An aging pilot

"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

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"

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

"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

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

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

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" 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

"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

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