Well, we all find reasons to justify our actions... His airframe end-
of-life reasons are just hot air, but seem 'real' to him...
I think that at 73 his desire to fly has lessened...
He will not be working so his income has dropped sharply...
Gas is four and half bucks a gallon at the cheap airports..
And the insurance for a P210 is expensive beyond reason...
Collins already admits no one will buy his plane...
A local orthopedic surgeon is trying to sell his P210 and has not had
a single offer on it (the plane is absolutely flawless)..

I am just a few years younger than Collins... Fat Albert The Apache is
a 1957 vintage... I am thinking about retiring in a couple of years
and in looking at the money it takes to keep even an old junker like
him around, he will have to go when the time comes... I am in the
throes of another big thrash of an annual, probably around ten grand,
on top of a twelve grand thrash a couple of years ago... And as I
write the checks I think the money probably should have gone to my
broker instead of out the door... But, being addicted to having an
airplane in the hangar he will stay around for now... I am
unreasonably fond of the old heap; probably early senility affecting
my judgement......
When he does go, some one will steal a really tired looking apache
that just happens to be mechanically ready to go anywhere in the world
- if there is anyone left who can afford an airplane by then...

denny