Can "old people" to learn to fly gliders?

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:14:05 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Sure, a lot "senior citizens" fly gliders. But how many of them soloed at 55?

It's apparently much easier to learn to fly at 16, but a new student aged 55 is more likely to have the time and funds to commit to the sport and stay with it. That late middle aged guy/gal is more likely to step into the shoes of the winnowed ranks of the even older guys/gals that presently sustain the sport. A 50-something who is prepared to retire is more likely to step up to fill the ranks than an underemployed 20-something who is struggling to get established in career, family, and community during a prolonged recession and uncertain economy.

But my question is this, can an "old person" learn to fly and does the soaring community have the patience to teach them? Are there special challenges to developing an older student and how well are those challenges addressed?
In looking at the title to this tread the more appropriate question may be "can you learn good grammar?".

On Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:51:33 PM UTC-4, wrote:

In looking at the title to this tread the more appropriate question may be "can you learn good grammar?".

Don't be such a jerk. Have you never made a typo?

On Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:05:58 PM UTC-4, Gilbert Smith wrote:
Jim wrote:

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:14:05 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Sure, a lot "senior citizens" fly gliders. But how many of them soloed at 55?

It's apparently much easier to learn to fly at 16, but a new student aged 55 is more likely to have the time and funds to commit to the sport and stay with it. That late middle aged guy/gal is more likely to step into the shoes of the winnowed ranks of the even older guys/gals that presently sustain the sport. A 50-something who is prepared to retire is more likely to step up to fill the ranks than an underemployed 20-something who is struggling to get established in career, family, and community during a prolonged recession and uncertain economy.

But my question is this, can an "old person" learn to fly and does the soaring community have the patience to teach them? Are there special challenges to developing an older student and how well are those challenges addressed?

WTF? Are you serious? Of course they can! Or, at least they have the same odds for success as the general population(regardless of age). Age is not a factor for the ability to master the challenges of piloting and flying gliders cross country. I agree that how fast one picks up the basic skills seems to be affected by age in some but that doesn't even justify your question. I have seen very young pilots acquire the required skills to fly but frankly I cringe at their blind courage to make some risky decisions without having any wealth of experience behind them.

I learned to fly gliders in my 50's with only about 100 hrs in SLE to transition from. I now have over 1000 hours in gliders, have flown them in contests, have several 1000k OARs and had flights from dawn to dusk.

Hank said it concisely that the "aptitude, motivation, and maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age.

-Jim

Our (now retired) CFI always maintained that it was the late-learners
who had the "stupid" accidents. Although "aptitude, motivation, and
maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age, put them in
a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical
thought is much too low.

I am 73, soloed at 17, and have 4000 hours, but am acutely aware of a
deterioration over the last 10 years.

"put them in a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical thought is much too low."...BULL****!

Well, OK 73 may be too old.

-Jim

Many years ago, as a new professional instructor, I asked my wise, older
boss, "How do I answer the question, 'How long will it take me to go
solo?'" He replied, "Just tell them 'one flight for every year of your
age'" (we were an all aerotow operation). I kept count for several years,
it was pretty close in about 90% of cases.

At 00:40 04 June 2012, Jim wrote:
On Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:05:58 PM UTC-4, Gilbert Smith wrote:
Jim wrote:
=20
On Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:14:05 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Sure, a lot "senior citizens" fly gliders. But how many of them
soloe=
d at 55?
=20
It's apparently much easier to learn to fly at 16, but a new student
a=
ged 55 is more likely to have the time and funds to commit to the sport
and=
stay with it. That late middle aged guy/gal is more likely to step into
t=
he shoes of the winnowed ranks of the even older guys/gals that presently
s=
ustain the sport. A 50-something who is prepared to retire is more
likely
=
to step up to fill the ranks than an underemployed 20-something who is
stru=
ggling to get established in career, family, and community during a
prolong=
ed recession and uncertain economy.=20
=20
But my question is this, can an "old person" learn to fly and does
the=
soaring community have the patience to teach them? Are there special
chal=
lenges to developing an older student and how well are those challenges
add=
ressed?

WTF? Are you serious? Of course they can! Or, at least they have the
sam=
e odds for success as the general population(regardless of age). Age is
not=
a factor for the ability to master the challenges of piloting and flying
g=
liders cross country. I agree that how fast one picks up the basic skills
s=
eems to be affected by age in some but that doesn't even justify your
quest=
ion. I have seen very young pilots acquire the required skills to fly but
f=
rankly I cringe at their blind courage to make some risky decisions
without=
having any wealth of experience behind them.

I learned to fly gliders in my 50's with only about 100 hrs in SLE to
tr=
ansition from. I now have over 1000 hours in gliders, have flown them in
co=
ntests, have several 1000k OARs and had flights from dawn to dusk.=20

Hank said it concisely that the "aptitude, motivation, and maturity"
to
=
fly gliders is certainly independent of age.

-Jim =20
=20
Our (now retired) CFI always maintained that it was the late-learners
who had the "stupid" accidents. Although "aptitude, motivation, and
maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age, put them in
a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical
thought is much too low.
=20
I am 73, soloed at 17, and have 4000 hours, but am acutely aware of a
deterioration over the last 10 years.

"put them in a situation they never encountered before and the power of
a=
nalytical thought is much too low."...BULL****!

Well, OK 73 may be too old.

-Jim

Well we just had one member terminate up his solo flying at 82 - after
some introspection relating to a minor accident where he failed to
handle all the very complicated stuff going on.

So I know of at least one going Solo for the first time at 83 - and some
- like this pilot deciding that a complex, high performance self
launcher with all the bells and whistles is not a good idea at 80+.

Depends on the person, and the complexity I suppose.

Fun is what you make it. - it does not have to be in a competition
single seater.

On 2012/06/04 2:40 AM, Jim wrote:
On Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:05:58 PM UTC-4, Gilbert Smith wrote:
Jim wrote:

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:14:05 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Sure, a lot "senior citizens" fly gliders. But how many of them soloed at 55?
SNIP

er encountered before and thepower of analytical thought is much too
low."...BULL****!

Well, OK 73 may be too old.

-Jim

--
Bruce Greeff
T59D #1771

On Sunday, June 3, 2012 6:40:39 PM UTC-6, Jim wrote:
On Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:05:58 PM UTC-4, Gilbert Smith wrote:
Jim wrote:

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:14:05 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Sure, a lot "senior citizens" fly gliders. But how many of them soloed at 55?

It's apparently much easier to learn to fly at 16, but a new student aged 55 is more likely to have the time and funds to commit to the sport and stay with it. That late middle aged guy/gal is more likely to step into the shoes of the winnowed ranks of the even older guys/gals that presently sustain the sport. A 50-something who is prepared to retire is more likely to step up to fill the ranks than an underemployed 20-something who is struggling to get established in career, family, and community during a prolonged recession and uncertain economy.

But my question is this, can an "old person" learn to fly and does the soaring community have the patience to teach them? Are there special challenges to developing an older student and how well are those challenges addressed?

WTF? Are you serious? Of course they can! Or, at least they have the same odds for success as the general population(regardless of age). Age is not a factor for the ability to master the challenges of piloting and flying gliders cross country. I agree that how fast one picks up the basic skills seems to be affected by age in some but that doesn't even justify your question. I have seen very young pilots acquire the required skills to fly but frankly I cringe at their blind courage to make some risky decisions without having any wealth of experience behind them.

I learned to fly gliders in my 50's with only about 100 hrs in SLE to transition from. I now have over 1000 hours in gliders, have flown them in contests, have several 1000k OARs and had flights from dawn to dusk.

Hank said it concisely that the "aptitude, motivation, and maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age.

-Jim

Our (now retired) CFI always maintained that it was the late-learners
who had the "stupid" accidents. Although "aptitude, motivation, and
maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age, put them in
a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical
thought is much too low.

I am 73, soloed at 17, and have 4000 hours, but am acutely aware of a
deterioration over the last 10 years.

"put them in a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical thought is much too low."...BULL****!

Well, OK 73 may be too old.

-Jim

Somewhere on Facebook recently I believe someone took their check ride at 72.

On Jun 3, 5:40*pm, Jim wrote:
On Sunday, June 3, 2012 5:05:58 PM UTC-4, Gilbert Smith wrote:
Jim wrote:

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 2:14:05 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
Sure, a lot "senior citizens" fly gliders. *But how many of them soloed at 55?

It's apparently much easier to learn to fly at 16, but a new student aged 55 is more likely to have the time and funds to commit to the sport and stay with it. *That late middle aged guy/gal is more likely to step into the shoes of the winnowed ranks of the even older guys/gals that presently sustain the sport. *A 50-something who is prepared to retire is more likely to step up to fill the ranks than an underemployed 20-something who is struggling to get established in career, family, and community during a prolonged recession and uncertain economy.

But my question is this, can an "old person" learn to fly and does the soaring community have the patience to teach them? *Are there special challenges to developing an older student and how well are those challenges addressed?

WTF? Are you serious? Of course they can! Or, at least they have the same odds for success as the general population(regardless of age). Age is not a factor for the ability to master the challenges of piloting and flying gliders cross country. I agree that how fast one picks up the basic skills seems to be affected by age in some but that doesn't even justify your question. I have seen very young pilots acquire the required skills to fly but frankly I cringe at their blind courage to make some risky decisions without having any wealth of experience behind them.

I learned to fly gliders in my 50's with only about 100 hrs in SLE to transition from. I now have over 1000 hours in gliders, have flown them in contests, have several 1000k OARs and had flights from dawn to dusk.

Hank said it concisely that the "aptitude, motivation, and maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age.

-Jim

Our (now retired) CFI always maintained that it was the late-learners
who had the "stupid" accidents. Although *"aptitude, motivation, and
maturity" to fly gliders is certainly independent of age, put them in
a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical
thought is much too low.

I am 73, soloed at 17, and have 4000 hours, but am acutely aware of a
deterioration over the last 10 years.

"put them in a situation they never encountered before and the power of analytical thought is much too low."...BULL****!

Well, OK 73 may be too old.

-Jim- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well... maybe not... It maybe up to a good PATIENT instructor to
properly avaluate one's ability and awareness regardless of age.
I've seen instructors over the years wanting to be good guys, signing
people off to fly solo or PIC when they had business none.
I would much rather an istructor never signs one off to solo than out
of pity let's the student kill him or her self.
I'm 65 years young, still very active and believe well skilled but; I
would like nothing more than when the time comes, for some friend to
pull me aside and ask me not be be a danger to myself and others and
not fly solo anymore. Althrough I sincerly hope this will come a long
long time from now.
PeterK