R. Hubbell wrote in
news:20040305083821.7b5873a9@fstop:

With the recent talk about diving and flying and personal limitations
I wonder how older pilots feel about their own abilities to keep fresh
and when do you hang up the wings? Or do you just limit your flying
and take it easier as long as the medical is good?

I'm sure there's a point when passengers start saying "well
yeah I'd love to go flying but I have to water the lawn".

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.

Remember the 80 year-old Citation pilot who ditched his plane in the lake in
Washington last year? Man...80 years old and doing SP in a Citation and
performing a ditching that would do someone half his age proud.


I started thinking about this while driving with an old friend.
He didn't notice that he was lane-wandering, while other drivers
did notice.

Those who noticed were the ones whose lane he intruded into.

Otherwise he is a safe driver, just not as precise
I suppose.

I'd say if he can't keep it in his own lane, he's NOT a safe driver.