When is the "right time" to quit flying?

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

IMHO, most of what you learn when flying is about yourself. What you can and can't do, how you react, the way your mind works, your limitations.

Whirley- Yes! So true. Often, when people ask 'is it difficult to fly an aeroplane?', I think they are hoping I'll somehow compare it to driving a car, which is something they think they may be able to judge it by.

But there is no such comparison to be made, which leaves me in difficulty when I'm (frequently) faced with this question. Thank you for encapsulating it so susinctly.

SSD

[MLS-12D]

Here's another reference article: "Pilot age and performance: an annotated bibliography (1990-1999)".

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I was not going to comment, however I may as well.

Age is relative to how one feels and performs.

I'll be seventy in three months and I earn my living giving advanced flight instruction and also still fly unlimited aerobatics with no decernable degrading of my performance.

When the time comes that I have even the slightest concern for safety I hope I will be able to recognize the trend and I will then retire from commercial aviation, but if safe I will fly simple aircraft for pleasure if I so desire.

So in short it is not really difficult to determine ones performance as long as you are aware of what exactly to look for.

Chuck E.

[MLS-12D]

Hi Chuck,

If you're only 69, flying regularly and still in good physical condition, I don't see why you shouldn't expect at least five years of flying ahead of you, and probably more.

I earn my living giving advanced flight instruction and also still fly unlimited aerobatics with no decernable degrading of my performance.

IIRC, you don't possess an instructor's rating, right? That makes you a dangerous criminal! See generally the silly comments made on pages 3 and 4 of this thread.

Cheers,

MLS