Bob Sherman - K2SJP
I was 8 years old and lived in Brooklyn, NY, just 5 miles away from Floyd Bennett Field. I was intrigued by all the aircraft coming and going and knew then that this is what I wanted to do.
I attended Aviation H.S. in Queens, NY. At the same time, I started taking lessons on a Cessna 150 at Deer Park Airport. 60 hours later I had my private certificate, and in another 25 hours I added my instrument rating.
After graduating from high school, I applied to Embry Riddle and, thanks to my mom who paid all my bills, I obtained my BSAT and a 707-type rating, and my Commercial and ATP certificates that I worked so hard on for four years.
I was now ready to join the USAF. After my initiation at Lackland (NO FUN), I was sent to Fairchild AF base in Washington for KC-135 training. Upon completion, I was sent to Clark in the Philippines. I became an O3 and worked the Da Nang in-flight fueling mission. Some days we would do as many as three RTs to meet the needs of the day.
I did not re-enlist despite the normal pressures to do so. I immediately joined Pan Am and was a F.O. on the 707. In 1970 I trained on the 747, and in 1982 I shifted to the left seat. I worked this until December 4, 1991, when Pan Am ceased operations. However, I stayed on until January 31, 1992 to help retrieve aircraft from all over the world. We lined them up at JFK and Miami. It was a very eerie feeling and a sad day for me as it was my last day at Pan Am after 25 years and 4 months flying with them.
I joined Tower Air and flew many of the Pan Am 747s that were sold to them. They ceased operations 3 years later and I went to FedEx in 1996. I retired on January 29, 2008 (My 65’th birthday.) Another sad day for me as it was the end of my flying career.
If they decide to move the retirement age up to 90, I'll be there tomorrow. (Ha-ha!)