AirTran Airways Captain Plays Harmonica on his Retirement Flight

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  • čas přidán 17. 04. 2014
  • Captain Mike "Mad Dog" Watson on his retirement flight from AirTran Airways. Mad Dog has been flying for over 52 years, and is best known for his legendary preflight announcements singing "Bad to the Bone" while playing his harmonica. Captain Watson was also recipient of the 2000 AirTran Excellence Award for his heroic efforts during an inflight emergency earlier that year.
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Komentáře • 143

  • @taylornorman7134
    @taylornorman7134 Před 3 lety +15

    Captain “Mad dog” Watson. One of Airtrans’ best pilots until he retired. Great man

  • @aviationcalgary4110
    @aviationcalgary4110 Před 8 lety +106

    What a nice pilot!!! :D

  • @mdwramp22
    @mdwramp22 Před 10 lety +43

    One of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.....
    Congrats on your retirement Mad Dog
    ✈️🌅

  • @cheezr77345
    @cheezr77345 Před 10 lety +24

    I was the controller at Houston Center who worked TRS160 from LCH to the mighty Mississppi, just east of BTR! Sent him a care package of the strips and audio. Enjoy retirement Captain Mad Dog!

  • @petrataylor8980
    @petrataylor8980 Před 10 lety +59

    I've had him before on airtran

  • @Nifty55ca
    @Nifty55ca Před 7 lety +11

    Had the priviledge to fly on one of Capt Watson flights from Atl to Orlando...what a treat...great flight great crew..great Airline...best of luck in your retirement Skipper....

  • @9HighFlyer9
    @9HighFlyer9 Před 10 lety +149

    One of the last of the real aviators.

    • @tallplt
      @tallplt Před 10 lety +4

      Real aviators don't have to steal other pilots' jobs.

    • @olensoifer9901
      @olensoifer9901 Před 9 lety +10

      Peter Nincompoop
      Get a life, dude. Unfortunately, someone has to fly the planes. It doesn't concern you that, maybe someone has to take a flight to see a dying relative, etc. Doesn't matter to you, though. Too bad.

    • @mariaangeles278
      @mariaangeles278 Před 7 lety

      Peter Nincompoop

    • @virgiljones5160
      @virgiljones5160 Před 6 lety

      HighFlyer

    • @rajshree4887
      @rajshree4887 Před 6 lety

      Virgil Jonesrafi

  • @amilynn20
    @amilynn20 Před 10 lety +7

    As an AIRTRAN FA I CAN SAY THAT HE WILL BE MISSED! Wonderful person inside and out!

    • @tallplt
      @tallplt Před 10 lety +1

      He's not a wonderful person. He's a scab who stole other pilots' (and their families') livelihoods. He can rot in hell.

    • @bradsuhr7538
      @bradsuhr7538 Před 10 lety +2

      Peter Nincompoop someones angry

  • @PondofDreams539
    @PondofDreams539 Před rokem +2

    Mad dog was a legend when I worked at AirTran. He was looked at as a legend.
    I remember a story being told to me that he lost a engine right after take off, turned left, and came back and landed on the runway he just took off from without missing a beat.
    Hope he’s still doing well.

  • @karlowagstaffe7396
    @karlowagstaffe7396 Před 10 lety +21

    Wish every Captain was like that.

  • @AzulToad
    @AzulToad Před rokem +1

    This is someone who grew up for the Wild West.

  • @Southwest737
    @Southwest737 Před 10 lety +155

    Now THIS is somebody who enjoys their job!

  • @windanthonystream
    @windanthonystream Před 3 lety +1

    I’ve flown with Maddog at least 10 times... I always loved working with him... I wish he could have came over to Southwest before he retired!!

  • @erika8214
    @erika8214 Před 4 lety +2

    Yes, he was/is a very nice person and great pilot.

  • @John-vk5sp
    @John-vk5sp Před rokem

    I flew with this great pilot no telling how many times.
    He was amazing!
    I miss you airTran !
    The company was more than great, more than awesome!
    Thank you airTran for my life during my flight attendant years.

  • @thetravelmanusa360
    @thetravelmanusa360 Před 4 lety +2

    I was on this flight! He was the nicest!

  • @yankeealfa2339
    @yankeealfa2339 Před 2 lety +2

    love this guy! Way to go mad dog! My retirement is about two years in the future but I will never be able to top yours.

  • @traingaming3240
    @traingaming3240 Před 4 lety +5

    So fun to hear what some pilots do when the announce stuff. It's like every pilot has a different twist although most of the time it's nothing fun just a normal thing like a normal conversation which is nice and formal but come on your in a pressurized tube with wings and cool engines for at least an hour so make it fun add a twist or two that and if you do that the mood of the flight changes to more casual instead of formal and tense. I always love a pilot with humor kinda lightens up the flight

  • @alexanderpolk2874
    @alexanderpolk2874 Před 4 lety +3

    I remember back in 2006 flying from Chicago - Boston on AirTran and the captain played the harmonica when he made the welcome announcement...I wonder if it was the same guy. It must have been.

  • @crazypilot7577
    @crazypilot7577 Před 9 lety +5

    Props to Mad Dog Watson!

  • @justinackert1987
    @justinackert1987 Před 6 lety +2

    This is why i love this airline

  • @davincrawford912
    @davincrawford912 Před 8 lety +6

    i already love him

  • @leannestrong1000
    @leannestrong1000 Před 10 lety +27

    I wish he was still a pilot. He would've made a great pilot for Southwest.

  • @TommyZTrains
    @TommyZTrains Před 7 lety +2

    "The HUMAN-CONDITION" wins EVERY TIME !!! < GREAT CLIP > !!

  • @luisaberasturis6411
    @luisaberasturis6411 Před 8 lety +3

    What a great pilot I wish I can jaded him for all of mi flights

  • @msjswapnil
    @msjswapnil Před 7 lety +2

    Salute to the AWESOME.......................................................................Aviator.

  • @arizonaaviator1903
    @arizonaaviator1903 Před 10 lety +3

    @nutsaboutsouthwest please make more pilot/ cockpit videos! Thank you!

  • @flyboy6753
    @flyboy6753 Před 10 lety

    That's awesome!

  • @sterlingsplayhouse8235

    love it!

  • @solesearched
    @solesearched Před 10 lety +2

    Awesome!

  • @StarFlights_Buses
    @StarFlights_Buses Před 3 lety

    That was fun music💙💛❤️🤍

  • @miriammaldonado7848
    @miriammaldonado7848 Před 6 lety

    Congratulations! Captain Mad Dog. I wished i was in your plane when you play the harmonica. I truly regret the criticism, but some folks most have...i don't know what, and i don't care God bless you.

  • @TWhite94
    @TWhite94 Před 9 lety +5

    He reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones' character Hawk from Space Cowboys

  • @user-pp6dg8qr5p
    @user-pp6dg8qr5p Před 3 měsíci

    No Doubt No Commences😇😎🙏

  • @americanheavy6452
    @americanheavy6452 Před 8 lety +3

    Nice!!!!!!! 😀

  • @SusanRodgers-fw3nf
    @SusanRodgers-fw3nf Před rokem

    Awesome

  • @andrewdanas
    @andrewdanas Před 10 lety +3

    What in flight emergency?

  • @ericquezada3955
    @ericquezada3955 Před 3 lety

    Nice! 💯

  • @yankmachain_gunfighter

    I’ve been on one of his flights

  • @Banshee365
    @Banshee365 Před 2 lety

    Hags! You’re famous!

  • @zacheryalderton9502
    @zacheryalderton9502 Před rokem

    How many years

  • @AllThingsFlightSim
    @AllThingsFlightSim Před 5 lety +3

    He said Wisper Jet wonder if he was an Ex Eastern pilot.

    • @tjoelfoster
      @tjoelfoster Před 4 lety +1

      Yes. Flew with him on Eastern from Birmingham to Atlanta on a Sunday morning, had to be summer of 1990 as they shut down Jan. 1991. Harmonica, sense of humor intact. Landed 6 minutes early in ATL on the smoothest landing I was ever on. The fellow ahead of me told Capt. Mad Dog as we were leaving that he must have been an Air Force pilot since he didn't set it down looking for the hook. Watson replied, "Army!" Tune was a little different then, too. I looked it up and Thorogood came out with Bad to the Bone in 1991. I knew I didn't remember that.

  • @santinojozefmiller7721
    @santinojozefmiller7721 Před 3 lety +1

    He looks like Sheriff Grady Judd!

  • @kbtv6651
    @kbtv6651 Před 7 lety

    I think I've had this pilot too🎅🏼! Maybe?

  • @zam1803
    @zam1803 Před 7 lety

    boeing 717 is my favorite aircraft

    • @joeycarr1398
      @joeycarr1398 Před 7 lety

      Zachary McPencow the pilot's nickname is Mad Dog Watson so it might be an MD-88 what he fly

    • @zam1803
      @zam1803 Před 4 měsíci

      Sorry its 6 years replying late but this video popped up and I saw my comment and your reply but that's a cockpit of a Boeing 717 it was gonna be the MD-95 but Boeing bought out Mcdonnell Douglas in 1997 Airtran never owned the MD-88 they had the DC-9 then went to the 717 and also had the 737 at the time too also for short while leased two A320s @@joeycarr1398

  • @chriswhite-vk4et
    @chriswhite-vk4et Před 3 lety

    just found out that he passed away rip

  • @chrisreisinger4935
    @chrisreisinger4935 Před 7 lety

    CAPTAIN MAD DAWG

  • @5h28752001
    @5h28752001 Před 4 lety

    It's so funny Captain

  • @jbean9657
    @jbean9657 Před 10 lety +14

    I don't know the story about why people hate him in the business, but it seems he was hired during a strike? Well, unfortunately, if you strike that is a risk you take. If someone is willing to do the job when you won't under the conditions you are striking over, that isn't their problem... I do believe in unions, but you also must realize that you do take a risk if you say I won't work under this contract or without one. It's business. If someone else will, sorry, but you're going to be looking for something else, which may not be a bad thing for you if you disagree with the policies of the company. You can't have it both ways.

  • @Chrisell
    @Chrisell Před 9 lety +1

    Ok so it seems like the Captain is seated relatively low as compared to the visibility out the front window of the aircraft, so how does he see out when taxiing on the ground?

    • @misterdawg1
      @misterdawg1 Před 9 lety

      huh?

    • @Chrisell
      @Chrisell Před 9 lety

      misterdawg1 Looks like a young boy sitting in moms car unable to see over the dashboard and out the window. Clear enough?

    • @misterdawg1
      @misterdawg1 Před 9 lety +3

      They fly by the gauges, and look out the side of the plane, when they are taxing for take off the tail comes up and they can see out the front window, everyone who knows about flying knows this, just stupid people ask or say stupid things.

    • @Chrisell
      @Chrisell Před 9 lety

      misterdawg1 Thank you for answering. I'm just a person who is fascinated by and loves flying, sadly not a pilot.

    • @misterdawg1
      @misterdawg1 Před 9 lety +1

      I used to love flying now, but think I've been on my last flight. Did do some flying when I was younger in Alaska, but never finished to get a license.

  • @speedyyy5181
    @speedyyy5181 Před 7 lety

    Haha that was so cool

  • @Yuppa.69
    @Yuppa.69 Před 5 lety

    Only on southwest

  • @steemdup
    @steemdup Před 10 lety +4

    I agree - if you choose or vote to strike you can't be up in arms if others are hired to do your job while you walk the picket line. Many cannot afford to not work to support the cause when they have bills to pay and families to support. Just remember folks - you reap what you sow. BTW, SCAB stands for Secure Career and Benefits! Something to consider before criticizing the actions of others.

  • @joeycarr1398
    @joeycarr1398 Před 7 lety

    LOL unique!

  • @loceymagy5626
    @loceymagy5626 Před 7 lety

    Hello:)

  • @jamesdriscoll4268
    @jamesdriscoll4268 Před 10 lety +3

    1989 Eastern Airlines Scab, Shit Bird.

  • @9751asd
    @9751asd Před 6 lety

    he should play it during a grave digger freestyle

  • @richardfachtmann3699
    @richardfachtmann3699 Před 7 lety

    Capt MAD DOG Watson!!!

  • @PilotUnknownX
    @PilotUnknownX Před 7 lety

    is that a boeing 717

  • @billydward
    @billydward Před 9 lety

    That's no lt southwest

  • @juangarcia6095
    @juangarcia6095 Před 5 lety

    😄😄😄👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

  • @lauramczig
    @lauramczig Před rokem

    Cool really funny

  • @CIARUNSITE
    @CIARUNSITE Před 5 lety +1

    You'd think after 52 years he would've been able to work for a better airline than Southwest.

  • @oreljean119
    @oreljean119 Před 6 lety

    Hati Mishin

  • @ciroprado8786
    @ciroprado8786 Před 7 lety

    pandora m

  • @rdc2724
    @rdc2724 Před 6 lety

    good thing he doesn't play drums :)

  • @eduardoferreira3537
    @eduardoferreira3537 Před 6 lety

    .

  • @verystablegenius8316
    @verystablegenius8316 Před 6 lety

    ha

  • @ttnnaples8060
    @ttnnaples8060 Před 5 lety

    Maybe it was his 'reFIREDment' flight 😨

  • @kennethwatts6189
    @kennethwatts6189 Před 6 lety

    h

  • @kewkabe
    @kewkabe Před 10 lety +17

    Now he'll have all the time he needs to cross picket lines and take striking workers' jobs.

  • @marklittle9913
    @marklittle9913 Před 7 lety +4

    Absolutely disgusting. SCAB.

    • @parkerestes6470
      @parkerestes6470 Před 7 lety +2

      EAL SCAB '89...and this mindset carried over to AT. He negotiated with crew schedulers to fly the FO seat at 1.5 Capt rates while those same FOs were furloughed. We're talking junior employees, with young families, on the street and no benefits and this POS continued to play his harmonica and collect his paycheck and more! They always try to justify their actions...including him. Yeah, continue to praise ol' MD and his exploits, but it'll never change what he is...a low-life SCAB!

    • @parkerestes6470
      @parkerestes6470 Před 7 lety +1

      Mark Little my rant wasn't directed at you, but all of the people who praise the SCAB!

    • @marklittle9913
      @marklittle9913 Před 7 lety +1

      Jesus!!! Is it possible to be a SUPER SCAB? Apparently.

    • @marklittle9913
      @marklittle9913 Před 7 lety +1

      No AAronBarthol, if you had any comprehension of the US airline industry, you would understand that people like him were just taking OTHER people's jobs, while those people did without. Literally stealing from those individuals to line their own selfish pockets. SCAB.

    • @greenidguy9292
      @greenidguy9292 Před 5 lety +1

      Mark Little I guess you sucked at your job and lost it huh?

  • @PlatinumEagleStudios
    @PlatinumEagleStudios Před 2 lety

    CRINGE!!!!!!!!