While I was in Miami, Tom had a training session in the 747-400 simulator, and I was lucky enough to be able to sit in.
While I feel like I have been involved with a lot of the comings and goings throughout his career these past ten years, the only cockpit I have ever been in is a Cessna. That all changed when I buckled myself in an observation seat in the full motion simulator. I know what he does is complex, but I was overwhelmed when I saw all the buttons and gadgets. On the panel near my head, I counted about 80 switches, and that was only one of many panels.
Everything was so realistic, and I watched in awe as he calmly handled one emergency after another--weather, a hydraulic failure, an emergency descent after loss of pressurization, etc., etc. I was nervous for him and wanted him to perform well, and when it was all over, I wanted to jump up and hug him and yell "that's my baby!" However, since his last simulated landing was in Ontario, CA, I instead commented to his instructor that "Ontario has a great mall; let's get moving!" I don't think he was that amused though.
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