract with the United Nations to fly officials to the hot spots of Africa and Asia. Observing UN operations in war zones such as Libya and Afghanistan compelled Hans to write about his encounters. But his main objective was always to reconnect with his alienated children...