Jack Sillup
The Tiger Photo
Jack and Mary Today
After UPT, Mary and I went to Columbus Ohio at Rickenbacker AFB. Spent 3 yrs on the KC-135 and some tempory duty refueling at the tail end of the war in late 72-73. In 1975 I drove to Dayton and met the 4950th test wing folks who wanted me to work as a test engineer at Wright Patterson AFB. The AF told them to keep me flying so they created a job as Research Pilot for test bed type aircraft. Then the pulled me out of SAC. What a deal. Flew the C-135, and T-39 test beds for many projects that I helped install on the aircraft until 1978. I was in a fast track there and really loved the job but decided to get out and become a rich airline pilot. Got hired by Braniff and Delta in 78 and decided to go to Braniff. So we moved back to New Jersey and I became a NY based 727 pilot but found myself looking for a job in the end of 1980 after the bankruptcy. That Engineering degree paid off and I went to work as a government Mechanical Engineer for the Navy and then the Army Avionics R&D activity at Fort Monmouth NJ. Also went into the ANG as a Civil Engineer which later paid off (Lt Col retired).
We had two kids by then and were happy to be near family. Mary started a private practice in Marriage Counseling and is still in business. We even own a small office condo. In 1981 some friends and I decided to go back to flying at People Express. After two mergers later, I am still at it until Oct 2014 (age 65). What a ride..