Advice, please: too old to fly?

There can be no better source of advice than this group for my question: am
I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

Full disclosure. As a young man in the Korean War I was an aviation
machinist's mate in the Navy. As a forestry student in the late '50's I was
a smokejumper, so I have quite a bit of experience in the ultimate maneuver:
abandoning an airplane in flight. As a forester in Southeast Alaska, I had
many hours of time flying with a bush pilot, as a passenger. Lots of
airplanes in my background, but I'm now 73.

I find the Zenith STOL's irresistible. The 701, the 2-seater, can be flown
with a 10-hour sport license, so at my age--and limited time out there
ahead--it might make sense to focus on that airplane. But I'd really prefer
the 801, the 4-place plane. It would take longer to get the necessary
private pilot's license--40 hours of flying time instead of 10--but I see
that as a huge advantage: nothing beats experience. And flight training and
airplane building could proceed simultaneously, couldn't they?

I've enjoyed a great deal following the discussions on this board, and I've
learned a lot here. Maybe it has been the stimulus for my cockamamie dream.

Your knowledgeable comments will be most appreciated, and thanks a million.

Dick Behan

In article ,
"R.W. Behan" wrote:

There can be no better source of advice than this group for my question: am
I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

Full disclosure. As a young man in the Korean War I was an aviation
machinist's mate in the Navy. As a forestry student in the late '50's I was
a smokejumper, so I have quite a bit of experience in the ultimate maneuver:
abandoning an airplane in flight. As a forester in Southeast Alaska, I had
many hours of time flying with a bush pilot, as a passenger. Lots of
airplanes in my background, but I'm now 73.

I find the Zenith STOL's irresistible. The 701, the 2-seater, can be flown
with a 10-hour sport license, so at my age--and limited time out there
ahead--it might make sense to focus on that airplane. But I'd really prefer
the 801, the 4-place plane. It would take longer to get the necessary
private pilot's license--40 hours of flying time instead of 10--but I see
that as a huge advantage: nothing beats experience. And flight training and
airplane building could proceed simultaneously, couldn't they?

I've enjoyed a great deal following the discussions on this board, and I've
learned a lot here. Maybe it has been the stimulus for my cockamamie dream.

Your knowledgeable comments will be most appreciated, and thanks a million.

Dick Behan

I have a friend who took up flying at 75, another in his late 60s, yet
another, who was Chief Pilot for Eastern, is still active at 90.

I say, "Go for it!"

I have a friend who served in the Korean war as an aircraft mechanic
(working on Corsairs). He took up flying just a few years ago. He
also got his A&P. He still flies actively, and even does aerobatics.
He is also active as an A&P. Your military experience may qualify you
to take the A&P exam (the exam itself is a joke) and make it possible
for you to economically own a certified aircraft.

Michael

"R.W. Behan" wrote:
There can be no better source of advice than this group for my
question: am I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

It seems one can never be too old to learn to fly:
"Student Pilot Solos At 91"
http://avweb.com/newswire/12_21a/briefs/192289-1.html

I find the Zenith STOL's irresistible. The 701, the 2-seater, can be
flown with a 10-hour sport license, so at my age--and limited time out
there ahead--it might make sense to focus on that airplane.

If you're looking at the 701, you might also want to take a look at the
Savannah:
http://www.skykits.com/

But I'd
really prefer the 801, the 4-place plane. It would take longer to get
the necessary private pilot's license--40 hours of flying time instead
of 10--

I believe the minimum training for the airplane sport pilot certificate is
20 hours, not 10:
http://www.sportpilot.org/newpilot/n..._training.html

In a previous article, "R.W. Behan" said:
There can be no better source of advice than this group for my question: am
I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

A guy in my flying club got his first flying lesson as a present for his
75th birthday. He lost his medical about 6 years later, but it was a
better 6 years than he would have had if he'd just sat on his butt. I
offered to take him flying, but he says it would make him too sad.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
To ensure privacy and data integrity this message has been encrypted
using dual rounds of ROT-13 encryption.

Jim Logajan wrote:
If you're looking at the 701, you might also want to take a look at the
Savannah:
http://www.skykits.com/

Apparently the Savannah is a direct copy of the 701:
http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/7-photo-copies.html#Ultraflight

Is it legal in the US, to sell kits built from somebody else's
(copyrighted) plans, without permission? On reflection, I can't think
of a reason why it wouldn't be, but I can see where the original
designer would be irritated.

~Adam

Go for it! Though you might consider buying a completed or
nearly-completed airplane to save time.

R.W. Behan wrote:
There can be no better source of advice than this group for my question: am
I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

On Wed, 24 May 2006 09:02:20 -0700, "R.W. Behan"
wrote:



Dick Behan

If I were you I'd go for it. I am still flying at 77 in an aerobatic
single seater. If you have any doubts about passing a 3rd class
medical you should probably opt for the Sport Pilot which allows you
to use a valid drivers license as a medical.

Hell R.W., we just offered free yearly dues to members of our EAA chapter
that were over 80. It's a good thing that only 6 of 'em took us up on it.
One of our CFI's is 83 and rents two 150's.

Al


"R.W. Behan" wrote in message
...
There can be no better source of advice than this group for my question:
am I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

Full disclosure. As a young man in the Korean War I was an aviation
machinist's mate in the Navy. As a forestry student in the late '50's I
was a smokejumper, so I have quite a bit of experience in the ultimate
maneuver: abandoning an airplane in flight. As a forester in Southeast
Alaska, I had many hours of time flying with a bush pilot, as a passenger.
Lots of airplanes in my background, but I'm now 73.

I find the Zenith STOL's irresistible. The 701, the 2-seater, can be
flown with a 10-hour sport license, so at my age--and limited time out
there ahead--it might make sense to focus on that airplane. But I'd
really prefer the 801, the 4-place plane. It would take longer to get the
necessary private pilot's license--40 hours of flying time instead of
10--but I see that as a huge advantage: nothing beats experience. And
flight training and airplane building could proceed simultaneously,
couldn't they?

I've enjoyed a great deal following the discussions on this board, and
I've learned a lot here. Maybe it has been the stimulus for my cockamamie
dream.

Your knowledgeable comments will be most appreciated, and thanks a
million.

Dick Behan

Orval Fairbairn wrote:
In article ,
"R.W. Behan" wrote:


There can be no better source of advice than this group for my question: am
I too old to take up flying--and building an airplane?

Full disclosure. As a young man in the Korean War I was an aviation
machinist's mate in the Navy. As a forestry student in the late '50's I was
a smokejumper, so I have quite a bit of experience in the ultimate maneuver:
abandoning an airplane in flight. As a forester in Southeast Alaska, I had
many hours of time flying with a bush pilot, as a passenger. Lots of
airplanes in my background, but I'm now 73.

I find the Zenith STOL's irresistible. The 701, the 2-seater, can be flown
with a 10-hour sport license, so at my age--and limited time out there
ahead--it might make sense to focus on that airplane. But I'd really prefer
the 801, the 4-place plane. It would take longer to get the necessary
private pilot's license--40 hours of flying time instead of 10--but I see
that as a huge advantage: nothing beats experience. And flight training and
airplane building could proceed simultaneously, couldn't they?

I've enjoyed a great deal following the discussions on this board, and I've
learned a lot here. Maybe it has been the stimulus for my cockamamie dream.

Your knowledgeable comments will be most appreciated, and thanks a million.

Dick Behan


I have a friend who took up flying at 75, another in his late 60s, yet
another, who was Chief Pilot for Eastern, is still active at 90.

I say, "Go for it!"

I have an uncle (Morice Jordan) who started with American Airline in a
Ford Trimotor. Was flying the DC-10A when he retired.

A few years ago (past 90!) he renewed his medical and taught his
grandkids how to fly.

So, suck it up, and get after it, Dick!

Time and tide, you know...