nevermind,

Forget to mention... Barber poling it at 370 kias to the 12 mile limit, then chop and drop to the runway.

It flies.
Seeing the earth from above.
It flies.

My favorite thing is, landing in a good strong crosswind.

Preferably in a tail wheel airplane.

Or in a 757 in the rain...in DCA.

Delta had exactly that happen at SNA. Aircraft just after rotation hit a large flock of birds. CA elected to abort post V1 on a 5700 foot runway. Stopped the aircraft on the pavement. Both engines destroyed and post flight exam showed aircraft would have ended up in Newport Beach. Would never have made it back to land.

But no CNN special or book deals for him huh?

I can relate with the 1900, but the euphoria is just a high from lav fumes.

Getting a nice paycheck every month for using your skills in a complex environment.

Much like an attorney, doctor or machinist-you walk into your shop and use the available tools to improve the situation. You make money for your employer and yourself.

This isn't a hobby and the romance is gone, you make that machine make money. Without you it is just a hunk of aluminium and steel.

Same goes for all the other people supporting the effort-mechs, schedulers, engineers, designers, and (gasp) management.

They built it and you help run it.

In a turboprop, popping it back into beta and hearing the engines make cool turboprop sounds
In a jet, cruising at 380 and having a 747 pass 1000' above while an A330 flies 1000' below at the same time, both spewing contrails and giving a real sense of speed.
Flying around thunderstorms at night.
Fighting a 35-knot gusty crosswind into JFK on the VOR 13L, seeing the A320 in front go around because of wind shear and greasing the landing.
Waking up next to the hottest flight attendant in your crew
Going through a snowstorm at night. Looks like warp speed in Star Wars
St. Elmos fire
That feeling when you finish a 4-day trip and have 6 days off
Nailing the flight with a fed in the jumpseat
Phew got a little carried away, guess I just love what I do. Call me "Captain Happy" :p

Well by default one of them has to be the hottest and one of them the ugliest and sometimes that is the same person.