Ed Rasimus wrote:

Well, I earned the privilege, but haven't flown as pilot in command in
many years. I never had the urge to go to work for the airlines and
there's nothing (short of maybe "warbird" ops) that would equate with
flying tactical jets.

I dunno Ed, I know a few guys who flew fighters and this is what one
of them (a former A-7, F-106 and F-16 jock) had to say:

Q: So Jim how does flying a trike compare to flying a fighter on
the fun scale?

A: Equal, but different. Way different. I like all types of flying,
but they are all fun in different ways. Flying trikes is probably the
most natural sensation of flying like a bird, like you dream about,
of any form of powered flight I've ever experienced. Flying
fighters is like flying a Formula I race car with wings, except even
more physically punishing. There's nothing like being at 100' and
seeing the electrical line poles go by at 600 kts +, and there's
nothing like cruising along at 50 mph waving at people and
smelling the new cut hay and feeling like a puppy with your head
out of the car window. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to
experience both. I'd rate them both as 10's, but different forms
of fun. If I had to pick one to experience in life and couldn't do
the other, I'd pick fighters. Fortunately, I didn't have to pick just
one.

People often ask, why I didn't go with the airlines and my answer is
always the same, "would you ask Mario Andretti why he didn't start
driving for Greyhound when he retired from racing?"

I can understand that but I think there may be something else going
on there. In other words, maybe guys like you whom have pushed the
envelope so many times in combat sense deep down that it's simply
time to quit?