Aviation Pilots

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Rydr · #1 Unread post by **Rydr** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:54 pm

There is a saying in the aviation industry;

"There are old pilots and bold pilots but very very few old bold pilots"

The same holds true with motorcycle riders.

In a poll that was conducted a while ago the majority people under 30 said they would rather have a short adventurous life rather than a long happy one. For people over thirty it was just the opposite. Time changes perception. Hell when I was seventeen I didn't think I would live to be thirty.

Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:39 pm

Now that you are over 50, how do you feel? Lucky to still be alive? Feel like you are living in borrowed time?
Or are you now at a point where life is precious and time is not on your side and are more careful wanting a long happy life?

Candy750 · #3 Unread post by **Candy750** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:38 am

I can sort of agree with the change. When I was in my teens, I was definitely INVINCIBLE. In my twenties, I was still daring and "what the heck". By my thirties, I was taking all my last chances. Since I've turned 40, I notice I am more cautious, but still try to do edgy things.

I have been thinking of all the things that will make my 50's active, and I hope I keep most of my "youth". Like I toy with the idea of the victory vegas jackpot as my 50th b-day present...I have a few years to save...

I think it is that now, more than ever, I have more to loose. In my teens, I had little, cared about little. Now, I have a house, dogs, "stuff" that I love. I am always hearing about an illness or accident that makes someone "loose it all".

flynrider · Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:19 am

That old aviation adage is a little tricky. You have to equate "bold" with someone who takes risks without fully evaluating them. Much as most of us did (do) when we're younger.

One of the most impressive aerial acrobatic routines I ever saw was done by Bob Hoover. A true (very)old and bold pilot :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZBcapxGHjE

As I've gotten older, I've gotten better at evaluating the risks I take, but I won't sit still for a long boring life. What's the point?

#5 Unread post by **Koss** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:30 pm

flynrider wrote:That old aviation adage is a little tricky. You have to equate "bold" with someone who takes risks without fully evaluating them. Much as most of us did (do) when we're younger.

One of the most impressive aerial acrobatic routines I ever saw was done by Bob Hoover. A true (very)old and bold pilot :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZBcapxGHjE

As I've gotten older, I've gotten better at evaluating the risks I take, but I won't sit still for a long boring life. What's the point?

What amazing control!

Rydr · #6 Unread post by **Rydr** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:06 pm

flynrider wrote:That old aviation adage is a little tricky. You have to equate "bold" with someone who takes risks without fully evaluating them. Much as most of us did (do) when we're younger.

As I've gotten older, I've gotten better at evaluating the risks I take, but I won't sit still for a long boring life. What's the point?

At 57 I certainly evaluate risks far more than I did when younger. But I don't think it's fair to say that a long happy life is a boring one. I still push to the boundaries of the envelope just not beyond. I still scrape my footpegs in the twisties, and pop wheelies on my dual sport. I plan on doing a tour of South America next winter on, hopefully a new 2008 KLR650. Heck my girlfriend owns a sex shop

. Single, retired with zero debt, financially secure, and lots of time to do whatever I want to do my life certainly is not boring.

Please don't confuse a long and happy life with a boring one.