Do carry on!
Why would you guys not want to read more interesting stuff from LHR Rain? I get a real kick out of this sort of stuff!
I must declare an interest here: I am 57.6 and have had not a career as such but more a series of jobs in aviation. I started with a mis-spent youth in Viet Nam as a humble fitter, then advancing to a maintenance supervisor before attempting to drop out once back in the States.
I was finally ejected from the hippy movement for failure to abjure the misuse of grammar and failing a drugs test (with a negative) before finally returning to aviation as a last resort. I soon found myself in Apocalypse Now Redux (Nigeria). There I have clawed my way from Cessna driver to Dornier Aviator. But all too soon the party is ending with the search for continued employment at the advanced age of 58.
I have heard all the arguments for and against wrinklies continuing to fly. LHR Rain seems, here, to epitomise most of the half-thought-out ones against that. One could not hope for a better advocate for a cause one hopes will be lost!
When I was learning to fly gliders (sailplanes to you lot) the best instructor I had was some old Navy guy who had flown Hellcats against the Japanese Empire, so that he was older than dirt. But could he fly! I was very impressed. No flies on that fellow, despite his being rather wrinkly. I could only aspire to such an old age, myself.
Then I met a German doctor of psychology who specialises in motorcycle training, Dr. Spiegler (I think it is). The good doctor is also seriously old, until he pulls on his riding kit and straddles his BMW to lead a fast group around the Nordschleife of the Nuerburgring. Someone who thinks all the over-60's are useless should perhaps try keeping up with this guy and see how they come off. Or where they come off, more like it!
The last time I was there I had to laugh when a kid on a Fireblade told me that BMWs were 'for old guys'. I asked if I might just fit the profile, while refraining from pointing out that I was faster on my BMW than he was on his Fireblade. I guess it was that I had ten years riding around the 'Ring under my belt where he was there for the first time, making this a classic case of 'old age and treachery' against 'youth and quick reflexes.'
When I was a spotty youth I thought anyone over 30 must have one foot in the grave. I could not imagine that one might derive any serious pleasure from life and work beyond such an advanced age, so that compulsory euthanasia might have seemed a reasonable option. Now, of course, I think I know better. LHR Rain and those of his ilk might be correct in their cold logic, but I bet he changes his mind, what there is of it, if he manages to age. That is assuming he can overcome his obvious stupidity, a real threat to his survival in its extremity.
I hope he does not get wiped out in a bar fight with some ancient 5th Dan sensei. Good luck with that! (On second thought, omit the 'not' in the above screed.)
I really couldn't care less if EU legislative change sees all the yoof weeping in their beer over the unfairness of it all. I will take all that I can get, even though I am still on my first marriage and very well known for hoarding my ducats in a way that might be called 'obsessive'. It might just be that I like being involved in aviation. I certainly would never describe myself as a 'bus driver' even in jest.
I would be happy to accompany LHR Rain to a training course at the 'Ring if his interests extend to fast bikes, when he might like to try his mettle against the aged, creaky and alarmingly fast Dr Berndt S., to see if that changes his mind a little bit about the abilities of the geriatric. Somehow, though, I get the impression that this fellow really hasn't thought this age-related question through and has no particular wish to do that.
To all you fellow wrinklies out there, Good luck, and let's hope we can keep flying!