An aging pilot

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"

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

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 ;-)

"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

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

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"

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

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

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