95 Years Old and still flying a Mooney!

[Little Runaway]

I hope that's me when I'm 95!

http://www.sacbee.com/news/article69348917.html

 

[carusoam]

Nice find, Aaron!

Hey, my sister-in-law lives in Rocklin.  Nice city.

Best regards,

-a-

[Shadrach]

It's odd how some of us will keep our faculties and others gradually lose them. That gent is just as articulate and bright eyed as most folks half his age. He's lucky and good!

[cnoe]

Very cool! When the general public reads this they're probably thinking "how quaint; that antique man flying that antique airplane". Little do they know that a large percentage of GA pilots are flying antique airplanes (myself included - 1978 J).

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[Little Runaway]

14 hours ago, carusoam said:

Nice find, Aaron!

Hey, my sister-in-law lives in Rocklin.  Nice city.

Best regards,

-a-

Thanks. Rocklin is a nice city as far a CA goes.

[aviatoreb]

WOW

[PTK]

God bless him!

[par]

I hope i'm either in his shoes at the age of 95 and doing what he's doing or not on this planet. My grandfather is the same age as this gentleman but he hasn't aged as well. Good for this man is what I say!

Edited April 2, 2016 by par

[Yooper Rocketman]

Great to hear these old guys flying yet.  I have a local guy, named Urban Rahoi, that showed up to a monthly meeting a few years ago of the DCPA (Dickinson County Pilot's Association) for which I am currently the president.  This organization was started by Mario Fontana, a local aviation legend, who was actually funded (his aviation company) by the US Government in the early 40's, to train pilots preparing our country for the inevitable involvement in WWII.  Anyway, Urban showed up as a 90+ year old "Active Pilot" and told us about his Lodge in Alaska, which he still flies guests to and from to this day.  Needless to say, we were impressed, especially when he walked up to one of the walls with pictures and pointed himself out in a group photo from back in the 50's.

http://www.adn.com/article/20131101/urban-rahoi-legendary-mechanic-big-game-guide-and-daredevil-alaska-bush-pilot

When my EAA Chapter commissioned the Yankee Air Museum to bring in their B-17 to our annual Ford Airport Day last fall, I told them about this old codger that claimed he flew B-17's in the war.  They said "we know him, he has flown our B-17".  

Here is an quote from the link above;

On May 20, 2013, Urban once again flew a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber while visiting the Yankee Air Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan. “The Captain asked me to take the left seat and it felt like I had never got out of it -- after all, I earned over 1500 hours in it. I never lost or gained twenty feet while flying and we did seven steep turns then I greased it right in at the end of the runway when we landed.” Gene Wedekemper, a Delta Airline pilot that accompanied Urban stated, “I was quite amazed that he was as proficient and sharp as he was. In this plane, you need a lot of taxi experience, and we practiced for thirty minutes, but once airborne, he was at the controls. He seemed to do a very nice job. I was impressed that he was able to be in the air for 45 minutes.”

“They invited me to come back at age 100,” Urban says, “and if I am still standing, I will! I told my doctor recently, when he asked when I would stop flying, that I will keep on until I can’t lift those 15-gallon oil barrels into the plane,” laughs Urban.

Got to love these old pilots.  Shows we have a chance to continue what we love for quite some time yet!

Tom

[NotarPilot]

I would love to fly with that gentleman and learn anything I could from him. Now I wonder if that C model of his has the ol' Johnson bar or electric gear. On a side note, I heard he financed that plane and only has 3 more payments left on it. 

[Yetti]

Keep moving and keep thinking, when you stop doing those things it gets worse quickly.   My DPE 5 years ago was 85 or so and sharp as a tack.  I heard he lost his medical due to eye site this year.  Bomber Engineer. Test pilot for Navion.   Great stories.

[Bennett]

Good for him, and the UFOs (United Flying Octogenarians). I am always amazed to learn how many active pilots are over 80. There are times when I think I will "hang up the keys", and give up flying - a whole lot of expense, and hassle, but then I remember the freedom to go where I want, when I want, and so I roll my target date 5 more years into the future. I thought I would stop at 80, but Hell, I feel great, no problems with health issues, and truly enjoy the newest avionics. So now it's 85, but if I feel as capable as I do now, well maybe 90 will be possible. I don't fly as often as I would like (I work full time in my own businesses), or make as many long trips as in the past, but again that is just a function of time available. I still manage my 100 hours or so per year, and my J is a pleasure to fly. I finally have finished with all the paint, interior, mods, avionics upgrades (at least for now). She is at LASAR for a Top overhaul as she was using oil at what I consider to be a unacceptable rate. Good airplane, getting better. As soon as I break in the engine, it's off to cross the country again.

[DXB]

Cool story.  Proud to know this guy is also partial to the short body Mooney. It may be impossible to convince a 95 year old who flew the P51 in WWII that it's time to relinquish the left seat, so instead I hope he gets to go out doing what he loves...over an unpopulated area!

[carusoam]

Bennet,

I am using you as a beacon of light.  Engineer, pilot and still working!

You are the best!

-a-

[Bravoman]

A good friend's father was like that just about till his death at 104. At 100 he looked and walked like a healthy looking 60-65 year old. Really amazing. Drove till about 103. What I have noticed about folks who enjoy that kind of health and vigor at those ages is that they are always very lean and wiry. Food for thought as we get older.