My father was in the AF in the 60s - 80s. Funerals were a routine part of the daily ritual on base. His service dress was always ready. My wife spent more time with new widows than with her kids. My mom knew one day my father would not return from work. Last May @ 0950 she got a call from my father's co-worker. She knew what had happened and simply ask how / and where can she ID the body if there is anything left.

Fortunately, there was a body and the passenger with my father was alive because the old man got one more helo landing off-shore before his heart attack took his life at 59.

My father never left the 135 world because he knew he had ruined his body while in the military (he was one of those guys that never turned down a mission..I mean never...)and he would never be able to hold a class 1. He avoided the doctor at all costs. He went to the same old doctor for 24 years as a civilian pilot - they would have a drink and the doctor would sign the paperwork.

Until I joined this site I had no idea the abuse pilots go thru to have their view of the world at 35,000 feet.

-LAFF