Single pilot L-188 Cargo flight

[pilotyip]

1979 flying as F/O on the Electra for TransAmerican Airlines hauling Emery Air Freight coming out of CLT about 0400. Captain is a WWII B-24 pilot, who loves watching the ponies run around a race track. On my leg, CLT-MIA, coming out of 1,000' we clean up and the Captain says to me "You flew these in the Navy didn't you?" I said "yep". He says "You look real comfortable in the airplane, how do you feel about taking it down to Miami by yourself" I answered "yea no problem" He answers "Good Fred (the F/E) and I are going back to crew rest seats in the cabin to handicap the ponies, let me know when we start down in Miami" Hey the auto pilot worked, it was the middle of the night, no traffic, almost no one on the radio, and no weather so away we went on a fantastic adventure. He let have the first leg the next night, he was exhausted.

 

[scarface]

Sometimes flying by yourself is the easiest option.

 

[bafanguy]

Yip,

Your story has overtones of DL's L-100 operation circa the early 1970s.

Go VFR ? Sure...why not.

The FE got every 3rd leg or so I've been told. I didn't realize I was junior enough to get a FE spot or I would have.

Good stuff...lost era.