I just want to be sharp. After the pilot climbs into the cockpit and lowers the canopy, Troupe stands near the plane where the pilot can see him. He watches as the pilot tests the rudder, flaps, elevators, landing lights and all other flight controls. It's been three weeks since Troupe's name was painted on the nose landing gear door of Hornet No. 306. He was lucky.
Some people wait four years to get their name on a jet.
But I only had to wait a month. I didn't believe it at first. A fellow plane captain told me I had my name on a jet. I ran down there and looked, and, oh man. I don't wanna break it.