An aging pilot

[Jay Honeck]

So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.

Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.

In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.

To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)

So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
guy.

My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
(boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
(like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.

Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?

For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
possible?

And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
know it was time?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jose]

> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. [so what do you do?]

First thing I would do is learn hexadecimal. I'm thirty. Hex. :)

> My biggest concession to age has been my vision [...]
> I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure

Already have them, had them for a few years. Actually, what I did was to get one bifocal lens in my right eye with the bottom lens set further down than usual, and less of a correction. I use it for reading my instrument chart. In my left eye I
have a single vision lens set for distance. I like to look down, and I'm on the left side of the plane. It took some getting used to, and some argument with my optician who wouldn't fill my prescription that way, so I had to get a new exam and tell
the doctor what I wanted. It's time for a new exam though.

As long as I can pass the medical and BFR I'll keep flying. If I'm concerned that my condition is a hazard to flight, I'll tell this to my flight examiner so he can see whether or not it is, before I hang anything up.

Jose
--
for Email, make the obvious change in the address

[The Weiss Family]

> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel
> great.

Only 46?
Don't even entertain those thoughts yet.
My CFI is 71.
The guy I just bought my plane from is 74.
Seems to me your health is just fine.
So what if you need bi-focals.
So what if you don't fly at night, or choose to avoid overcast days.
Just contour your flights to fit the conditions you are comfortable with,
and fly until you aren't *safe* anymore.

Adam

P.S. Sound advice from a guy who's going to be 30 next month ;-)

[G. Burkhart]

"Jose" > wrote in message
. com...
>> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. [so what do you do?]
>
> First thing I would do is learn hexadecimal. I'm thirty. Hex. :)

So Jay is 2E years old? I'm still 2D until next month. My plane is 3A...

-Greg B.

Remember to vote for Kerry on November 2nd or Bush on November 3rd

[Jose]

> So Jay is 2E years old? I'm still 2D until next month. My plane is 3A...

No, Jay is two years away from turning thirty. You're three years away from that milestone. It's all how you look at things. :)

Jose
--
for Email, make the obvious change in the address

[Michael 182]

Get (or use at the rec center) an elliptical trainer. Aerobic workouts
without banging the knees. Start Pilates. Your back will never bother you
again. Drink plenty of whiskey. If the first two suggestions don't work you
won't care...

Michael



"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54...

> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did
> you know it was time?
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Cub Driver]

>For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
>maintain your edge?

Well, it's too late for you, of course, but what I did at age 66 was
to start taking flying lessons.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

[g n p]

Stop whineing Jay, and get them bifocals.
I *started* on my PPL at 47, have had my own bird for three years now.
________________
G. Paleologopoulos

[Roger Long]

The last pilot to have been trained by, and had his license signed by,
Orville Wright died while I was doing my primary training in 1997 or 1998.
He was still flying.

Of course, since I'm an ancient 54, I may not have the dates or details
exactly right.

--

Roger Long

[CV]

Roger Long wrote:

> The last pilot to have been trained by, and had his license signed by,
> Orville Wright died while I was doing my primary training in 1997 or 1998.
> He was still flying.
>
> Of course, since I'm an ancient 54, I may not have the dates or details
> exactly right.

http://airsports.fai.org/sep2000/sep2000let.html

The above link claims one such pilot alive and still flying
at age 100 (!) in sep 2000
CV

[Roger Long]

So I'm only 8.3% through my maximum potential aviation career.

I feel much better now.

--

Roger Long



"CV" > wrote in message
...
> Roger Long wrote:
>
>> The last pilot to have been trained by, and had his license signed by,
>> Orville Wright died while I was doing my primary training in 1997 or
>> 1998. He was still flying.
>>
>> Of course, since I'm an ancient 54, I may not have the dates or details
>> exactly right.
>
> http://airsports.fai.org/sep2000/sep2000let.html
>
> The above link claims one such pilot alive and still flying
> at age 100 (!) in sep 2000
> CV
>

[Jay Honeck]

> Stop whineing Jay, and get them bifocals.
> I *started* on my PPL at 47, have had my own bird for three years now.

I always tell people that I wasted the first 35 years of my life on the
ground, gazing skyward. (I learned to fly at age 35...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Bob Moore]

"Jay Honeck" wrote
> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never
> missed a day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather.

Well Jay, I've been flying for 46 years and have missed only
one day due to physical problems...sprained ankle. I'll be
70 in a few months and on my 69th, I pedaled our 34 mile bike
trail both directions (68 total) in 6 hours.
Florida is a great place to keep fit and enjoy it at the same
time.

> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it?
> When did you know it was time?

Hang it up???? No way! I was out giving a little Spin Instruction
just a couple of weeks ago, but mostly limit my instructing to
Flight Reviews these days.

Bob Moore

[Gary Drescher]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54...
> Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as possible?

http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/9/3068_9408.htm

--Gary

[Richard Russell]

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 03:42:57 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

snipped...
>For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
>maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
>possible?
>
>And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
>know it was time?

I didn't even get my PPL until I was 50. I have been wearing drug
store reading glasses for 10 years. Couldn't read the sectional
without them (my medical mandates them anyway). Actually, my medical
doesn't require that they be drug store glasses as long as I have some
kind of glasses with me. Me thinks you may be getting worried a wee
bit too early. Enjoy the next 25 years of flying and then reconsider
these questions.
Rich Russell

[OtisWinslow]

You're still a baby.


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54...
> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. > Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[SelwayKid]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:<5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54>...
> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.
>
> Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
> high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
> blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
> In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.

Jay!!!!
Here I am at 68, still giving aikido lessons/classes at the local U,
still pass my flight physical with no sweat, making the youngsters
wonder at what makes that "ol bas**tard keep on going", overweight by
my standards at about 10#(185) and working on it every day, go into a
XC run and finish last but on my own legs unassisted, and still wish I
was 20 years younger so I could REALLY shine....
Lemme see now... that would make me 48 when I could still leap over
buildings (well at least a duplex with a running start and a ramp) and
my BP @115/75 with a pulse rate of 74. What are you not doing Jay?
I applaud your weight training and -please do it with free weights?
The machines are great but do nothing to help your natural balance and
the resulting muscle tone. Above all, keep doing it! The older you get
the harder it is. And of course your diet is critical as you age.
I think of hanging it up from time to time but my pride won't let me.
I've done so many things in my life and yet feel there are many left
undone. Damned if I can let them go without at least trying to
accomplish some of them before I go west. Perhaps that is what keeps
me going? Nahhh, ......its my wife who keeps me going with subtle
hints/suggestions like, "Baby, didn't you do this before and win?" She
is my greatest supporter and fan and I hope to God she smiles when
they pour dirt on me knowing I am grinning that I did the best I ever
did right up to the last.
Rocky
p.s. I'm USMC green/olive drab
>
> To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
> for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
> time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
> I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
> senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
> could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)
>
> So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
> guy.
>
> My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
> weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
> corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
> (boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
> plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
> (like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.
>
> Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
> deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
> things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
> the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
> know it was time?

[Sifeba]

You are only a "chicken".

Up to age 70 I held and maintained, as a private pilot, a multi-engined
command rating(Instrument rating).

Don't even think about "hanging up the goggles"

Joe

[Gene Seibel]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:<5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54>...
> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.
>
> Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
> high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
> blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
> In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.

Lindbergh said, "I decided that if I could fly for ten years before I
was killed in a crash, it would be a worthwhile trade for an ordinary
lifetime." With 28 years of flight, my life has already been
extra-ordinary three times over. I'm 54 and all that stuff is
happening to me too. Our bodies will get old, and there is very little
we can do to slow that down. Still, I expect to fly for a long, long
time yet. And if the day comes that I can't, I'll have some incredible
memories - or maybe not - they say the memory is the first to go. If I
don't, I won't know what I'm missing. Be thankful for and enjoy every
day and every flight. Worrying about the future can ruin both and your
health. Know that with each flight you are experiencing feelings that
99% of the population doesn't even know exists. Savor each moment.
We've been given a special gift. We didn't earn it and we don't
deserve it.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

[C J Campbell]

Good grief, Jay. I did not even learn to fly until I was older than you.

[Hankal]

>So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
>day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great

I started my flight training at age 70
Since then I have gotten my IFR ticket. bought my little Cessna 172 and fly at
least once week.
Just had a 5 hour flight on Saturday and 5 hour flight on Sunday with a lot of
solid IMC. Get my butt out of bed at 5 each morning and jog at least 90 minutes
..
Sure I wear glasses but I am not overweight.
Hank

[SelwayKid]

"Michael 182" > wrote in message news:<R30fd.2547$HA.2133@attbi_s01>...
> Get (or use at the rec center) an elliptical trainer. Aerobic workouts
> without banging the knees. Start Pilates. Your back will never bother you
> again. Drink plenty of whiskey. If the first two suggestions don't work you
> won't care...
>
> Michael
Michael
Best Advice I ever heard for someone who is concerned about getting
old!I'll keep it in mind if I ever start feeling that way...say after
I reach 70 or so?
>
>
>
> "Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
> news:5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54...
>
> > For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> > maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> > possible?
> >
> > And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did
> > you know it was time?
> > --
> > Jay Honeck
> > Iowa City, IA
> > Pathfinder N56993
> > www.AlexisParkInn.com
> > "Your Aviation Destination"
> >

[PaulH]

> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
> know it was time?

I'm 67 and developed heart disease 4 years ago (bypass in 2001). FAA
lets me fly as long as I can pass my treadmill test. I've done
aerobic exercise for 30 years (running, biking) and this made it easy
to recover from the surgery (back to work in 5 days) and continue
flying. Got my instrument rating last fall to help handle this
sometimes vile Great Lakes weather.

[One's Too Many]

(warning: religious content follows)

1) Take care of your body as if you're going to live forever.
2) Take care of your soul as if you're going to die tomorrow.

....and I'm a hypocrite on both counts :-/

[Will Robinson]

Go easy on the booze, quit smoking, get off your butt and walk instead of
drive whenever feasable, take the stairs, watch your diet a bit more
carefully. Fly as often as you can, do fun stuff frequently. Enjoy life.

Live long and prosper.

-0-

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54...

[snip]
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?

[Jay Honeck]

> Savor each moment.
> We've been given a special gift. We didn't earn it and we don't
> deserve it.

For sure, Gene. For sure.

To those of you who interpreted my somewhat melancholy post as meaning
that I'm contemplating hanging it up, banish the thought! I'm
planning on flying for at least another 30 years, and they'll have to
pry the yoke out of my cold, dead fingers.

For me it's only natural to contemplate such things in autumn. The
change of season and diminishing daylight always brings with it
thoughts of the winter ahead, which is depressing indeed. SAD
(Seasonal Affected Disorder) has always been a part of my life -- it
just didn't have a name (or an acronym) until recently! ;-)

Luckily, my flying ace in the hole is my wife, Mary, who, as a woman
pilot, will certainly out-last and probably out-live me. Thus, my
days of PIC may come to an end some day, but my time aloft won't...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[H.P.]

My philosophy is as long as I can get it up, I'm 21 years old! Now that I'm
53, I want to get one other thing up: a plane! I'm half-way there.


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54...
> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel
great.
>
> Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is
too
> high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
> blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
> In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.
>
> To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old
son
> for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
> time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
> I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as
a
> senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
> could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)
>
> So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding
white
> guy.
>
> My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
> weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
> corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for
sure
> (boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
> plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
> (like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.
>
> Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
> deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are
various
> things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
> the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did
you
> know it was time?
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Copperhead]

I'm 48 and just started flying again last month after 15 year lay-off.
I think I'm better at it now than I was then.

My dad just left this morning. He's 76 and flew his Bonanza from
Denver to Batesville, AR on Friday to be here at the college where I
work for our annual fall festival and homecoming. He called a couple
of hours ago to let me know he made it back in one piece.

[G.R. Patterson III]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?

I'll be 56 in a few weeks. I switched from drinking beer to drinking wine to try to
keep the weight down. I had to stop patronizing Dunkin' Doughnuts about 10 years ago.
I stopped eating breakfast when I hit 40; recently I went back to eating breakfast
but no longer eat lunch. As far as diet goes, I would recommend a diet balanced
between meat and veggies like peas and broccoli, avoiding potatoes and white rice.
Since my wife is of Russian heritage, she's big on potatoes and other starches, but
I'm slowly convincing her to cook veggies instead (I gained 25 pounds the year after
we got married).

I had to go to graduated lenses about 10 years ago, but many people don't like them.
I hate them for reading, but fortunately, I can read without glasses. Don't know what
to tell you about floaters. I developed them early from using welding/cutting torches
with no eye protection. They cause a lot of "false alarms" when scanning for traffic,
but I think you'll just get used to them.

On my doctor's advice, I've abstained from caffeine for the last 4 years (except on
very rare occasions when I need to be on top form). This has had the extra benefit of
giving me a bladder endurance nearly as great as my aircraft.

I'm now doing odd jobs to eke out my savings while I continue to look for a software
position and take a few courses. As you've discovered, the regular exercise has been
good for my back, though I'm not doing weights. My cholesterol is still an issue.
There's a med called Zetia that helps, but it's expensive.

Short-term memory will become a problem for you, if it hasn't already. People's names
seem to be the first items you'll have trouble with. Develop a shorthand and start
carrying a note pad in your flight case for dealing with unfamiliar fields. When I'm
dealing with clearance delivery at a controlled field, if I put the transponder code
in as the controller speaks, I'm certain to forget the departure frequency or other
necessary info by the time I'm done. Get used to just writing everything down and
setting things later.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

[Jay Somerset]

Jay,
I was older than you when I first started flying -- I am now 63. Don't
sweat it -- you should be good for many more years, as long as you keep
yourself alert and active.

I added Instrument and Commercial in 1992 and 994, respectively, even though
I have no intent to exercize Commercial priviledges.

Keep up to date on what is going on; try and fly at least 50 hours per year
(I'm a bit shy of that these days); push the boundaries every so often
short, difficult fields, good cross-winds, etc), and above all, don't take
R.A.x too seriously. :-)

Cheers.

> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.
>
> Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
> high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
> blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
> In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.
>
> To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
> for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
> time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
> I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
> senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
> could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)
>
> So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
> guy.
>
> My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
> weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
> corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
> (boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
> plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
> (like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.
>
> Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
> deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
> things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
> the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
> know it was time?

[Carl Orton]

"Will Robinson" > wrote in message
news:5bbfd.2284$kE.146@trnddc03...
> Go easy on the booze, quit smoking, get off your butt and walk instead of
> drive whenever feasable, take the stairs, watch your diet a bit more
> carefully. Fly as often as you can, do fun stuff frequently. Enjoy life.
>

..... and then there's my Dad. Age 91. Smoked till age 70 (unfiltered Pall
Malls). STILL drinks at least one (sometimes two) six-packs of beer a day.
Hasn't eaten a green vegetable in all of my 50 years. Lives on hot dogs,
bologna, and potato rolls. The only medical stuff he's had done in the past
50 years has been to have his prostate reamed out and cataracts.

And is obsese. (Not grossly, but he's got a pot belly.)

Still rides a bike. Quick reflexes. Shoots pool every day (won the Gold at
the Senior Olympics). Has absolutely no idea what his cholesterol or BP is.
His outlook: what's the worst that could happen? It kill me?

Carl

[David Johnson]

Some years ago I knew a man who was an active pilot in his 90s.
He didn't even start flying until his 60s. His approach to main-
taining his health was hard work. You'd see him out working on
his property every day. I hope I can do as well (just turned 60)

David Johnson

[Bob Fry]

Quit worrying, start flying:
http://jimsladesairlines.com/rothenberg2.html

(Flight log of 74 year old pilot who flew an Ercoupe to airports in
the 4 farthest corners of the continental USA).

Your weight training is an excellent plan. Start or continue some
cardio stuff too....join a health club, or better yet, put an exercise
room in your hotel and use it yourself. Watch your diet! Hard to do
perhaps in the Midwest. Avoid restaurant foods. Watch "Supersize
Me", that should cure anybody of the fast-food places.

Pick the right parents.

[Jack Allison]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>>Savor each moment.
>>We've been given a special gift. We didn't earn it and we don't
>>deserve it.
>
>
> For sure, Gene. For sure.
Couldn't agree more.

> Luckily, my flying ace in the hole is my wife, Mary, who, as a woman
> pilot, will certainly out-last and probably out-live me. Thus, my
> days of PIC may come to an end some day, but my time aloft won't...
I've thought the same thing Jay. Whenever my PIC days are over, I hope
to have several flying buddies such that my time in the air can continue.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, Wanna-be IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Wizard of Draws]

On 10/24/04 11:42 PM, in article 5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54, "Jay
Honeck" > wrote:
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>

My DOB: 1957. My advice and personal practice:
No drinking, no smoking. Vitamins every day. Get down to your fighting
weight. Sex as often as the wife can stand it. Keep your mind sharp by
keeping active physically and challenging yourself mentally.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

[Roger]

On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 19:50:17 -0400, Wizard of Draws
> wrote:

>On 10/24/04 11:42 PM, in article 5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54, "Jay
>Honeck" > wrote:
>>
>> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
>> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
>> possible?
>>
Date young women, but make sure your wife doesn't catch you or instead
of maintaining your edge you may find she keeps all the silverware
really sharp. But thinking on the positive side, like my used-to-be
tomcat, you still might want to go out, but wouldn't remember why.

That and no more testosterone poisoning.

You might even find doing the dishes fun.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>
>My DOB: 1957. My advice and personal practice:
>No drinking, no smoking. Vitamins every day. Get down to your fighting
>weight. Sex as often as the wife can stand it. Keep your mind sharp by
>keeping active physically and challenging yourself mentally.

[Jay Honeck]

> My DOB: 1957. My advice and personal practice:
> No drinking, no smoking. Vitamins every day. Get down to your fighting
> weight. Sex as often as the wife can stand it. Keep your mind sharp by
> keeping active physically and challenging yourself mentally.

No smoking since 1987, a multi-vitamin and 500 mg of vitamin C, plus an
enteric-coated aspirin each morning has kept me remarkably healthy. In
fact, I honestly can't remember the last time I was sick, and I've never
missed a day of work in my life.

At six feet tall, I've been as light as 175 pounds, and as heavy as 205, but
I generally remain in the 185 - 190 range when working out regularly, as I
am now.

But no drinking? At all? Not even a cold beer at the hangar after a long
cross country on a hot summer's night? Not even a glass of rose with a
plate of lasagna?

That ain't right.

And, I believe, health statistics show that alcohol, when consumed in
moderation, is a life-prolonging prescription.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jim]

Hi Jay,

I started with the old reading glasses and floaters thing when I hit
forty. I am 52 now. The reading glasses are a little stronger now (not
much) and have a few more floaters (again not much). At forty, I can
remember seeing something floating to the side of my vision and saying
"What the hell was that?", thinking it was a bogie.

I read talked to my doctor about the floaters and he told me that
eventually your brain learns to "tune" them out. I have found that
this is true. I've gotten so use to them that they are no longer a
factor and only notice them when I'm thinking about them. Accept them
as part of your life now and move on.

I would say that you have nothing to be concerned about. I keep my
reading glasses in the airplane glove compartment and found that
Walgreens sells sunglasses with bifocals for around 15 bucks. No
problem!!

Keep on FLYING!
Jim
http://FunPlacesToFly.com






"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:<5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54>...
> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.
>
> Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
> high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
> blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
> In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.
>
> To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
> for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
> time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
> I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
> senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
> could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)
>
> So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
> guy.
>
> My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
> weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
> corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
> (boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
> plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
> (like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.
>
> Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
> deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
> things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
> the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
> know it was time?

[Richard Russell]

On 27 Oct 2004 07:06:53 -0700, (Jim) wrote:

>Hi Jay,
>
>I started with the old reading glasses and floaters thing when I hit
>forty. I am 52 now. The reading glasses are a little stronger now (not
>much) and have a few more floaters (again not much). At forty, I can
>remember seeing something floating to the side of my vision and saying
>"What the hell was that?", thinking it was a bogie.
>
>I read talked to my doctor about the floaters and he told me that
>eventually your brain learns to "tune" them out. I have found that
>this is true. I've gotten so use to them that they are no longer a
>factor and only notice them when I'm thinking about them. Accept them
>as part of your life now and move on.
>
>I would say that you have nothing to be concerned about. I keep my
>reading glasses in the airplane glove compartment and found that
>Walgreens sells sunglasses with bifocals for around 15 bucks. No
>problem!!
>
>Keep on FLYING!
>Jim
>http://FunPlacesToFly.com
>
>
I am the same age and have the same problems that developed at the
same time. My brain must be deficient, however, because I have not
been able to "program out" the floaters. I still feel like I have to
swat away he gnats that are flying around in front of me.
Fortunately, they settle to the bottom and spend most of their time
there.
Rich Russell

[CVBreard]

> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
>> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
>> possible?
----------------------------------------------

FWIW, I'm 68, recently renewed my 2nd Class FAA medical, don't smoke (never
have), don't drink, don't chase women, eat all the wrong foods, don't exercise,
high BP (treatable), high cholesterol (treatable), flying at least once a week.


Hey, I may make age 70 at this rate. Maybe it's the genes (Dad lived till his
late 80s, Mom is in her late 80s - choose your parents carefully)

[Wizard of Draws]

On 10/27/04 9:36 AM, in article svNfd.16504$R05.7492@attbi_s53, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>
> But no drinking? At all? Not even a cold beer at the hangar after a long
> cross country on a hot summer's night? Not even a glass of rose with a
> plate of lasagna?
>
> That ain't right.
>
> And, I believe, health statistics show that alcohol, when consumed in
> moderation, is a life-prolonging prescription.

Obviously a study funded by the evil, greedy capitalists in the liquor
industry.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

[G.R. Patterson III]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> And, I believe, health statistics show that alcohol, when consumed in
> moderation, is a life-prolonging prescription.

Sorry, Jay. Not just any alcohol but red wine is what figures in the studies.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

[Al Gilson]

Sheesh, Jay. You're just a young puppy. I didn't even start my flight
training until I was 46. Got my certificate at age 47 1/2. Don't worry
about your eyesite. Mi eh-em-ee fine-alley toled mee thet eye needled two
ware meye glass-es whin eye flie. Eye dun unnerstant. Eye kin c fyne
whin i dreyeve, reed, an tipe. Fleyeinc ees know prop-lem.

la noslig
2791 anssec


In article <5D_ed.243219$wV.57086@attbi_s54>, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

> So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
> day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.
>
> Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
> high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
> blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
> In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.
>
> To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
> for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
> time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
> I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
> senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
> could still do it. (I darn-near died... ;-)
>
> So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
> guy.
>
> My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
> weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
> corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
> (boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
> plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
> (like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.
>
> Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
> deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
> things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
> the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?
>
> For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
> maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
> possible?
>
> And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
> know it was time?

--
Al Gilson
Spokane, WA USA
1970 VW Convertible
1964 Cessna Skyhawk

[Cub Driver]

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 13:36:24 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>enteric-coated aspirin each morning

The wisdom now is that you should take it in the evening.

The Wall Street Journal had an article on the things you can do to
extend your life, and beside each was the number of months it ought to
add. The one I liked best was to drink a four-ounce glass of wine with
dinner: four months!

I boasted to my daughter that I was now a wine drinker, and that it
would extend my life by four months. She said: "Yeah, but it will be
in the winter."

(I'm serious about taking the aspirin in the evening. It was on the
list, though I think it was only good for a month or two of longevity.
In any event, I switched. I'm not superstitious--knock on wood!--but
why take chances?)

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 13:36:24 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>Not even a glass of rose with a
>plate of lasagna?
>
>That ain't right.

No, it's not right. See my earlier post. The glass of wine is one of
the easy things you can do to add to your life.

(Of course, there's not proof of cause and effect here. The Toyota
Avalon is the safest passenger vehicle on the road, but that doesn't
mean you'll be safer if you swap your SUV for an Avalon. You will take
your driving habits with you into the new vehicle.)


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

[G.R. Patterson III]

Cub Driver wrote:
>
> (Of course, there's not proof of cause and effect here. The Toyota
> Avalon is the safest passenger vehicle on the road, but that doesn't
> mean you'll be safer if you swap your SUV for an Avalon. You will take
> your driving habits with you into the new vehicle.)

From what I've seen of the driving habits of many of the SUV owners around here, if
the swapped for an Avalon, they wouldn't live long.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

[Jay Honeck]

>>enteric-coated aspirin each morning
>
> The wisdom now is that you should take it in the evening.

Why?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Morgans]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:n8cgd.331333$D%.181798@attbi_s51...
> >>enteric-coated aspirin each morning
> >
> > The wisdom now is that you should take it in the evening.
>
> Why?
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

That is when your blood is the thickest, and you are most likely to have a
clot clog up your brain or heart, which is what the aspirin helps prevent.
--
Jim in NC


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.782 / Virus Database: 528 - Release Date: 10/22/2004

[Stealth Pilot]

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 03:42:57 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>So I've reached my 46th year fairly unscathed. I've still never missed a
>day of work, ever, and I'm rarely under the weather. In fact, I feel great.
>
>Still, now that I'm solidly in middle age, I find that my cholesterol is too
>high, I could stand to lose 15 pounds, and, at my most recent check-up, my
>blood pressure was a touch high, for the first time.
>
bloody hell, I'm not alone in the world. :-)

>In short, the inevitable effect of aging is starting to show itself.
>
bull****. the effects listed above are due to poor lifestyle choices,
lack of effective exercise and poor diet. unless you have some wierd
genes those characteristics are not age related.

>To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
>for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
>time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.

weight training is actually a poor choice. the muscles being exercised
are too small and really all you are doing is exacerbating
hypertension.
a better form of exercise is swiming because it uses more muscle
groups. the best dry land exercise is walking. this gives the long
muscles of your body a chance to burn off fat. you should aim to just
raise a sweat by the end of the walk and gradually build up the
distance walked. if you walk hard enough to experience pain then you
are in lactic acid production and your system has tripped over into
anaerobic metabolism. this is ineffective for weight loss. try to
maintain a pace which just raises a sweat but doesnt hurt. this will
see you maintaining aerobic metabolism which is best for weight
reduction. you will find that the after effects of a good walk are a
slowed heart rate and lower blood pressure for a good many hours
afterward.

btw dont try to lose weight too fast or your health may suffer. stage
it out over a year or so.

>I've passed the CAP cadet requirement for running a mile (even though, as a
>senior member, it wasn't required), just to show my kid that "the old man"
>could still do it.

moderation my boy or the comment you made may come true.
> (I darn-near died... ;-)
>

>So, all things considered, I guess I'm doing okay for an old, balding white
>guy.
>
your greatest asset is realising that you need to change your
lifestyle to improve your health.

>My biggest concession to age has been my vision, which has always been a
>weak point. (It kept me from joining the Air Force.) Although I'm still
>corrected to 20/20, I'm going to need bifocals at my next check up for sure
>(boy, that danged sectional is just about impossible to read), and I am
>plagued with more and more floaters every year. Low-contrast backgrounds
>(like an overcast) make it very difficult for me to spot traffic.
>
some of that is age related (the change in focal length) make sure
that you are getting adequate nutrition and a balanced diet. vitamin A
deficiency can cause night blindness and general eyesight impairment.
it would be an easy thing to get on top of. make sure you see a doctor
to ensure that you dont have a correctable problem starting there.

>Since life is a terminal condition, it's only natural that whatever is
>deteriorating will continue to do so -- although I assume there are various
>things pilots can do to compensate. At some point, however, the lines on
>the graph intersect, and you've got to quit flying. Question is, when?
>
the oldest man to requalify for a class 1 instrument rating was 99
years old. the oldest man to fly as pilot in command of a private
aircraft was 103. my mate tom flies his Thorp T18 as though it was on
rails. Tom turns 80 in 2 weeks time. you are selling yourself short.

>For those of you farther down life's trail than I, what have you done to
>maintain your edge? Any tips on staving off old man winter as long as
>possible?
>
well I'm 6 years older than you and like you faced the need to do
something to regain my fittness after 7 years in a job with 1 week per
month restraunt meals and sitting at a computer desk the rest of the
time.
the inevitable 50th birthday sacking from the technology job has given
me the opportunity to study for a degree in nursing, what I'm actually
doing is studying to retain my medicals.:-)
you can change your health around if the damage isnt permanent. your
body is a wonderfully adaptive mechanism if you stick at it.
good balanced diet, adequate aerobic exercise, passionate interest in
what you are doing. those are the secrets to a long healthy life.

>And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did you
>know it was time?
dont be such a sorry arsed pessimist. there is actually evidence out
there that associates pessimism with poor health outcomes.
you know its time when you are no longer breathing, until then never
give up.
I wouldnt give advice I'm not doing myself.
Stealth Pilot
Australia.

[Jay Honeck]

>>And for those of you who have hung it up, what made you do it? When did
>>you
>>know it was time?

> dont be such a sorry arsed pessimist. there is actually evidence out
> there that associates pessimism with poor health outcomes.
> you know its time when you are no longer breathing, until then never
> give up.

You're about the tenth person to interpret my question as meaning that I am
pessimistically evaluating myself as being ready to "hang it up."

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm in great physical condition,
feel terrific, and am looking forward to decades more in the saddle. (Knock
on wood!)

But I WOULD like to know the signs that were noted prior to relinquishing
the left seat, by those who have done so.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[bryan chaisone]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:<QZ5fd.244767$wV.21099@attbi_s54>...
> > Stop whineing Jay, and get them bifocals.
> > I *started* on my PPL at 47, have had my own bird for three years now.
>
> I always tell people that I wasted the first 35 years of my life on the
> ground, gazing skyward. (I learned to fly at age 35...)

Wow Jay, I didn't know you just started (relatively speaking). I'd
always assumed that that you had been flying for a long long time from
your contributions here and and your enthusiasm. I started when I was
17, now almost thirty nine, but flight time has been far and few in
between because of lack of money. I'm a renter. That reminds me, I
gotta get my medical and BFR.

Bryan

[Jay Honeck]

>> I always tell people that I wasted the first 35 years of my life on the
>> ground, gazing skyward. (I learned to fly at age 35...)
>
> Wow Jay, I didn't know you just started (relatively speaking).

Well, I'm 46 now, Bryan -- so I guess I don't feel like I "just started"
flying...

But I do envy your 22 years in the air. I wanted to start at age 17,
believe me, but I just didn't know how....

Which is why I feel it is our duty to help the next generation avoid the
mistakes I made. How many folks like me NEVER got off the ground, simply
because they NEVER figured out the fact that they could do it?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Cub Driver]

>But I do envy your 22 years in the air. I wanted to start at age 17,
>believe me, but I just didn't know how....

You can't be sure you'd still be flying. Along would have come women,
university, military service, recessions, wars, marriage, children ...

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

[Stealth Pilot]

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 01:56:14 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:


>
>But I WOULD like to know the signs that were noted prior to relinquishing
>the left seat, by those who have done so.

I think that that is real simple. if you feel you cant fly the
aircraft safely with the windsock horizontal then you need to evaluate
why. if some practise wont get you back on top of it then you need to
think seriously about getting an aeroplane you can fly. ie trade in
your hot little homebuilt for a cessna 150.
the two oldest guys I know still flying ( at 80 and 86 ) have no
intention of stopping voluntarily.

another friend had a heart attack and managed the aspirin under the
tongue trick and was back in the air with 3 stents in 3 months.
another who suffered a small stroke and had some damage from it will
never be medically signed off to fly again.

voluntarily no one decides to stop flying unless they've had a scare.
involuntarily, a medical hiccup can do it.

Stealth Pilot

[Jay Honeck]

> voluntarily no one decides to stop flying unless they've had a scare.

I guess that's the part I was wondering about. What's "the scare" that
makes them hang it up?

Was it a momentary lapse of reason? Not being able to remember a clearance
or a frequency? Inability to land the plane smoothly? Confusion over which
runway is which? Not sure from which direction to enter the pattern?

What I've just described has happened to me and Mary over the years -- and
probably to everyone reading this -- at least a couple of times. At our age
we have laughed it off as just a just momentary stupidity -- but when does
it become "a sign" of real problems?

I guess it's just a question that every pilot must answer in their own way,
when the time comes. I've only met one pilot who was admittedly on his
"final flight" -- and he was clearly in physical and mental decline, and
well into his 80s.

I wonder if there is any correlation between advanced age and aircraft
accidents? (I'll bet Richard Collins has written at least five columns on
this over the years...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Masino]

Stealth Pilot > wrote:
>>To combat this I've been doing daily weight training with my 14-year old son
>>for over 9 months. I've built muscle mass and stamina, and (for the first
>>time in 20 years) my back isn't on the verge of "going out" all the time.
> weight training is actually a poor choice. the muscles being exercised
> are too small and really all you are doing is exacerbating
> hypertension.

That's not always the case. I've read studies that show that weight
training is also beneficial to cardio-vascular health, in addition to
aerobic excersise. I've weight trained, along with 30 minutes on a
stationary bike, three times a week, for the last 18 years, and my blood
pressure is just fine.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

[Jay Masino]

Jay Honeck > wrote:
>> voluntarily no one decides to stop flying unless they've had a scare.
>>
> I guess that's the part I was wondering about. What's "the scare" that
> makes them hang it up?
>

After 18 years/1000 hrs. of flying, I periodically think about giving it
up (and I'm 5 years younger than you) for a variety of reasons. I haven't
had a particular event that scared me (recently, atleast), but I do allow
my fear of heights to get the best of me, occasionally. I did stop flying
IFR, because I didn't feel like I was practicing enough to be safe. More
often, I think about how I should be spending my money on something else,
or that I don't feel like being bothered with getting medicals or BFRs or
annuals on the plane. I don't feel like being bothered with the
Washington, DC airspace. I could start participating in other hobbies
like boating, horseback riding, motorcycling or restoring my old muscle
car, more than I can now. There are a lot of reasons why someone might
choose to stop flying.

--- Jay



--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

[Jay Honeck]

> More often, I think about how I should be spending my money on something
> else,
> or that I don't feel like being bothered with getting medicals or BFRs or
> annuals on the plane. I don't feel like being bothered with the
> Washington, DC airspace. I could start participating in other hobbies
> like boating, horseback riding, motorcycling or restoring my old muscle
> car, more than I can now. There are a lot of reasons why someone might
> choose to stop flying.

For sure. Everything in life is a balance.

I've often thought about how the money I've poured into aviation in the last
decade could have been better spent. We could be living in a friggin'
mansion, we could be driving a brand new Mercedes, a brand new Harley, we
could have gone on cruises, toured Europe (back when that sounded like fun),
and sent our kids to the finest private schools.

On the other hand, I would not have experienced the utter joy of watching
the sunrise from 5000 feet, the satisfaction of spending many more days with
my dying mother in Wisconsin, nor would I have experienced the pride of
owning a fine aircraft. All those fly-ins, all those Oshkosh's, all those
Sun N Funs, all the great people I've met, and (not least of all) our recent
career change would certainly never have happened.

And I'd still be on the ground, gazing skyward, wondering...

When you get right down to it, we really like our modest ranch home, our '97
Subaru and '00 Mustang convertible are terrific, our '86 GoldWing runs just
fine, cruises sound boring, Europe sucks, and the schools in Iowa City are
some of the finest public schools in the nation -- so what the hell.

Flying is life. When I'm in the air, I feel alive, and when I'm on the
ground, I'm plotting new ways to get back in the air! Everything else is
just window dressing.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[[email protected]]

Jay -

A couple years back at Oshkosh there was a fellow selling a beautiful
Cessna 170. It was his dad's - then about 83, and getting too old to
fly. I asked him what went first - driving, or flying. He thought
quite a bit & finally noted that his dad' driving ability went first.

66 years with 27 years in my own 172M

[G.R. Patterson III]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> Flying is life. When I'm in the air, I feel alive, ....

Ok. Now imagine for a second if you didn't feel that way in the air. When it becomes
just the same hour 60 times a year (or 50, or 30), would you think it's time to hang
it up?

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

[Jay Masino]

Jay Honeck > wrote:
> Flying is life. When I'm in the air, I feel alive, and when I'm on the
> ground, I'm plotting new ways to get back in the air!

I agree to a large extent. But for me, things have never been the same,
since GA was destroyed near DC. I never see my airplane friends anymore.
Very few of them are flying any appreciable amount. I was lucky enough to
move my plane outside the ADIZ, but that make it only possible to fly on
Saturdays. My new airport is one step away from the personality of a
morgue. No hangar flying here. I spend most Saturdays by myself, either
tinkering with the plane or flying, but alone none the less. Flying isn't
the same as it was 5 years ago.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

[David Johnson]

voluntarily no one decides to stop flying unless they've had a scare.
> involuntarily, a medical hiccup can do it.

A pilot at the local airport (who is 85) recently sold his plane. When
I asked him why he said that the sight in one of his eyes was getting
poor, and he didn't think he could pass the medical again.

He also said that he'd been flying 50 years and 5,000 hours, and had
had enough for anyone. No mention of any scare or denial - he just
decided that the time had come to hang it up.

BTW we also have another senior pilot of 86 who just renewed his
medical. Flies his T6 every week (and handles it like the pro he is).

David Johnson

[Casey Wilson]

I turned 68 last April. My wife flies with me and so do my four kids.
And my kids let my grandchildren go up with me. If any of them every said
they don't trust my abilities as an airman, the ticket gets stapled to the
wall. After that, I've got plenty of pals to fly with.

[Jay Honeck]

> I agree to a large extent. But for me, things have never been the same,
> since GA was destroyed near DC. I never see my airplane friends anymore.
> Very few of them are flying any appreciable amount. I was lucky enough to
> move my plane outside the ADIZ, but that make it only possible to fly on
> Saturdays. My new airport is one step away from the personality of a
> morgue. No hangar flying here. I spend most Saturdays by myself, either
> tinkering with the plane or flying, but alone none the less. Flying isn't
> the same as it was 5 years ago.

That's really sad, Jay.

You need to start from scratch with that new airport of yours, and that is
hard. It took us a good five years in Iowa City before we got back to the
level of socializing that we were at in our hometown airport.

Pilots are always willing to talk, but they can be hesitant to embrace.
Sometimes it takes a while to break in -- and other times you've just got to
start your own little clique, and go from there.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Morgans]

"Jay Masino" > wrote

Snip

I spend most Saturdays by myself, either
> tinkering with the plane or flying, but alone none the less.

Snip
>
> --- Jay

That is one thing you can (and should) change. There are oodles of people
around that would tinker and fly with you, if you just gave the word.
Co-workers? Kids? Lots of kids, I'm sure. Invite some people along, and
give some love. (No not that kind<:-))
--
Jim in NC


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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[Cub Driver]

>A pilot at the local airport (who is 85) recently sold his plane. When
>I asked him why he said that the sight in one of his eyes was getting
>poor, and he didn't think he could pass the medical again.

What did he need that extra eye for? I have had no useful forward
vision in my left eye for 70 years that I know of (I got specs at age
2). Except for a bit of extra caution with noting where the wingtips
are, the spare eye serves no useful purpose while flying.

(Well, there's my flight instructor, who has come out of several eye
operations with the astonishing ability to read close stuff with his
left eye while he has 20/20 distance vision in his right eye. He's one
of the few people I know who entered their sixties throwing glasses
away!)

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
the blog www.danford.net

[Jay Masino]

Jay Honeck > wrote:
> You need to start from scratch with that new airport of yours, and that is
> hard. It took us a good five years in Iowa City before we got back to the
> level of socializing that we were at in our hometown airport.
>
> Pilots are always willing to talk, but they can be hesitant to embrace.
> Sometimes it takes a while to break in -- and other times you've just got to
> start your own little clique, and go from there.

The problem is that there is literally know one at the airport, a lot of
Saturdays. I'm often the only person with his hangar door open. Don't
get me wrong. I've made friends at the new airport (Ocean City), but the
airport community just doesn't come out and "hang out" on weekends, like
the old days. I've found that this is also the case at a lot of the
smaller GA airports on the Delmarva peninsula. When I drive over to one
of my old airport, near DC, there are occasionally some students flying
with an instructor, but generally, the airport looks like a ghost town.
GA appears to be dying a slow death in the mid-Atlantic states, and it's
making me sick to my stomach to watch it.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

[Jay Masino]

Morgans > wrote:
> That is one thing you can (and should) change. There are oodles of people
> around that would tinker and fly with you, if you just gave the word.
> Co-workers? Kids? Lots of kids, I'm sure. Invite some people along, and
> give some love. (No not that kind<:-))

Work is 125 miles away. I'm not really interested in messing with kids.
I do take friends for rides, occasionally, but most of them work on
weekends (service industry in a resort town), so that's a minimal
population.

Listen... I don't want everyone to feel sorry for me. I've had a lot of
fun flying for 18 years. If it's coming to an end, that'll suck, but
I'll figure out something.


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

[Jay Honeck]

> The problem is that there is literally know one at the airport, a lot of
> Saturdays. I'm often the only person with his hangar door open.

Yeah, that's true at a lot of airports. It's often true here in Iowa City,
too -- but we've hooked up with some other "hard core" aviation nuts on our
field, so we can usually count on hanging out with each other.

And then, of course, there are those occasions when -- for no apparent
reason -- EVERYONE comes to the airport. It's usually a nice day, of
course, but not always the nicest. Something just seems to be triggered
inside every pilots brain, that sends them to the airport like lemmings to
the sea.

And somehow, some way, after the flying is done, they end up drinking beer
in our hangar!

Sometimes all you've got to do is lay out the bait. Sooner or later, you'll
catch them.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Stealth Pilot]

On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 13:05:09 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote:

>> voluntarily no one decides to stop flying unless they've had a scare.
>
>I guess that's the part I was wondering about. What's "the scare" that
>makes them hang it up?
>
>Was it a momentary lapse of reason? Not being able to remember a clearance
>or a frequency? Inability to land the plane smoothly? Confusion over which
>runway is which? Not sure from which direction to enter the pattern?
>
>What I've just described has happened to me and Mary over the years -- and
>probably to everyone reading this -- at least a couple of times. At our age
>we have laughed it off as just a just momentary stupidity -- but when does
>it become "a sign" of real problems?
>
>I guess it's just a question that every pilot must answer in their own way,
>when the time comes. I've only met one pilot who was admittedly on his
>"final flight" -- and he was clearly in physical and mental decline, and
>well into his 80s.
>
>I wonder if there is any correlation between advanced age and aircraft
>accidents? (I'll bet Richard Collins has written at least five columns on
>this over the years...)

you really dont need me to chip in here. the other posters have
written some beautiful heartfelt comments.

momentary lapse in reason?
well are the blood sugar levels down? have you been holding your
breath for a while and the oxygen levels are down? there are lots of
reasons for a confusing moment. aviation is a demanding task that may
take all you have for a moment or two. learn to relax on yourself a
little.

not being able to remember...
that's why you write them down. stuffed if I can remember the buggers
ever. :-) sometimes I have to dredge real hard. what did that guy just
tell me.

confused over which runway is which?
well think about it, sometimes there is scant information available to
tell which runway is which. if the sun is overhead there are no
shadows to help either. at 500 ft above circuit height you can orbit
all you like. make another orbit or look for other traffic.

it only really becomes a sign of a real problem when you havent found
home for 2 days and the woman talking to you claiming to be your wife
is someone you havent met before. ...or have you. the medico who signs
you off will latch on to that one real quick so dont worry about it.

you are very hard on yourself mate. learn to relax. make sure you get
a good nights sleep before flying and I'm sure you'll be ok.
posting coherently on here involves a skill set that proves you arent
losing it.

If you find that you dont enjoy flying then change the oil and have a
month off. remember that you do this because you love it not out of
any sense of duty. I have some real dropkicks around me that kill my
pleasure at times. then a kid or a girl comes along that I coax up for
a fly terrified. the beaming smiles fix all the doldrums for me.

actually for me I cant wait to finish this degree and do my next 3,000
mile flight. I'm spoilt by the lure of long distance across australia
flying. around the circuit just doesnt cut it some days.
Stealth Pilot

[Eduardo K.]

In article >,
Stealth Pilot > wrote:
>
>voluntarily no one decides to stop flying unless they've had a scare.

Makes sense... In my case the scare came from the wallet :)



--
Eduardo K. |
| Freedom's just another word
http://e.nn.cl | for nothing left to lose.
|

[bryan chaisone]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message news:<V5jhd.350086

> I wanted to start at age 17,
> believe me, but I just didn't know how....
>
> Which is why I feel it is our duty to help the next generation avoid the
> mistakes I made. How many folks like me NEVER got off the ground, simply
> because they NEVER figured out the fact that they could do it?

That is great, I'm sure there are many young lurkers here that will
benefit from you and the rest.

One thing I regret is that I didn't pursue a flying career when I was
young. I just met a 20 year old that went to Mesa (something) got
380+- hours and is now flying for United Express. He is still under
500 hours, but is getting more hours fast. Wish I could be twenty
again.

Bryan

[David Johnson]

>
> What did he need that extra eye for? I have had no useful forward
> vision in my left eye for 70 years that I know of (I got specs at age
> 2). Except for a bit of extra caution with noting where the wingtips
> are, the spare eye serves no useful purpose while flying.

Since this man is just a casual aquaintance, I can only relay what
he said. However, I suspect that the cost of maintaining an airplane
had something to do with it.

I have run across a few one-eyed pilots, and have noticed that they
seem to do as well as "normal" ones. I'm in the latter category, but
don't trust my depth perception when it comes to wingtips. An easy
way to assure clearance (assuming the sun is shining) is to watch
the shadows on the ground (works best with high wing A/C). :-)

David Johnson