I am in my mid fifties. I know my reaction timing to stuff isn't what it was 30 years ago. I am in good shape, I run 20 plus miles a week plus weight training. I do this so I can chase sheep. My question is, I really want to try and learn to fly, and is it realistic. What I mean by that is not just showing up and handing over ten grand for school but is it really doable. I have no problem with the mechanical part or the book learning. I have had the head phones when you guys (being in cessnas and supercubs are talking to the tower) and that seems intimadating. I guess I am asking what makes a good pilot, and is it worth a late life goal? or should I just pay (I am an Alaska resident so everything is cheap to hunt comparably to non residents). And learning to fly is more than hunting, it is something as fifty year old man that makes me still feel like a twenty year old with goals but more experience than a twenty year old. Just using this forum for some intelligent advice that takes all that jumble I just laid into account. (I can I afford the the money to try and get my private) I just asking to make sure I can justify doing it...... and it is worth it.
A question for pilots?
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Bambistew
Well-known member
Have you talked to any bush pilots? Most of those guys love talking about their planes. A few of the guys I fly with are pushing 70. The young guys scare me the most, to be honest.
I'd love to have a plane, but it never penciled out for me. For me it's way easier to just pay a guy to drop me off. That way I don't have to worry about a plane sitting on the landing strip getting eaten by a bear or blown away when I'm 10 miles away from it chasing sheep. Sure would make for some fun moose hunting and fishing trips.
I have hard enough time using all the toys we have. I am jealous of the guys that have planes.
I wouldn't let age hold you back!
I'd love to have a plane, but it never penciled out for me. For me it's way easier to just pay a guy to drop me off. That way I don't have to worry about a plane sitting on the landing strip getting eaten by a bear or blown away when I'm 10 miles away from it chasing sheep. Sure would make for some fun moose hunting and fishing trips.
I have hard enough time using all the toys we have. I am jealous of the guys that have planes.
I wouldn't let age hold you back!
I love the response. thank you! For me its not about owning a plane, it is about a late old man crisis! I want to learn to fly. I want something to shoot for. Another goal. And what would of worry me now, never would of thirty years ago. I have got about twenty years left. I love hunting but hate killing. Weird eh? I just want a new challenge and that to me is the talk between the tower and pilot, I am comfortable with else. And I do want to hunt goats on Kodiak now that I am a resident. (side note, but more of an excuse to wander around Kodiak with a rifle in hand)
The neighbor I grew up flying with was in his 80’s when he quit. I’d hate to guess how many hours I spent as a kid and young teen flying around with him. He taught my dad to fly. I don’t have my license, but I learned everything I know about flying from him. He was a wild man, made his living as a crop duster, crashed 7-8 planes and 1 helicopter in his life including one of my dads when he was in his 70’s. Most were when he was crop dusting in the heat of the summer. I’d hate to guess how many times when he was out flying he’d buzz people on the road or an unsuspecting farmer in a tractor, even skimming a cab or 2 with the landing gear.
I never hesitated and my parents never worried about me going up with him because he never panicked. He always flew the plane no matter what was going on did what he needed to do to get it on the ground in a way that people could walk away from. I’m not a pilot, but I would say the best ones I’ve been around number 1 never put themselves in an impossible spot. Always knew where they were going and left themselves an out. Number 2 they never panicked, always were under control and flew the airplane like it was an extension of them no matter the circumstance.
Reaction time is great, but knowing where you are going, what to expect, and mentally preparing for it seemed to me to be the most important things.
I never hesitated and my parents never worried about me going up with him because he never panicked. He always flew the plane no matter what was going on did what he needed to do to get it on the ground in a way that people could walk away from. I’m not a pilot, but I would say the best ones I’ve been around number 1 never put themselves in an impossible spot. Always knew where they were going and left themselves an out. Number 2 they never panicked, always were under control and flew the airplane like it was an extension of them no matter the circumstance.
Reaction time is great, but knowing where you are going, what to expect, and mentally preparing for it seemed to me to be the most important things.
tarheel
Well-known member
Go for it! I learned to fly in my mid fifties, chose a taildragger to learn in because I figured if I learned in a more difficult type the others would be a breeze. I got tired of renting so bought into a nice 172 with a fresh motor figuring my wife would be more inclined to ride with me than in the tandem Citabria. Shoulda known better, as she was a white knuckle flier even in a trip7. I eventually lost my medical and sold my share of the 172 but never lost my love of taildraggers so I occasionally fly with a friend who owns an RV-4 and he likes the way I fly so I fly it from the back with a little rudder input from him.
I'll be 82 in a few months and still have the reflexes, though not everyone is so fortunate, so you or your instructor will determine if you need to pursue your dream.
I'll be 82 in a few months and still have the reflexes, though not everyone is so fortunate, so you or your instructor will determine if you need to pursue your dream.
Straight Arrow
Well-known member
Having flown helicopters as an Army aviator for twenty years, it is clear to me that the key to being a competent and accomplished pilot is flight time and experience(s). If you are to become engaged in flying, don't just do it every other week. Learn, practice, enjoy the flying often, continuously improving and with goals. Mountain flying requires savvy and skills, some of which can be learned flying with those whose competency is proven.
Now 80, I feel physically and mentally able to fly, but focus on hiking and doing that which keeps me able to hunt elk with physical fitness (albeit a bit slower). Plus aviation is expensive these days.
In "mid fifties" your age should not be a constraint. Go for it if you have the time, the money and the motivation required.
Now 80, I feel physically and mentally able to fly, but focus on hiking and doing that which keeps me able to hunt elk with physical fitness (albeit a bit slower). Plus aviation is expensive these days.
In "mid fifties" your age should not be a constraint. Go for it if you have the time, the money and the motivation required.
Salmonchaser
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As you well know Alaska is unique when it comes to flying. I’m with Bambi stew on this one. We contracted all our flying for 20 years. 185 on floats and tires; 206 on floats and beavers floats and tires. Only had one guy scare the shit out of me. Had one say something like I’m never landing here again. Those were young guys. The best was a Vietnam vet who started flying just after he got home, still flying until about 2016 or 18. Kind of guy who half way to our destination would point out the window and say “see that fuzz on the horizon, not suppose to be there today. I’m going to take you to no tellum 2. I won’t be able to pick you up at No tellum 1. Sure as hell that night we would hear some one else made it into no tellum 1 for what turned into an all night fishing trip.
I think wisdom and maturity trump handspeed, if you have the natural aptitude to fly a bush plane. It certainly is not for everyone. You have seen what it takes, go get your hours in, if that works out go buy a cub or a 185.
I think wisdom and maturity trump handspeed, if you have the natural aptitude to fly a bush plane. It certainly is not for everyone. You have seen what it takes, go get your hours in, if that works out go buy a cub or a 185.
KingOfTagSoup
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My guy, if you have the drive and resources, go for it. I got my license in 2015 and loved every second of it. Learning the skills and knowledge can be a lot but a good instructor, one that knows not just how to fly, but the skill of teaching, will make all the difference. The reality of general aviation is the number 1 obstacle is money. It keeps many aspiring pilots from ever starting and it forces others out early. That's why I haven't touched an airplane in years, though hopefully I will find my way back eventually. My biggest word of advice would be come up with a solid financial plan for it. If you can remove the stress of the finances the training itself can be very flexible and worked to fit you.
Wallydeuce
Well-known member
Learn to fly! There isn't anything more fun to do with your clothes on. I earned my airman certificate at 51, IFR and glider ratings at 52 and flew regularly as PIC until about 4 years ago (age 70). It's simply too expensive for me now.
I recommend learning at a towered facility. You're going to be talking to ATC eventually so you might as well get comfortable early. I knew pilots that would fly an hour or more out of their way rather than request clearance to transit controlled airspace out of fear of talking on the radio. Center controllers saved my life more than once alerting me I was merging with other aircraft that weren't talking to anybody.
Buy your own aircraft if you can afford it. Just keep in mind the expense of annual inspections, maintenance and parking but most expensive of all, insurance. Even in a J 3, a low time 50 something pilot could be paying $3,000 or more a year to insure a tail dragger.
Good luck in your quest to break the surly bonds of earth! The moment the wheels leave the ground you'll wish you had started decades earlier.
I recommend learning at a towered facility. You're going to be talking to ATC eventually so you might as well get comfortable early. I knew pilots that would fly an hour or more out of their way rather than request clearance to transit controlled airspace out of fear of talking on the radio. Center controllers saved my life more than once alerting me I was merging with other aircraft that weren't talking to anybody.
Buy your own aircraft if you can afford it. Just keep in mind the expense of annual inspections, maintenance and parking but most expensive of all, insurance. Even in a J 3, a low time 50 something pilot could be paying $3,000 or more a year to insure a tail dragger.
Good luck in your quest to break the surly bonds of earth! The moment the wheels leave the ground you'll wish you had started decades earlier.
I moved to Anchorage in 1990 and worked at a place that was close to Merril Field. I have never been more broke in my life. After a few months of watching small planes, I was obsessed with learning to fly so I took a credit card and bought a block of time from a flight school there at Merril. After the first flight I remember going home and telling my wife that I didn't know if I could ever learn it because there was just too much going on.
For those who aren't familiar Merril is a controlled field and at that time was said to be the busiest general aviation field in the world. It got easier with each flight and about 7 months later I had a Private Pilot License.
You are not too old.
It gets expensive.
Sometimes you just have to do things for your own sanity.
It takes a lot of practice to land off airstrip. Talking hundreds of hours and most good off strip cub pilots have thousands.
I ended up owning a couple of cubs but haven't been in one in close to 15 years. I still look at the sky when I hear a plane, and I doubt that will ever go away.
It is the single most selfish thing that I will ever do in my life. It gets expensive.
For those who aren't familiar Merril is a controlled field and at that time was said to be the busiest general aviation field in the world. It got easier with each flight and about 7 months later I had a Private Pilot License.
You are not too old.
It gets expensive.
Sometimes you just have to do things for your own sanity.
It takes a lot of practice to land off airstrip. Talking hundreds of hours and most good off strip cub pilots have thousands.
I ended up owning a couple of cubs but haven't been in one in close to 15 years. I still look at the sky when I hear a plane, and I doubt that will ever go away.
It is the single most selfish thing that I will ever do in my life. It gets expensive.
rjthehunter
Well-known member
My grandpa flew into his late 60s. Don't let a number hold you back. If it's something that interests you, get after it! I for one would love to.
