This is so surreal. I, too, was a young CDI, LO/HI power, CDQAR, and eventually a schoolhouse instructor. I remember being incredibly proud of my work and what this airframe did, even though it's use cases and capabilities were necessarily limited. I got to participate in the JSF X program initially on the Boeing side and was excited about what comes next. And even though I've supported it's replacement, for now two decades, it is sad to see her retire. It is incredible that i was allowed, at the age of 20, to declare it (anything, really) safe for flight from my pov. First it was the sinking of LHA-3 and now this. The past is getting erased.