Is 55 to old to learn to fly

[aries1]

I am nearly 55 years old it that to old to learn to fly?

Cheers David

[weirdfish]

A short question that needs an even shorter answer......

No.


I think you'll find time and money are far more restrictive to your ability to learn to fly than age.

[Pete S]

Of course not: go for it.

You might find it tales a bit longer than if you were 25 so make sure you have plenty of dosh and time available.

Good luck.

[Jim Jones]

I started age 54, soloed just after 55th birthday at 19 hours. Completed whole PPL in 46 hours. So no problem at your advanced age.

[Genghis the Engineer]

No.

It's likely to take a few more hours than if you'd started at 19, but that's about it.

G

[Flyin'Dutch']

I started age 54, soloed just after 55th birthday at 19 hours. Completed whole PPL in 46 hours. So no problem at your advanced age.

Yeah, Jim just scared the instructor so much that he thought it was safer to let him go on his own!









Sorry Jim - do forgive me.

[Keef]

As others have said, 55 is by no means too old to learn.

There's an airfield just down the road from you, at Kerikeri. There are two flight schools there - pop in and have a chat and see how you get on with them.

[Jim Jones]

I started age 54, soloed just after 55th birthday at 19 hours. Completed whole PPL in 46 hours. So no problem at your advanced age.

Yeah, Jim just scared the instructor so much that he thought it was safer to let him go on his own!



quote]

That may be the case, I've certainly scared people since then, myself particularly.

[RMurphy195]

NO! Or at least at 62 I hope not!

Some things can be a bit trickier to pick-up as you get older, such as in my case gettting the hand/eye/foot etc co-ordination for the landing (think back to when you learnt to drive - the clutch/gear/steering/braking co-ordination needed to turn without thinking about it) and you'll get the point. And expect it to be challenging in unexpected ways and to pick up a few skills and lots of intersting knowledge on the way that maybe you hadn't thought of, such as some of the theory stuff.

But go for it starting with a trial flight if you haven't already done this. And if you get motion sickness on the trial flight - that's just another bit of the challenge!

Have fun - Richard

[johnm]

Wave flyer will be along in a minute to tell you that you are a mere stripling
If it gives you a clue I did my instrument rating at 62 .

[MarkTDH]

I'm 52,started learning a year and a half ago,away a lot (Merchant Seamen),so always going over stuff that i forgot when
back home,anyway hope to take skills test Monday after 60 odd hours...So go for it!!!

[Charles Hunt]

No.

I'm still trying to work out how Keef knows your location from the information provided, but I know he has a friend in a high place. I remember Paihia, not sure if I've been to Kerikeri.

[jayeff]

Nah. My experience almost exactly mirrors that of Jim. As has been previously stated, the book larnin is the hardest part (with respect to getting an ageing noggin around the concept of understanding completely new stuff) but the general excitement of the whole process helps overcome that.

Your natural aptitude will determine how the whole process goes, not your age.

Good luck, and enjoy.

[Rob P]

No it isn't.

Go for it.

Rob P

[JoeC]

At 55 you'll be a stripling at most clubs!