Springer

I have heard the same but has not happened in my case. Renewed last week and it went up an additional $150 for my acro taildragger. I turn 75 next month. When the age went from 60 to 65 never dreamed most would go to 65 let alone 67. Having said that I left at 59 and have never looked back. If you are not flying international, I can't imagine what a layover is like in our crappy cities today.

Only 12 in your class? I think we started with 50.

Wasn't USAA Bank fined $140 million a couple of years ago?

This is what was great about the mighty Phantom's "Rotate for Dummies". You started the TO roll with full aft stick and let the a/c decide when to rotate.

Good catch, I saw it as well. NERD (Never Ever Really Delta)

Really hope it works out for you Zero. I did exactly what you are doing 45 years ago when I led a 4-ship of Phantoms over Dallas for a passing F-4 driver. Can't believe we pulled it off w/#3 going missing man but had to severely limit how high he could climb. We had one radio in the plane and a guy on the ground with a portable. It was a goat-rope but oh so satisfying if you can make it work. Sorry I can't add any usable advice but wish you much luck.

Same SHFP. Some wanna'b kids in here.😁

I like old garage bands. The drummer, Butch Atkinson went on to be a Navy P3 pilot and later Delta. Died in the late '90's from heart issues I believe. Tom Petty did a great cover.

Hear he is great to fly with as well. He also wrote a book about the Viper. Keith Rosenkranz is a retired American fighter pilot and author. As a captain in the United States Air Force, he flew 30 missions in an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Persian Gulf War.[1] He later wrote a book about his experiences in the war, titled Vipers in the Storm: Diary of a Gulf War Fighter Pilot,[2][3] which included a foreword from Vice President Dick Cheney. Rosenkranz was interviewed twice by CNN prior to the Iraq War.[4][5] After nearly nine years, he left the military and became a longtime Delta Air Lines pilot (for 17 years as of 2009).[6][7] He wrote an article for the New York Times about the Tarnak Farm incident[1] and has been quoted in newspapers regarding other aerial accidents.[8][9]

Retiring Delta bro goes out with a bang chartering A330 to Hawaii with fellow pilots that retired w/o a finny flight due to Covid. Retired Delta Captain Keith Rosenkranz Charts New Territory with A… (bnnbreaking.com)

For my own selfish retired nonreving reasons of 20 consecutive round trips in FC to Europe, I'm not!

One of the saddest accidents when stationed in Germany were four Italian F-104's crashing on departure out of Bitburg. Accident Lockheed F-104G Starfighter MM6575, (aviation-safety.net)

I have a permanent blue stain on my white winged RV-8 because of not doing this.

Nothing wrong with your decision. Back in the day I commuted 1200 miles for 25 years but no way would I commute now. And after 4 ocean crossing in 6 days I was wiped out. I was single at the time, can only imagine the pressure on getting back home if you are married. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the job but it was a means to an end. Made enough by 59 and exited. You can always build or buy an airplane. I did and have never enjoyed flying as much as I have now.

Kill two birds with one stone, build the plane and fly the grandkids. I'll check out the book but having no 'squids' and wife's current spending, we are on a direct path to Die With Zero.

Wengen, Switzerland....car-free mtn village overlooking Lauterbrunnen Valley. Discovered during my Germany tour. Hasn't changed in the last 30 years. And yes you need to go there.

As a Boomer I took your advice at 59:

Jan 4 U-2 Elephant Walk...which one are you in Huggy?

Befriended a one-striper w/glasses on my first flying assignment in Germany. Had him over for dinner a few times then lost track after new assignment. Years later he found me. Just retired from "Flying gay helicopters into hairy shit." Pics of him flying below.

Willie

admdelta, it kills me to hear this. Went through this with my UPT roommate and always wondered if I could have done more to help. Turns out he should have been wearing glasses but by the time it was discovered it was too late. Becomes an F-4 WSO. AF sends him to law school. Eventually becomes an AF judge. Works three VERY high vis AF cases including the AWAC helo shootdown and the Khobar Towers bombing. Retired a couple years ago as a Federal Judge. Good luck.

Quoting someone else that I totally agree with, "Now he’s coming out of retirement and throwing his own money at the problem to try to save what he built, and I’m sure, his legacy. It’s a sad deal." Been associated with Van's for 35 years:

Took me 5 years to graduate from the U of Hawaii. Who in their right mind does it in 4 over there? Majored in Business barely passing due to spending most of my time on the U's Sailing Team. I am living proof college has little bearing on your future aviation endeavors as I flew fighters and for Delta.

Calling my ins company to up the value of my -8. Business Announcement From Van's Founder Dick Vangrunsven - VAF Forums (vansairforce.net) From the above forum link: Long story short, we are seeing the end of an era. That’s not to say the new era won’t be OK, but this was really the last kit manufacturer that could be built on an average middle-class budget. With all of the other component prices increasing exponentially, like engines and avionics and props, I think we are really seeing the end of the traditional budget home building era.