Robert Ehrlich wrote:
Michel Talon wrote:

Jeff Dorwart wrote:


Let me mention an important factor here, the age of the pilot.
I have constated on myself that as one ages, the field of vision
becomes narrower, not to mention that attention is not of the same
quality, reflexes become poor, etc. This could well be one of the most
important factors at play here. Sooaring is much much bettre fitted to
young people in excellent health and doing a lot of sports (i mean
sports like squash) than to old people.


But mostly old people have the time and money for gliding. In my
personal case, I am well aware of my declining capabilities, but
I think the lot of free time I can (and do) devote to gliding
compensates for that, i.e. if I had started gliding betweeen
15 and 50, I would have been flying less than 50 hours per
year (now over 200) and this factor overrides the decline due
to age.

I don't think so. I remarked that a fair number of people whom i
learnt killed themselves soaring, were "well known famous" pilots,
flying a lot, but getting older. And, yes, since the soaring pilots
population is indeed getting older, thanks to the effect you mention
(time and money), it could well be that the number of accidents
augment, if this theory is true, of course.


--

Michel TALON