I was an aircraft engineer for 25 years in the RAF. Throughout my career I was tempted to remaster to Loadmaster on Air Sea Rescue helicopters. These are the guys who dangle on a cable pulling people off sinking ships in raging seas. The job is known somewhat tongue-in-cheek throughout the RAF as 'Dope on a rope'.
I really regret now that I never went for it. The amount of job satisfaction gained from saving lives on a daily basis must be phenomenal.
Anyway, I left the RAF 12 years ago and am now a software engineer. Really exciting...
Graham