I worked for Boeing designing aircraft parts. I am not a pilot. I worked at the direction of my boss, who was a pilot. He was the gatekeeper of my work.

He'd also take me up flying, and would let me try the controls a bit. I trusted and valued his pilot's judgement.

Many other engineers at Boeing were also pilots. Friends of mine are pilots. My father was a combat pilot in two wars.

Airplane mechanics have very little decision making power. They go strictly by the book. I worked on writing instructions for the mechanics who would be maintaining and checking my gearbox design. It went into excruciating detail.

I would wager that the better mechanics were ones who were pilots, as they'd know in their bones how important their job was.

I have some patents, and I worked with patent lawyers to file them. The patent lawyers didn't understand diddly squat about my inventions. They knew how to fill out the required forms, though.

> What does experience mean?

Oh, the tiresome word definition game again. No thanks.

> Does only private-sector experience "count?"

Why did you feel the need to insert "only"?