Am I too old to learn to fly?

BuilderBob · Post by **BuilderBob** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:55 pm

I'm 58 in pretty good shape...retired firefighter....I hope to get some honest input about several things I am considering.
First, am I too old to learn to fly?
If I took this next year to get licensed how much longer could I expect to fly safely?
I have a son in Utah and one in Georgia. Would it be feasible to fly from Oklahoma to visit in a LSA?
I'm 6'2" 225...would i fit in a LSA?...which ones fit a big guy best? I appreciate any input you guys might offer, I figure that my best chance for unbiased advice would come from someplace like this where there is not much to gain except for the knowledge that you might help a semi old man make some wise decisions.....thanks in advance.

oldsportpilot · Post by **oldsportpilot** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:32 pm

BuilderBob wrote:I'm 58 in pretty good shape...retired firefighter....I hope to get some honest input about several things I am considering.
First, am I too old to learn to fly?
If I took this next year to get licensed how much longer could I expect to fly safely?
I have a son in Utah and one in Georgia. Would it be feasible to fly from Oklahoma to visit in a LSA?
I'm 6'2" 225...would i fit in a LSA?...which ones fit a big guy best? I appreciate any input you guys might offer, I figure that my best chance for unbiased advice would come from someplace like this where there is not much to gain except for the knowledge that you might help a semi old man make some wise decisions.....thanks in advance.

I tool up flying at age 67 (4 yrs ago) and had no trouble getting my SP license, other than finding a flight school that had a LS airplane. I began in a C172, and put in 75 hours of dual before I was able to find LS instruction and take the checkride. All that time in the Cessna was enjoyable, and not wasted at all.

Things are much better now. There are many more flight schools that have LS training available, although you might have to travel a bit to one. Starting out in a local school in a C172 or similar is a good way to get started - the experience will tell you whether or not flying is what you really want to do.

As far as a suitable airplane is concerned, the Tecnam and Flight design models can easily deal with your weight, the Sportstar somewhat less so. I have flown all 3 and am most enthusiastic about the Tecnam Echo and Sierra models. The FD CT requires greater skill to land well.

As far as long cross-country flying is concerned, you can do it if you don't mind getting stuck now and then for a few days because of weather. Also, the lower wing loading of the LS airplanes makes them respond more to turbulence.

Give it a try. Go to a local flight school and take some lessons, and see how you fell about it. BTW, 58 is not old for a pilot. Sure, you are not going to learn as fast as a 16 year old who has been playing video games all his life, but so what? There are lots of safe pilots in their 50's, and much, much older.

ibgarrett · Post by **ibgarrett** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:36 pm

You know, the first thing that popped into my head when reading this is something Ann Landers wrote several years ago to a person who was wondering if she was too old to do something like be a doctor. Her response was - how old will you be in x amount of years if you don't do it?

Seriously - 58 just plain isn't that old. I'm 40 and just started. Granted I've got 18 years on you, but in the flying club that I belong to there was a guy who was probably well into his 70's (maybe older), on oxygen and flew very regularly up until he had some complications during surgery and died. The point is he was doing what he loved and wanted to do. And if you don't start now, all you're going to do is get older with a lot of "shoulda, woulda, coulda's".

Now as far as size. I'm 6'2" and 220lbs and have absolutely no problem fitting into an LSA. The Gobosh we have in our club is a little small for my tastes, however the club owner is 6'2" or 6'3" and he loves it. I'm training in an Evektor LSA and I find it quite comfortable. There's plenty of leg room and it's reasonably easy to get and out of.

Now as far as flying from OK to UT. Currently there is a 10k limit on altitude on the Sport Pilot license. Supposedly the FAA is going to change the rule on that to be a minimum of 1k AGL, but they've been talking about that for the better part of a year. So to make it from OK to UT you'd have to be pretty particular about your route through the mtns. From OK to Georgia, that'd be no sweat from an altitude perspective. I'd have to look and see what the distance is, but it can be done weather permitting.

The only hurdle that you may run into is renting an LSA may be a bit pricey to go that far. Sometimes commercial can be cheaper. Now, if you own the airplane, the price can become suddenly reasonable. With the LSA's running just above $100k, and if you can find a few partners, a plane can be purchased with partners for less than what a nice car would cost. Once I get to 100hrs my wife and I are wanting to buy into a share of an airplane that will run us $27.5k and then $12/hr + gas to run. So there's sure an up front cost, but once that's out of the way there's just a monthly maintenance cost and the some money going into the bit bucket for repairs.

I only started flying last November. If I were you I would get started as soon as possible. The longer you sit around and think about it the less time you'd have flying.

Brian

AZPilot · Post by **AZPilot** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:03 am

Hello BB,
Since you are retired, you might want to make a trip to the EAA convention in Oshkosh WI at the end of July. You will have the opportunity to "try on" most of the LSAs available in the marketplace.

Once you know which one's will fit you, you can then go looking for a flightschool that operates same.

You say that you are in good shape, may I ask why you aren't considering just getting a Private Certificate? Your available training options and operational flexibility would be much greater.

If you do decide to just pursue the Sport Pilot Certificate and you don't have any good local options, there are some good schools around the country that you could probably be done in as little as 2 weeks doing a "accelerated" course.

Arizona has a couple of respected schools using the REMOS.

BuilderBob · Post by **BuilderBob** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:20 am

Thanks for the input, definitely looks like I may not just be dreaming here. AZ brings up a question I hadn't considered. I'm confident that I could pass the medical requirements now. But in the future if something caused me to not pass the physical would it then be possible to transition into the Sport Pilot category? I have heard of a couple of instances where pilots lost their medical certification and were stuck with an airplane that they couldn't fly. If I got the Private Certificate and buy a LSA, would I then be able to fly that plane without the LSA restrictions, then if something happened that caused me to not pass the physical could I transition to the Sport Pilot certification and use the same plane as long as I observed the rules associated with the LSA?

Thanks again guys...I really appreciate the input.

Daidalos · Post by **Daidalos** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:25 am

Bob,

If you want to do it just go for it!

Most of us fly because we love it not for the utility. Unless money is real issue it is worth the expeirence and memories even if you have to stop flying in a few years.

BTW I am 58 also... you are not too old!

dstclair · Post by **dstclair** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:47 am

Bob,

Once you have a PP you may let your medical lapse then fly an LSA subject to SP limitations. The key is you must never have FAILED an FAA medical. Then you can fly as SP as long as you have a valid driver's license and can self-certify your health.

Given your mission (Utah and Georgia trips) a PP flying an LSA has a 3 advantages over an SP: no 10K limit, flying at night and VFR on top.

dave

comperini · Post by **comperini** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:26 pm

dstclair wrote:Bob,
The key is you must never have FAILED an FAA medical.

That's technically not true. The rules just say your last medical can't be a failure, rejection, or whatever.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:47 pm

BuilderBob wrote:I'm 58 in pretty good shape...retired firefighter....I hope to get some honest input about several things I am considering.
First, am I too old to learn to fly?
If I took this next year to get licensed how much longer could I expect to fly safely?
I have a son in Utah and one in Georgia. Would it be feasible to fly from Oklahoma to visit in a LSA?
I'm 6'2" 225...would i fit in a LSA?...which ones fit a big guy best? I appreciate any input you guys might offer, I figure that my best chance for unbiased advice would come from someplace like this where there is not much to gain except for the knowledge that you might help a semi old man make some wise decisions.....thanks in advance.

We have students from age 18 to age 80 taking lessons at our school. Older students take longer to train than younger students, but generally have more patience, real world experience, and a keener eye for matters of safety all of which are critical to a good pilot.

You can fly just about anyplace in an LSA. You can keep your shoes on when you do so and your bags will likely arrive on the same plane you do!

Most of our older students really enjoy flying Tecnam Aircraft. They are roomy, have a good useful load, and an excellent safety record.

Helen

AZPilot · Post by **AZPilot** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:30 pm

I concur with Helen. Most older students are really interested in doing it right. Find an instructor/school that wants to do it right also.

The thing to remember is that you are the customer. Take the time to "interview" several instuctors/schools. Also, take a "demo flight" with each school that you are considering. These flights will introduce you to the airplane being used, and equally important about how professionally the flight is conducted. After you have made an informed decision and start training, don't be shy about bringing any problems that you may be having to someone's attention.

The flight training experience should be rewarding and FUN. If it isn't, you've got the wrong instructor/school.

Happy Flying

BuilderBob · Post by **BuilderBob** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:52 pm

Just by chance tonight I met a friend of a friend that is a pilot and airplane owner who offered to mentor me in getting my pilot license. This is beginning to look like a deal!

AZPilot · Post by **AZPilot** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:22 pm

BuilderBob wrote:Just by chance tonight I met a friend of a friend that is a pilot and airplane owner who offered to mentor me in getting my pilot license. This is beginning to look like a deal!

Great, always nice to have a local resource.

Also, you will need a current passport or original birth certificate to prove to the instructor/school that you are a US citizen before you can begin "training". (No, I don't enforce the rules, just had to live by them).

BuilderBob · Post by **BuilderBob** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:34 pm

Thanks everyone very much.....great advice.....I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go along.

frfly172 · Post by **frfly172** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:27 pm

IM a 63 year old Firefighter with an atp your never to old.I fly twice a week and would not think of giving up flying foryhe forseeable future. try it youl like it good luck

EppyGA · Post by **EppyGA** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:46 am

Let's see I started at the age of 20 but didn't finish my training until 57. Too old, not likely!! I'm 6' 238 and have flown in several of the LSA aircraft. For the most part they're all as wide if not wider than your standard GA airplane. Have fun!!

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