Imagine retarding the throttles, trimming the nose up slightly, feeling the ship as she prepares, reluctantly, to settle back to earth, hearing the wind noise bleed off, the engines wind down, the robotic callout of 50, then 30, then 10, and knowing that this is the last time you will do this in the cockpit of an airliner. Tomorrow you turn 65 years old. This is the final landing of your career.
An Airline Captain Wraps Up a Memorable Career
Key Takeaways:
- The article describes Captain Kent Roper's celebratory retirement from Southwest Airlines at age 65, marking his final flights from Orlando to Chicago Midway and back.
- His farewell was a festive occasion, involving family, friends, fellow pilots, and even passengers, complete with firetruck salutes and onboard celebrations orchestrated by the flight crew.
- Roper had a distinguished career, flying for the Air Force and several civilian airlines (Rocky Mountain, Braniff, Midway where he became chief pilot/VP, and Southwest as chief pilot), and was widely admired for his exceptional leadership and character.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
