Hero Worship: Airline Pilots Will Always Be Worthy of Utmost Respect

Next, younger generation of carrier aviators don’t seem to have the same attitude as the ones who came before.

Martha Lunken

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Pilot executing preflight procedures in a commercial airliner cockpit before takeoff. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The author expresses deep admiration for airline pilots, particularly those from the 1960s-1990s, considering them lifelong heroes.
Retired pilots fondly recall the unique experiences of their careers, including the challenge of landing specific aircraft, the breathtaking views from the cockpit, and the profound sense of escape and identity tied to flying.
A central theme among the pilots is the unparalleled camaraderie, mutual respect, and lasting bonds formed with fellow aviators, which they consider irreplaceable.
While cherishing the unique aspects of their profession, the interviewed pilots universally express no longing for the less appealing parts of the job, such as commuting, regulatory hurdles, or difficult colleagues.

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OK, I’m a hero worshiper…always have been.

From a tot wide-eyed as Peter Pan flew to the “first star on the right and straight out ’til morning,” to sitting in front of a tiny TV screen with Sky King flying his UC-78 Songbird, to seeing The Bridges at Toko-Ri at the local movie theater with those magnificent Grumman F9F Panthers and McDonnell F2H Banshees screaming through valleys.