PDQBoy

Well I think I have you all beat at the age of 50 pursuing a flying carrier with the regionals.

I started out getting my PP at 17 while still with 6 months to go in high school. I took a year off between high school and college and worked on my commercial/Instrument and then CFI while working as a dishwasher and bus boy at 3 restaurants.
Within 12 months I received my commercial, instrument and most of the CFI .I flew nearly every day and had 385 hours TT (I think the aircraft was $23.00 wet instructor was $7).
Time to start college and make something of my self
I majored in chemistry. Instructing in the summer between college semesters and fortunate enough to do some part 91 corporate PIC work in C310's and PA-34-200T's I received my ATP in the Seneca at age 23 with 1877 TT on graduation day of college (did not attend the proceedings).

As my field of study was Organic chemistry with minor in Applied mathematics I was obliged to interview with Upjohn Pharmaceutical just down the street (Kalamazoo,MI). I loved studying chemistry because it was an extreme challenge to do well in that academic field and I found it extremely interesting. Guess I have to think about working in this field now. When I showed up at Upjohn as a research assistant (yea right)
There were 585 PHP's on the property. I walked in with my well deserved BS degree and glowing recommendations from Western U. professors and basically I was qualified to do the same boring titration over and over again for 17 days in a row and wash glassware for the test trial runs. I could feel my well mind turning to mush by the second. I lasted 40 days then left the industry to fall back on my flying.

I quit without any real prospects but within days I fell into an instructing gig at Pontiac,MI and within months attended a hanger party and met a check airman for PDQ. “PDQ” what is that I said "Pat Ryan said we fly cancelled checks all over the eastern us at night"
He said "how may hours do you have son", I said about 1900TT/190ME w ATP.
The next week I was given a date for a "wash out ride" as they called it then. Not having any formalized hiring process other than to take you up in the BE58 if you had multi time and the BE36 if you did not they put you under the hood and just loaded you up until you broke or lost your composure (or got sick), tilt end of ride. Somehow I passed and was offered training in the C210. PDQ started the check hauling industry. They were hiring like mad. We started with 58 new recruits that passed initial training. 2 weeks ground 2-3 weeks flight training. Flying single engine, at night in winter icing conditions for 6 months was needed before they would upgrade you to the "twins". Of the 58 initial we were down to 23 pilots that made it past 6 mo. I was upgraded to barons and flew the C210,A36 Bonanza and BE58 (4) nights a week 7-8 hours flight time 15-16 hours duty time. Being single I had nothing better to do than just fly. I jumped on every stinking route upgrade or new city offered me. Logging time became a problem if you know what I mean. I had to spread the time over 5-6 days. At any rate, I was flying up to 168 hours per month some months. Needless to say the wheels were starting to fall off this train. This was too much. I was even starting to loose my hair. The money was good almost $74,000 on an annual basis and this was over 24 years ago but it was not sustainable.

After my 5th transfer I jumped ship and got on with a corporate 135 demand charter outfit in Ann Arbor flying the Aerostar and rice rocket (MU2B-36).
Ahhhhh the leasure life at last. Is this what all those airports looked like during the day, interesting? Fly 3-4 time per week, wake up at 5:30 am for a leasurly 7:30 show fly 4-5 hours during daylight back by dinner. Great, great people on the airplane what fun!
Did that for 3 years. Now 28 with 6400TT/4100ME I looked to the airlines. Minimums were 2500ME back then just to be considered. I put my app in with Republic got called, went to Eagan, did the sim check,HR,and panel.
I got the offer for the CV580 FO to domicile in MSP. With just the physical to go (a formality)
I was on cloud nine!
As I got back home from MSP I received a call from my Mom that Dad had a heart attack as was very ill. The person that I looked up to more than anyone else in the world was him and he was slipping away.
He supported me in everything I did especially flying. He would need a new (then) procedure to install a TI Mitral valve. I would of course jump in. I told The blue goose (Republic) that I would need 3 weeks to help stabalize my father's insurance business. Long story short, I ended up staying 7 years. I built that business up to profitibility and sold it after operating it for the 7 years. I started a software company then a consulting firm, and launched several products for insurance companies. Life has been good to me and my wife and we are pretty set financially. Now some 20 years after the airline offer.
Republic since merged with NWA as you recall. I purchased a cherokee six 300 for business and personal travel 3 years ago and am finally making plans to go back to flying after all this time.

I received two offers (for the interview) this past month with regionals out of DTW. I am now in the process of cracking the books 8 hours per day to get ready. The flying part came back to me like the crack of a whip.

So you guys that are 32 go for it! I will see you on the flight deck.
PDQBOY