Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and I thought I'd introduce myself by asking a couple questions. My apologies if I should have found these in some other thread because they've already been discussed. I'm a 130 guy a few years from retirement but I thought I'd start my research now so I don't end up crunched when the time comes.
1) This "networking" thing is probably the most foreign concept to me that I know I'm going to have to get the hang of. How/when/who did you get started with this when it was your time to start looking at the transition to the civilian world?
2) If there is anyone here that isn't flying for a Major, I'd like to know how the life compares to military life (time on the road, hours, fulfillment). I'm not exactly keen on flying jumbos across the continent but I think the "lighter" side making enough to supplement my retirement is where I want to be. Please forgive my ignorance if that is a stupid statement. I know people work very hard in the smaller airplanes and I mean no offense.
3) I'll take any advice anyone has on this one... At the end of the day, when I'm done with the military, the most precious thing I want to have is time. Money is a wonderful thing but time with my wife, a couple years with my kids, and picking up a hobby or two is what matters to me as I look forward. Can I get a job flying professionally, other than local FBO CFI guy, where I can make a modest salary and have time on my hands? What job is that, and how do I get it?
Thanks a lot to all of you. I've read through a lot of these before I signed up and there is a ton of great information here. It's good to know at least when I retire that I will still belong to an aviation family of sorts. I like how helpful people are in this community.