Whistlestop Jackson

"Whistlestop Jackson, greatest aviator of his day, hero to millions . . .
A flying ace with talents in spades . . .
A barnstormer extraordinare . . .
A legend in his own time."

The words of this vintage Movietoon Newsreel summarize the life and legend of ace pilot Whistlestop Jackson. A hero to an entire generation, his name represented not just exceptional flying skill, but that of the highest order: one which carried with it the honor and grandeur of the early pioneers of the sky. Whistlestop's legacy was famous to millions of people all over the world — the legacy of the barnstorming pilot to whom adventure and heroism were all part of the day’s work.

Whistlestop Jackson’s meteroic rise to fame occured nearly 20 years previous, during the Great War. Jackson did not see as much air combat as other aces but made his mark nonetheless. This was a true golden age of aviation. The chivalry and honor of the war flyers gave them a high standing, as the dashing image of the adventurous fighter pilot began to appear in the movies and radio. Pilots of this era were held as heroes in the eyes of the public, and Jackson was fortunate enough to be one of them.

	Vintage film still of the legendary Whistlestop Jackson. (From the archives of Movietoon Newsreels.)

Unlike his contemporaries, Jackson made his mark as a pioneering aviator rather than as a fighter pilot. Setting out from home in his trusty biplane, Jackson traveled around the world in search of adventure. His relentless globe-trotting, known as "whistlestopping", soon earned Jackon his famous nickname. His heroic exploits and barnstorming escapades — brought to life through comic books and filmed footage — captured the hearts of the public, and before long, "Whistlestop" Jackson was a hero to millions.

Whistlestop Jackson's following was anything but small. People clamored for his autograph, officials jostled to stand next to him at public events, and a generation of young children thrilled to the newsreels documenting Jackson's larger-than-life adventures. In an age where pilots were heroes, Jackson had made himself immortal in the hearts of countless millions. The whole world had begun to revolve around this flyer, and it didn’t take long for this to occur to Jackson as well.

Wary of public attention at first, Whistlestop considered himself just an ordinary pilot doing his job. Over time, however, he became accustomed to his immense popularity, eventually reveling in it. Being the center of the world's interest, Whistlestop played his role to the hilt. He could seldom resist the urge to flash a smile and let out his familiar jaunty laugh, or toss a gallant salute with his red scarf perpetually flapping in the wind. As his ego grew as large as the legend itself, it was only a matter of time before Whistlestop made a mistake.

The Usland government, to encourage development in public services, extended a lucrative mail contract to independent pilots and business owners. Competition over the contract was fierce, but a young aviation executive managed to land the deal and obtain the rights to the contract. However, Whistlestop Jackson was also one of the participants in the bid for the mail deal. Through some way or other — perhaps on the strength of his prestige — Jackson convinced the government to overturn their existing agreement and award him the contract instead. Unbeknownst to him, the executive he had beaten was young Shere Khan, a rising figure in the aviation industry. The humiliation of his defeat aroused in Khan a burning hatred for Jackson's flair, sparking a bitter rivalry between the two.

For Whistlestop, however, this victory was among his last. Years had passed since the Great War ended, and aviation had progressed by leaps and bounds. Newer, more sophisticated aircraft were hitting the skies, causing war-era aircraft — and their pilots — to become outdated. Not even the famous Whistlestop Jackson could escape these effects, and soon he was in a world filled with modern cargo planes and airships. Whistlestop's heyday had past. Struggling to cope with changing times and fancier aircraft, he found himself fading out of the public eye as quickly as he had appeared.

But Whistlestop would not accept obsolescence as an end to his career. He was determined to have at least one last flash of brilliance before retiring for good. Soon headlines were buzzing with the news: Whistlestop Jackson had just been appointed vice-president of Higher for Hire, an air cargo service run by Ms. Rebecca Cunningham. The legend was still alive and well — on the strength of his name alone, Whistlestop brought in five times the business for the small company! As a favor to Ms. Cunningham, he even arranged a contract deal with newly-elected President Myron of Klopstokia, an old friend of his. Higher for Hire would deliver fireworks for Klopstokia's Independence Day celebration on June 13, after which they would be awarded an exclusive lifetime government contract.

Only one person stood in the way. Shere Khan — now chairman of Khan Industries — arranged clandestinely with Klopstokia's finance minister LaFong to obtain a government contract of his own. Not only was Higher for Hire interfering with his plans, but the involvement of Whistlestop Jackson made the contest a personal challenge. Bent on evening the score once and for all, Khan ordered a squadron of his best pilots to sabotage the delivery and shoot down Jackson.

However, Shere Khan had not counted on Jackson's resourcefulness. Assisted by Baloo, Whistlestop reached Klopstokia that evening just before the deadline expired. As fireworks blazed in the darkness of the night, Whistlestop Jackson piloted his trusty biplane to defeat Khan's fighter planes in the skies above Klopstokia's capital. The legend had saved the day once again.

Afterwards, Whistlestop left Cape Suzette and the public eye, travelling to a spot where he could retire in peace. Whistlestop Jackson is now relaxing somewhere nice and quiet — content in the fact that, even though his legend may fade away, there will be others to take his place. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

"And as the sun sinks slowly in the western sky, we bid a fond farewell to . . .
Whistlestop Jackson, ace of the skies, hero to millions . . ."