Captain Langford’s Last Flight
Don Langford, FedEx Captain, will fly his last flight on Christmas Day. After that, he turns 60, and will be deemed unfit to fly as an airline pilot in this country.
I have known Don since he was fighting to become an airline pilot. He is the only person I know who has flown for eight different airlines. They kept going bankrupt and/or downsizing out from under him until he got on with FedEx, and he’s been there since. He is or has been an A&P, engineer, cropduster, aircraft builder, distributer of LSA, and master of everything from a J-3 to a 747.
You can read all the arguments pro and con about the age sixty rule but it seems real only when a friend becomes suddenly and officially “too old.” Even the media got excited when the legendary Hoot Gibson - first an astronaut, then an airline pilot - made his last flight a few weeks ago. But, I don’t know Hoot. I do know Don.
Actually, Don is one of the lucky ones. FedEx still has some airplanes with three in the cockpit, and Don can legally fly as the third man - the flight engineer. I wonder how it will feel, going from top dog in the cockpit to number three, overnight?
I asked Don if he had any last-flight rituals planned, and he said probably not. However, his son, Captain James (Jay) Langford (Embraer 170), is going to fly jumpseat on Don’s flight tonight (December 18). That’s gotta be a thrill for both men.
I hope they have a great flight, and that Don settles into this latest step in his aviation career.
George–
Don has indeed gone west. It came as a total shock to me. He was one of the last people I would have expected to die in a airplane.
Very sad.
Thanks for writing.
Ralph Hood
Ralph:
It is with regret that I inform you that Captain Langford has gone west. Current information says the amphibian he was instructing/demonstrating impacted the Tennessee River near DCU.
George Wade - Huntsville, AL
Tom Woodley–
By golly, I forgot to mention Don’s book, “Are We There Yet?” It is a history of most of his flying career. Damned good read. (I am mentioned in the book, not by name but as a “local Piper salesman.”
Thanks for writing,
Ralph Hood
Has anyone read his book ! Just maybe he missed his calling. A must read for aviator buffs. Very funny! ps Thanks for the autographed copies from Christine Pickens to Tom and Sophie. Sophie,who is also a commercial pilot out of Muscle Shoals called me a few nights ago from D.C. to tell me how much she was enjoying your book. Sophie is a Flight Instructor and Commercial Pilot; thanks to Sophie I recently joined the ranks of Private Pilot.I have rv7a 90% completed .Thanks again and GOOD LUCK in all your future endeavors!
Mr. Wade–
Thanks for the comment. I assume the bit about the $100 is a joke. If not, let me know and for a small percentage I will help you collect.
I will tell Don that you wrote. Where are you?
Thanks,
Ralph Hood
Don Langford! - I’ve been looking for that guy since ‘69 when I loaned him $100 in Olongapo City ….
You said it Ralph, from J-3s to 747s. Capt. Langford is one of the good guys who knows aviation from every angle. I bet he’ll know a thing or two about sailboats before too long.
George Wade
Mr. Franklin–
Thanks. I will pass your comments along to Captain Langford.
Ralph Hood
Congrats, that’s a lot of lousy meals,worked holidays.
noisy hotels,and “stay with us, we have new investors coming aboard,” before the lights go out.Been there.