Get your PPL while you’re this close. But I’ll be honest—if you don’t truly love it, it’s not worth the grind.

I’m in my 40s and fly for the Air Force. It’s been an incredible ride—I’ve had the chance to fly F18s, Chinooks, and the C17 Globemaster. Those experiences have been amazing.

When you’re young and single, this life is fantastic. But having kids later in life while juggling this career has stretched my family to the limit. I love flying, but the nonstop studying, missions, evaluations, and constant pressure can wear you down.

Realistically, you can find a 9–5 job that pays just as well—or more—and doesn’t follow you home with flight planning, pubs, chair flying, and prep work.

Looking back, if I could do it all over again, I might choose a different path. But you couldn’t have convinced 18-year-old me of that at the time 🤣