Retiring Southwest Airlines Pilot Takes His Last

This stunning story just isn’t just a Feel-Good, but a Father’s Day further. It embodies a youngster following in their father’s footsteps, a celebration of their father’s years of service and dedication to integrity, and that youngster witnessing it for their complete life and wanting to have that legacy emulated in their own.

Legacy and household values are the subject of this week’s Feel-Good Friday.

On Father’s Day, Captain Jim Curtis flew his last leg with Southwest Airlines. It was his sixty fifth birthday, and according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, the obligatory retirement age for all airline pilots is 65. So, the day marked TWO major milestones in his life.  

Capt. Curtis has been a pilot for 43 years, 21 of those in the United States Air Force. Upon his discharge from the navy, Curtis joined Southwest Airlines and has flown commercially with the airline for 22 years. Curtis has amassed over 18,000 hours of flight time, an accomplishment in and of itself. 

Southwest Airlines highlighted the emotional landmark in a Father’s Day Instagram post on Sunday, June 21, calling it “one special sendoff for one special dad”.

The airline then confirmed that Jim flew his last route from Las Vegas to Oakland, California, with First Officer Julia Curtis seated beside him.

First Officer Julia Curtis received on the flight intercom to honor Capt. Curtis. Here’s what she said:

“I’m really honored to be his first officer today because Captain Curtis has been a mentor for me my entire life. He inspired me to be a pilot,” she added. “He also helped teach me how to walk, how to talk, how to ride a bike, how to throw a baseball, how to drive a car and probably most importantly, he taught me how to carry myself with humility, kindness and integrity both in and out of work.”

“Getting to fly with him is a dream come true and something that we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives,” she concluded.

How valuable is that? I might have been a bucket of tears, but both Curtises had been composed and smiling. Their story just isn’t only a testomony to household values and leaving behind a legacy, but it’s an instance of passing the torch to the next technology and, in the case of the Curtises, actually giving them wings to fly. So very cool.

More Dad Love: Feel-Good Friday: High School Grad Is Surprised by His Active-Duty USAF Dad Greeting Him on Stage

Malcolm’s Memories: The Joy of My Father’s Joy

WATCH:

Capt. Curtis even acquired a point out from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.

Moments like this remind us why we love TRAVEL ✈️ @SouthwestAir Captain Jim shared his last flight before retirement in the cockpit with his daughter, First Officer Julia.

Captain Jim’s been flying for 43 years, has over 18,000 hours of battle time, and was in the Air Force… pic.twitter.com/yvl61iCTkp

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) June 23, 2026

Moments like this remind us why we love TRAVEL ✈️ 

@SouthwestAir Captain Jim shared his last flight before retirement in the cockpit with his daughter, First Officer Julia. 

Captain Jim’s been flying for 43 years, has over 18,000 hours of battle time, and was in the Air Force for 21 years

This is what inspiring the next technology of aviation is all about 👏

It’s all about inspiring the next technology, period. Capt. Jim Curtis and First Officer Julia Curtis have succeeded in that project. 

Editor’s Note: At RedState, it is not all about politics and coverage. We like to carry consideration to what’s good in the world, with columns like “Feel-Good Friday,” “Start Your Weekend Right,” and “Hoge’s Heroes.”

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