Well, I'm glad to see all of you young folks here!
I am 73. First solo was 1/22/56.

I am 46, but I don't look it.

I have proof of that on request.

I got my A&P first when I got out of the Navy in 1984 because a friend told me to. I got my pilots lic in 1988 because I lost a girlfriend, and that same first friend, well he let me fly for just the gas, and help with the planes (3).

He is down to one now (A-36), as he is 84....but he has 38K hours, and can still show me I'm a newbie any day of the week. Man he can REALLY piss me off.
He landed the Aztec I was working on 20 feet shorter on the first try, than I landed the Archer on this dirt strip, and I was trying for two weeks.

It's all about having done it, or having good friends who can show you.

Turned 49 today. Why wait till 50 for a mid-life crisis when I can have one now...

Happy Birthday Doug!
Mid-life: Just so long as it doesn't come in the form of a blonde half your age and a convertible, the reason that they (The car) have such a small trunk is that once your Ex is done with you, you won't have anything left to put in the trunk! A friend of mine tried it. Stick to aviation for the mid-life, much cheaper.
I promised Chelle I would always be faithful so that when I get Old-timer's, I'd wake up with a new woman every morning!
As pointed out a number of times in this thread, age is relative but the mindset is the same.

Happy birthday Doug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday Doug.

I'm 42 here, haven't had time to get my PPL yet, been trying since 16. Between money, family and career haven't had everything fall into place. My wife wants me to get a hobby so I plan to begin flying in the spring, I'm now trying to jusify purchasing my own plane to enjoy my new hobby .

hooznext wrote:Happy birthday Doug.

I'm 42 here, haven't had time to get my PPL yet, been trying since 16. Between money, family and career haven't had everything fall into place. My wife wants me to get a hobby so I plan to begin flying in the spring, I'm now trying to jusify purchasing my own plane to enjoy my new hobby .

I can identify with your situation. I didn't get going in aviation until I was 55. I hope you can start earlier. I built a kit and found it lots of fun. Aviation is such a broad subject you should be able to find many interesting side topics in addition to just flying. Don't go too crazy buying stuff until you have some experience renting or borrowing. The pilot shops will sell you crap you don't need. 'course, some it you may want.
Best luck,
tom

Thanks Tom, it reminds me it is never too late.

I do suffer a bit from gadget-itis, being in the computer line of work I am accustomed to always evaluating and purchasing the latest thing. I am desperately trying to eliminate that from this hobby.

I'm still debating on the building aspect, I have built several hot rods over the years so I am sure it is something I could handle with the right tools and mentoring.

Currently my interests seem to be best served by a Maule, one of the reasons I ended on this forum. My wife is very willing to fly places with me and see new places but she does not want to sit in the back seat so a tandem is out of the question.

I've looked at Compair (seems to be little builder support from what I've heard), Murphy, and Sherpa (cost becomes a factor there but it is an amazing airplane).

My local flying club I am looking at joining is flying two mid 1960's Warriors, good planes to learn to fly in but I am more interested in tail draggers. No luck finding anyone in the area that has a tail dragger available for instruction, I did find an instructor but he isn't much good without the plane.

="zane...a common interest (besides women)...

This's cool. I'm 55 now, and started flying at 36.

I'm curious where are all the gal pilots here? I know you're lurking out there, I've seen you at airports hither & yon.

My sweetie won't even hold the yoke while I fold a chart! But I gotta say, she's my first love - yes, even next to flying, - and that's saying something.

Thanks again, Zane, for this forum.

Enjoy, Berk

Billy Bob, Thanks for posting I thought I was going to be the oldest pilot on here. You beat me by a year or maybe part of a year. I am glad that you are still out there boring holes in the sky. Bob

15 years younger than my airplane. Hope to hold up as well as the airplane as I age.

I'm 33 yrs. older than my M5-235C.

On many days I think BD did a better assembly job.

TD

I'm 47 and started flying 20 years ago after recupping from an auto accident. I went under a Semi and was laid up for nearly two years. Realized life can end at any time and one needs to do what they want no matter what because you never know when your last day will be. Bought my fist plane (150)after about 4 hours of instruction. Traded it nearly as soon as I bought it for a 1960 172 and still own that same plane. Also bought a 1947 Champ with an 0-235. Currently building a Murphy Rebel and also have a wrecked Rebel that I was planing on rebuilding one day. Don't think I will ever get around to it so it may be for sale.
Keith

Hi everyone it has been a few months!! So I decided this post would be a good one to get back in the saddle.
52 and climbing. Started flying @ 30, MM

Im 22, have had my licence for three years and hope to keep on flying untill im so old I cant see.

Okay, right thread!

As I was saying, if this thread keeps going I am going to have to update my age!

I believe that the hours I spend flying are added on to my life. The more that I fly, the younger I get. I have disregarded my chronological age.
It would be very dangerous if I put all of those candles on a birthday cake.

flyer

I believe that the hours I spend flying are added on to my life.

The funny thing is that there is an almost-truth to this. I remember reading in my bonehead physics class about an experiment with 2 atomic clocks to verify Einstein's (special?) theory of relativity. Both clocks were synchronized in Washington D.C. One clock was put on a 747 and flown around the world nonstop. On return, when compared to the clock that stayed home, the round-the-world clock was measurably slower.

This wouldn't work with my Timex, and the traveling clock wouldn't notice that its time was passing more slowly than its ground-bound brothers. Still, it's fun to know that time really isn't constant, and that maybe we bend it just a little every time we take off in our little machines. Whoa Dude!

CAVU

I'm a year older than my plane. And I perfer the older ones, with the big round engines. Cept I just get to hear'em, or ride em, haven't got to fly one. Want to fly a DC-3 before it's over.