Too old to own your own airplane

My dad has had a Remos light sport for a couple of years but just passed his Basic Med. Has a buyer for the Remos and is getting a 182. He'll be 90 in October. My friend Jack is 93 and flies his Erocoupe 2 or 3 times a week. My opinion is you're never to old to own an airplane.
 
dcotton said:
I did it this year at 46. Any younger its tough to afford!
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I bought my first plane (an actual, certified, airworthy aircraft) at 26 (with a one-week-old PPL and 44 hours in my log book). I'm no trust fund kid, and at 26, I was earning what most 26 year olds make, while living on my own. I consider both age and finances EXCUSES to NOT own a plane, and nothing more.

BTW, I'm now 50, and I'm on my 6th plane.
 
Ken Thompson said:
Resurrecting an old thread:
I bought a '68 Mustang Convertible a few days before I turned 60. I'm about to turn 65 and just bought a really nice Ercoupe. The milestone birthdays were merely coincidental. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
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Welcome to POA and congrats on the new to you plane!!!
 
Pfft - turning 50 and bought my 2'nd old Bonanza. Why a Bonanza? Because some day I really will be old and this sucker makes me smile!

Sit in a few airplanes and if you find one that makes you smile - BUY IT!
 

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Join the United Flying Octogenarians - I did when I turned 80, and still fly the Grumman that I have had for the last forty years, oh and a second class medical also!!
 
I think Porno for Pyro's summed it up in this excellent tune:
 
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txflyer said:
Some say life begins at 50.

Flying is cheaper than hookers and blow plus the divorce that comes with them and the Porsche and the house gone ... lawyers ... ****ed off folks ... settlements .. Bad joo-joo.

Just buy a plane and go fly. :)
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:yeahthat: :rofl:
 
I bought mine at 54 and spent the last 6 years getting to know it and doing owner annals. This year I will retire and fly when I want knowing I don't have to be back by Monday.
 
My wife's grandfather learned to fly and bought a 172 at the tender young age of 65!! One of my father in laws friends bought an AIRPORT at 80 and 5-6 years later still flies solo to Oshkosh!! I'm 53 and aviation makes our life so much more enjoyable!! My wife and I flew both airplanes today and we had a blast!!
 
creweite said:
Join the United Flying Octogenarians - I did when I turned 80, and still fly the Grumman that I have had for the last forty years, oh and a second class medical also!!
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That's Item Two on my list; Item One is to retire . . . .
 
My mother-in-law flew her Piper Aztec from Augusta, Ga to Alaska and back when she was 70 years old. Owning an airplane at 50 is definately doable.
 
Got my license in 1983, but stopped flying 9 years ago due to my wife's illness. Sold the plane and had massive withdrawals from both ownership and flying. I turned 60 this year and decided to get back into the air. Rusty Pilot seminar, renewed my Class 3, now for the BFR and finishing my instrument rating. Getting back into ownership shouldn't be too hard when I win the 170B in a few weeks.
 
A dear old friend passed away at 88. When we flew together in the C-414 he would sit in the left seat and fly. I was just a warm body with the medical.

His last flight was not with me but was 4 weeks before he died.
 
ClimbnSink said:
OP dude if you are thinking you are old at 50 you are screwed. Change your attitude or the rest of your life is going to be miserable. You become what you think you are, start thinking you are old and decrepit and that is what you will be. Airplanes or not that doesn't matter in the total quality of life factor.
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Lol, I agree. I am 56 and just spent the weekend on Lake Mead wakeboarding with my grown kids. I jump higher and ride harder than my 24 y/o son. Same when we go snowboarding and dirt bike riding on my 450. I play competitive basketball and volleyball with 20, 30 and 40 y/o's.

If you think you are old at 50, you can stay on the porch, but you are gonna miss many of your best years. Lol.

Go get your plane.
 
You could buy a plane, tie it down on the ramp & just look at it, no need to even fly. It seems plenty do just that, as they both age.
 
To the OP:

Yes, you are entirely too old. You need to slow down, relax and anesthetize yourself with a comfortable chair, large doses of alcohol and a giant loud television and await the sweet embrace of death.
 
Wife attended a party with old friends a couple of nights ago. One couple is older and the husband has always had a bir tire 180. I asked how he was. She said fine, but he sold the 180 when he turned 80 because he figured it was time. I respect the man and his decision, because at 79 he was pushing that plane around and that couldn't have been easy!
 
Stewartb said:
Wife attended a party with old friends a couple of nights ago. One couple is older and the husband has always had a bir tire 180. I asked how he was. She said fine, but he sold the 180 when he turned 80 because he figured it was time. I respect the man and his decision, because at 79 he was pushing that plane around and that couldn't have been easy!
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That is not hard to do in this day and age. They have electric tows now.
 
I will be 87 next month. Just finished doing the annual condition inspection and flying it to insure all is well. Changed all oil and fuel hoses and installed a thermostisis...awkward but do-able.

Plan is to fly the RV-12 on my 100th birthday and then put it up for sale.(If a new bride doesn't object.)
 
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