Good reading. Off the top of my head, I really don't have any "war stories" to add. 13,000 hours and it all starts to blend together. Don't get me wrong, I've had plenty of those "damn, I don't want to be here" moments over the years, but they don't quite have that "so there I was, out over the Pacific at night wondering if I was going to get my feet wet" stories like some of you have (although there
was last week when I descended over our mountain range East of LAX with the wind blowing 108 knots directly across the ridge-line at about 10,000 feet and felt like I was as close as I've ever been to having an airplane come apart on me in flight - the poor saps in back who had to ride along with us in that - OY!)
Ryan and Joe, I always enjoy reading your stories about those 20-series Lears. The jet I fly is a fuel saving, EFIS and dual FMS equipped, RVSM capable pussycat compared to what you've flown. I've had flights Westbound in the winter in that thing that have required a planned full fuel load, but have always been able to make destination with plenty of reserve left (1700 pounds /45 minutes is our planned reserve).
Ryan, if that kid's 6'3", I'm guessing you are too. It looks like you two are eye-to-eye.