Hunting
 

For most pilots who stayed in the military, "the thrill of the hunt" faded away too, as one was given more paperwork, staff jobs, and additional duties instead of flying. All the airlines wanted you to do was fly your trips and go home. Best of both worlds was (and probably still is) the Guard/Reserves. Then you can have a "thrilling hunt" for a good airline job, but it won't be a hunt for survival, where you have to bag the first game you see, even if it's a skunk. :eek:

True. Only a few are fortunate enough to keep flying past the 15 year point. It can be done...I did it...but that all eventually ended at the 20 year point when the only thing being offered was the Pentagon. That just wasn't in my game plan...so I traded a fighter cockpit for a 727 plumber job!!

Yep...more so in the past than now...but still a way to max out both worlds.