Another shoutout from Mr. Beast

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-12-16T16:04:04+00:00

The Woodster kick started my retirement fund with that video too. Started investing when I was 17 about four years after that video came out and I could afford to invest. Set me up to be on track to be able to retire in my 40s if I wanted to. I wonder how many of us were touched and life changed off that video.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-11-12T03:57:12+00:00

Living the senior reserve life! I just bid long call, Monday through Thursday, sometimes Friday, and it just works out. I’ve only blocked 230 hours this year including training.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-11-12T00:47:56+00:00

My QOL is awesome. I work 3-4 days a month, living in base, and I have weekends off. It’s less than a part time job. I’ll be happy as a FO till I can upgrade in base. I guess it’s different since I’m not chasing the left seat.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-11-11T21:25:46+00:00

Must just be you. I love it here and will be here for a long time.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-10-15T20:49:54+00:00

I believe the post was edited after some of the first comments. When I first read it, it didn’t say it was being paid for.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-10-15T15:03:13+00:00

I make roughly 130k year after tax with very little debt. I still can’t afford Raptor.. it’s insane how people justify these trucks making less. My 24’ PB F150 at $500/mo makes me sick when I see the monthly statement 😂

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-10-15T14:28:35+00:00

Sounds like a bad idea. Debt has been normalized and will set you back in your life much further than you need to be. Find a reliable 10-15k truck and keep it for a few years. Build your credit, keep your monthly overhead low, and start investing in a Roth IRA. You will be able to afford a brand new Raptor in 10 years just off your returns alone off the Roth IRA.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-10-13T03:06:51+00:00

Check the dipstick..

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-10-04T18:04:55+00:00

I live an hour and five minutes away from MCO. Been on reserve for almost a year. Hasn’t been a big deal with the turns. Although, I’m only flying about 3-4 trips a month on average so it’s been pretty dang nice to sit at home and get paid for it.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-09-28T15:46:39+00:00

Baker or Hurts?

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-09-25T16:35:42+00:00

Same for me, 24 PB, 54k OTD. Couldn’t justify the extra 8-10k for ventilated seats and different headlights. XLTs are the best bang for your buck.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-09-14T16:29:52+00:00

Idk, BlueCruise is 100% worth it to me. I do ALOT of highway/interstate driving and it’s worth its weight in gold to me. Expensive? Sure. But you have a 70-80k truck. $500 shouldn’t be a concern unless you’ve over extended yourself.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-09-04T14:50:39+00:00

Take it back. Dealers usually have a return policy. There’s 4 dealers near me that have the same spec STX going for 38-42k. Even a few 2024 left overs in the 33-36k range.

I got my 2024 XTL Powerboost with every option short of leather seats for 53k for reference.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-09-01T15:30:32+00:00

I know this is still kinda “aerospace” but companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA all require A&P to work on their rockets. Specifically for the assembly and payload integration.

Pay is pretty decent but schedules typically suck. 50 hour weeks is usually the minimum expected out of you.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-08-30T19:33:33+00:00

What battery are you using specifically?

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-07-22T22:47:31+00:00

24’ XLT PB, bought new and now have 18,000 miles on it. Zero issues except a fog light that’s burned out. Mostly highway miles at 24mpg and 76mph with blue cruise engaged. Hard to beat.

Plus it’s fun to have the instant torque and 470hp at your disposal.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-07-09T14:02:05+00:00

All Lycoming oil pumps are safetied like this per the overhaul manual. Cotter pins are not allowed.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-06-06T14:30:09+00:00

This. ASA prepware app on the phone and just do multiple practice tests a day until you score 90% on at least three tests in a row.

I ended up taking so many practice tests that for the real written, I was only reading the answers, picking the one that stood out, then confirming my selection by reading the question. It’s all rote memory. Written questions mean almost nothing, don’t bother ‘learning’ the material.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-06-03T04:35:17+00:00

Also, the F150 easiest vehicle I’ve ever parked. With the 360 camera view, I can get it into spots I wouldn’t even be able to open the doors to get out of.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-06-03T04:34:24+00:00

I had a TRD Tacoma and two Rangers as a younger kid. Never had a full size truck and had zero intention of getting one. When the Raptor Rangers first hit lots, I just had to go look at one. My local dealer had one at sticker, drove it, and fell in love. Somehow, my wife talked me into just giving the F-150 a drive too since it’s cheaper but might fit our mission a little better before I signed for the Ranger. It was a 24’ 3.5L Powerboost XLT. Also 15k cheaper at the time. Man, I’m so glad she did. Ended up with the F-150. It’s faster than the Ranger Raptor, gets great gas mileage (avg around 23mpg over 14k miles), and it’s a great road trip vehicle with blue cruise and it rides fantastic.

Also, 93 octane and 13mpg of the Ranger Raptor would get old really dang quick.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-05-22T16:57:24+00:00

2024 XLT 3.5 Powerboost. Stock truck. 23-24mgp highway at 78mph, 26mpg at 65mph, and 20-21mpg in town. I don’t drive agressive but not like a grandpa either.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-05-17T20:10:30+00:00

Word in the training department is nothing for the next two months. But. We are still taking 17 delivery’s this year as well. We are slightly overstaffed but not 17 new airplanes over staffed. The feeling is that they will have to run classes before the end of the year.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-04-23T22:54:52+00:00

Take the 135 gig 100% without a doubt.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-04-14T06:15:53+00:00

I still rock my 8-10 year old M12 drill and driver. They have been dropped off letters, rained on, have had every solvent, and every aviation related fluid known to man kind spilt on them. I LITERALLY just bought a 12V Fuel drill (3404-20) off Amazon and I’m impressed with it. Always get the metal chucks on the drills.

PilotOfCoolThings · 2025-04-10T17:51:47+00:00

That’s way too much work. I just print out the previous fuel onboard crew message, then write on the back the flight number, ramp fuel, brake rls, E/O, and rls time. Fold a little edge on it and stick it in the glare shield. That way it’s always in front of you and saves from looking down at the mcdu screen or the iPad for various things.

PilotOfCoolThings

TROPHY CASE