Need advice

I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Terry Reade

My oldest student was 83, and he had his own plane.

Bob Gardner

wrote in message
ups.com...
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Terry Reade

wrote:
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Are you kidding? You are still young... and if you're in good health
I say go for it! There is no better time. Your kids are grown, you have
the time to persue your dreams so go for it. You only live once and
you can't take it with you.

I started this when I was 46... I'm 53 now and hold a CFI ticket and
own my own plane. Wouldn't have traded the these experiences for
anything. I can tell you this... mastering the art of flying (beyond
just getting a ticket) is one of the most challenging things you can
do in your life.

wrote:
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Is it reasonable to expect to be driving your own car at the age
of 53?

The physical and mental requirements to fly safely are trivially more
than those that are required to drive safely.

I take it you have all your original equipment (eyes, ears, hands, etc.)
in working condition and are in normal mental health.

That's all you need except desire and money.

I've seen pilots in their late 80's that are excellent and pilots in
their 20's that shouldn't be allowed to wash an airplane, much less
fly it.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

I manage the light sport school in Maryland
(www.chesapeakesportpilot.com). Probably the bulk of our customers are
your age and older. Older students do well since they have learned the
discipline required to study the material at home and take lessons
regularly without all of the distractions that work and family place on
younger students. If you are in or near Maryland, please stop by and
meet our gang of great great gray haired pilot people.

Helen

wrote:
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Terry Reade

" wrote in
ups.com:

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.



Absolutely! I got my private at 52 and IR at 54. I don't think I was as
quick as a younger student, but it's a challenge and keeps you thinking!

Good luck.

Mike

wrote in message
ups.com...
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.


I started flying around 50. I didn't solo as fast as the kids do, but I
also enjoy flight training and saw no reason to hurry the process. Unless there
is some special reason, go for the Private.

Vaughn

I got my PPL at the young age of 56! Go for it!!!

--
CareBear

wrote in message
ups.com...
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Terry Reade

wrote in message
ups.com...
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Terry Reade

Define "piloting my own plane."

For an outlay of $6,000 or so, you can get a private pilot certificate
in less than 6 months. For the cost of a new car, you can find an old
plane in decent condition that will fly under visual flight rules and
take you places at 95 to 100 knots.

In fact Ron Wanttaja has an excellent article in the current Sport
Pilot magazine that covers all that stuff, plus details about variable
costs.

Thing, is owning an airplane all by yourself is a lot like sex in
marriage. In the first year you own your plane, put a marble in a jar
for every hour you fly. After that, take out a marble for each hour.
You'll never empty the jar. (Well, you get the analogy, anyway.)

So it's good to go into flying with the idea of looking for partners
or a flying club, rather than being sole owner. You'll be able to
afford more, the fixed costs won't hurt so much, you'll have more
encouragement to add to your flying skills, the plane will benefit
from more use, and you'll probably end up with more air time, although
not all of it will be in the left seat.

Wait a minute! Did I just make a good argument for polyandry?

Don

This, from a shrink.

If not now, when?

Get off thy butt, go forth and commit aviation.

I'd suggest doing the private, it will allow you choices the sport
certificate will not. If you find it to your liking, you'll have that
piece of paper in half a year, and then in two and a half, an
instrument rating if you want to travel with a little more
flexablity.

Years ago 'break even' on owning vs renting was about 150 hours a
year, and if you are lucky in finding a partner, owning becomes
attractive, the airplane will usually be available when you want it,
and you'll have aviation fun for the next few decades of your life.

psychologist

On Jul 21, 2:32 pm, " wrote:
I just turned 53 and find myself finally with the time to pursue
aviation as more than an interested spectator. A pilot friend
recommended the light sport pilot designation for me. That is one
opinion.

I need to know if, at my relatively late date it is reasonable to
expect to be piloting my own plane. I am in good health, so I doubt
that's an issue.

Advice, please?

Terry Reade