31 years, 3 months, and 12 days.

DE727UPS said:
Yesterday I did my last flight at UPS. It was supposed to be BFI-GEG-SDF but we got dinged on the ACARS over central Montana to divert to BIL for a broken Airbus. I turned 60 this month and enough in enough. I was number 138 out of over 3000 guys but it's not the job it used to be. Schedules have degraded due to more flying crammed into the same duty day. Looking forward to doing some traveling and getting back into general aviation. Looking at an LSA that I could do some instructing in and also have a Redbird desktop sim I can use for some IFR training. Also hope to do some side gig's doing some contract flying. We'll see. Want to get a motorhome and roam about the west a bit. Visit some of the places that were the better layovers and explore the pubs I wasn't able to enjoy while at work. Since 1998 I have only flown 4600 hours, which sort of blew my mind. That's a little over 200 hours a year. Can be explained by the fact I was on the 727 for the first 13 years and it always did very short legs. Also, did reserve back in the heyday when we worked 5 days a month, and the last 4 years did airport standby out of RFD where we didn't work much. Max pay, min work, has always been my motto. Takes a lot of seniority in the seat to make that happen and I did bypass upgrades for several years. I did 4 years in the F/E seat being number 2 in seniority at the end. 9 years in the right seat 72. Then went to the right seat of the 75 for 3 years and the Capt on the 75 for 15 years. I really had a charmed life and career at Brown but, again, seniority made it possible. DOH 2/19/90 and last day on the list is Monday. First pension check Tuesday. It's definitely going to be weird and an big adjustment to being an EX-airline pilot but I came much farther in the career than I figured I would. Good Lord had a hand in that. I couldn't have planned it. Happy for all the UPS pilots here who moved up a number, except for A300Capt, who is senior to me...haha.
Click to expand...

Quitter!!

Seriously, congrats Don! I’m 4 months out myself from permanent OCV….can’t wait!

Enjoy your well deserved retirement:)
 
Congrats! Not sure what kind of LSA you're looking at. There is one being built down in Hondo that looks pretty interesting (except for the nosewheel). I've read things that say it doesn't have the "cheap" LSA type feel to it - either in flying qualities or finish. Seems like an interesting airplane that would have an (almost) Cessna Cardinal type visibility (struts seem pretty far back). Anyway, Texas Aircraft - I'd go with a Cub clone or the latest group doing Luscombes but that's just my kink. Happy retirement!
 
Thanks to all for the kind words and acknowledgement. Waco, I'm looking at one called the Sport Cruiser. I like the economics and the looks. Hard to believe what a wimp I've become since my teens when I would fly a 152 at night over the Cascades and not think twice about it. But my next plane is going to have a parachute. Also, looking for something I can do a little instruction in.
 
Congrats on getting out with your sanity, and pension, intact!

I’d hold off on the LSA thing just a bit. Word is that they may up the weights on them.
 
Fine work Don. Well earned!

Looking at what you flew there, did you ever want to work the DC-8?
 
DE727UPS said:
Yesterday I did my last flight at UPS. It was supposed to be BFI-GEG-SDF but we got dinged on the ACARS over central Montana to divert to BIL for a broken Airbus. I turned 60 this month and enough in enough. I was number 138 out of over 3000 guys but it's not the job it used to be. Schedules have degraded due to more flying crammed into the same duty day. Looking forward to doing some traveling and getting back into general aviation. Looking at an LSA that I could do some instructing in and also have a Redbird desktop sim I can use for some IFR training. Also hope to do some side gig's doing some contract flying. We'll see. Want to get a motorhome and roam about the west a bit. Visit some of the places that were the better layovers and explore the pubs I wasn't able to enjoy while at work. Since 1998 I have only flown 4600 hours, which sort of blew my mind. That's a little over 200 hours a year. Can be explained by the fact I was on the 727 for the first 13 years and it always did very short legs. Also, did reserve back in the heyday when we worked 5 days a month, and the last 4 years did airport standby out of RFD where we didn't work much. Max pay, min work, has always been my motto. Takes a lot of seniority in the seat to make that happen and I did bypass upgrades for several years. I did 4 years in the F/E seat being number 2 in seniority at the end. 9 years in the right seat 72. Then went to the right seat of the 75 for 3 years and the Capt on the 75 for 15 years. I really had a charmed life and career at Brown but, again, seniority made it possible. DOH 2/19/90 and last day on the list is Monday. First pension check Tuesday. It's definitely going to be weird and an big adjustment to being an EX-airline pilot but I came much farther in the career than I figured I would. Good Lord had a hand in that. I couldn't have planned it. Happy for all the UPS pilots here who moved up a number, except for A300Capt, who is senior to me...haha.
Click to expand...

You’re one of the longest member here, well deserved retirement. Congrats and enjoy! Do stick around here, don’t just disappear.
 
Retirement is one hell of an achievement that not everyone gets to experience for many different reasons.

Congratulations

Enjoy the retirement. Take it easy but keep it busy.
 
Congratulations Don. I still remember reading your perspective on the home page when I joined back in 2006 or so. You did it right.
 
Awesome man congrats! If I ever dispatched one of your flights hopefully you didn’t have any problems... and at least you don’t have to deal with databases anymore haha
 
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