How old is too old to fly?

Hi,

my CFI was 72 years when I trained for the PPL. This man was _great_. He
was calm, experienced and he knew about the risks involved.

I'm still dreaming about flying as precise and
always-two-steps-ahead-of-the-plane as he did.

Regards,
Peter

(who thinks it's totally absurd about measuring age by years. Give a
twenty year old person a troublesome weak, just 5 hours sleep a night,
dehydration the days before and a bottle of diet coke warmed by sunlight
before the flight - and you'll see _real_ bad performance...)

Danm. I am still too young to fly!!!

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Roger Tracy" wrote in message
...
I think once they get over 50 or so .. they shouldn't be flying.

I don't think you have the maturity to start flying until you are 50 or
so... :-)

I think once they get over 50 or so .. they shouldn't be flying.

Next time you fly United or American, ask the captain how old he is.

all the best -- Dan Ford
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see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
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"R. Hubbell" wrote:

I'll be happy to be old and flying solo as long as a I can
do it safely. Just not sure if I'll be the best judge of
my safe flying when I'm on the tail end of my years.

That's why they have BFRs.

George Patterson
A diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that
you look forward to the trip.

On 2004-03-05, G.R. Patterson III wrote:


"R. Hubbell" wrote:

I'll be happy to be old and flying solo as long as a I can do it
safely. Just not sure if I'll be the best judge of my safe flying
when I'm on the tail end of my years.

That's why they have BFRs.

Puts a lot of pressure on the CFI's. I hope the 20 year old CFI that I
dotter into for my last BFR has the nerve to refuse to sign off.

I was waiting at an FBO one afternoon and happened to overhear a very
grey (I'm *only* 53, just a sprout) pilot chat with a much older CFII
(who hung up his spurs later that year) about his (the pilots) most
recent gear up landing then go on to arrainge for his BFR...

Still, hell of a lot better system than auto licences.

"Doug Carter" wrote in message
...
On 2004-03-05, G.R. Patterson III wrote:


"R. Hubbell" wrote:

I'll be happy to be old and flying solo as long as a I can do it
safely. Just not sure if I'll be the best judge of my safe flying
when I'm on the tail end of my years.

That's why they have BFRs.

Puts a lot of pressure on the CFI's. I hope the 20 year old CFI that I
dotter into for my last BFR has the nerve to refuse to sign off.

I was waiting at an FBO one afternoon and happened to overhear a very
grey (I'm *only* 53, just a sprout) pilot chat with a much older CFII
(who hung up his spurs later that year) about his (the pilots) most
recent gear up landing then go on to arrainge for his BFR...

Still, hell of a lot better system than auto licences.

Well, I am a 53 year old CFI and I don't have a problem with telling you
when to hang it up. Neither do the 20 year olds who are my colleagues.

Actually, it isn't really all that difficult. You go out and do the BFR. The
guy can't do the maneuvers to standards, so you schedule additional
training. But he doesn't seem able to improve. Sooner or later the client is
going to tell you that he is quitting. Once your BFR runs over 10 hours and
you still haven't got those steep turns and stalls to private pilot
standards, you will know. You are done flying without an instructor.

Once your BFR runs over 10 hours and
you still haven't got those steep turns and stalls to private pilot
standards, you will know.

Yes, that would certainly work for me.

Indeed, if it ran into the SECOND hour, I would start to worry.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (requires authentication)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message

I'll be happy to be old and flying solo as long as a I can
do it safely. Just not sure if I'll be the best judge of
my safe flying when I'm on the tail end of my years.

There was a guy I flew with in the 727 some years ago, a close friend at the
time. His Dad had retired from United some years before that, and was still
flying a corporate craft -- KA-200, iirc -- at the age of 81 when he finally
retired. That was in the early nineties.

JG

"John Gaquin" wrote in message

There was a guy I flew with in the 727 some years ago, a close friend at
the
time. His Dad had retired from United some years before that, and was
still
flying a corporate craft -- KA-200, iirc -- at the age of 81 when he
finally
retired. That was in the early nineties.

Just as an aside/addendum, I recall my friend telling me that when his Dad
closed his logbook, he had well over 41,000 hours documented, and had not
even logged a few years of barnstorming in the thirties.

JG

BFR! B*gg*r!

We have to have those in the UK now (damn JARs!) and
mine's due this month IIRC. Bah. Glad you reminded me,
thanks.

Paul

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...
That's why they have BFRs.