Is it too late for me?

[Builds By Baz]

I'm 56 this year and have wanted to fly since I was a child. I spent many years in the Australian Army, flying and working in all kinds of service aircraft parachuting, dispatching air land, air drop and airlift.

 

Never flown one.

 

Is it too late? Can I fly anything at my age? Can I build one?

 

I built this over seven years, but it is a display only and not airworthy even if I did miraculously fit engines.

 

how would I even start?

 

Baz.

Edited June 17 by Builds By Baz

[Blueadventures]

Yes and yes, get started.

[Builds By Baz]

4 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

Yes and yes, get started.

Where would I start? I live in Canberra.

 

[Siso]

Started flying sailplanes at 56. Go for it.

[sfGnome]

56? No worries. Medically, if you can drive a car, you can fly a plane. Talk to Go Fly at Canberra airport (there may be others there too). There are no other airports close by, so for you, it’s Canberra or bust. Alternatively, there’s the Canberra gliding club about an hour south (past Bredbo). That’s a good way to learn too, but the 2 hour round trip might get a bit tiresome. It’s no problem when you’re enthusiastic at the beginning, but if you start to struggle (many do), then the longer trip becomes a good excuse to quit. 🫤
 

As for building, there probably is an SAAA chapter at Canberra (https://saaa.asn.au/). If you’re thinking of building, it really helps to have people around who have already done it. Just don’t let them talk you into building what they built. Make sure that you check all the options and get something that matches your needs and wants. Anyway, that’s a fair way off. Get your license/certificate first! 😀

[pmccarthy]

My mother told me when she was 82 that she wished someone had told her at 70 that she was still young and could start new things. You have many years to enjoy flying if that is your dream. I am 74 and fly regularly, lots of friends are older and still fly.

[Builds By Baz]

1 hour ago, Siso said:

Started flying sailplanes at 56. Go for it.

I looked it up. It's a reasonable alternative. Thank you.

33 minutes ago, sfGnome said:

56? No worries. Medically, if you can drive a car, you can fly a plane. Talk to Go Fly at Canberra airport (there may be others there too). There are no other airports close by, so for you, it’s Canberra or bust. Alternatively, there’s the Canberra gliding club about an hour south (past Bredbo). That’s a good way to learn too, but the 2 hour round trip might get a bit tiresome. It’s no problem when you’re enthusiastic at the beginning, but if you start to struggle (many do), then the longer trip becomes a good excuse to quit. 🫤
 

As for building, there probably is an SAAA chapter at Canberra (https://saaa.asn.au/). If you’re thinking of building, it really helps to have people around who have already done it. Just don’t let them talk you into building what they built. Make sure that you check all the options and get something that matches your needs and wants. Anyway, that’s a fair way off. Get your license/certificate first! 😀

Thanks mate. I will chase that one up. Cheers.

 

Baz.

[Builds By Baz]

Just now, pmccarthy said:

My mother told me when she was 82 that she wished someone had told her at 70 that she was still young and could start new things. You have many years to enjoy flying if that is your dream. I am 74 and fly regularly, lots of friends are older and still fly.

Thank you. I appreciate the encouragement.

 

Baz.

[BurnieM]

I started learning to fly in 2023 at 66.

I learnt with Fly Illawarra at ShellHarbour.

 

I have heard good things about Learn2Fly at Canberra but pricing seems to be a little higher.

It might be better to learn at an non-controlled aerodrome with lighter traffic to get your RPC and cross country then perhaps move to Canberra for your RPL and controlled airspace etc.

 

Edited June 17 by BurnieM

[T510]

I started at 49, went with Wings out West in Dubbo as I wanted to learn in tail draggers

[Marty_d]

12 hours ago, Builds By Baz said:

Where would I start? I live in Canberra.

 

Baz, I have a friend in Canberra who has built 2 Zenith CH-750's from scratch. If you want I'm happy to ask him if it'd be ok for you to contact him for a chat.

Having followed your Viper build I am confident you have the ability to build an aircraft.

 

Edited June 18 by Marty_d

[facthunter]

Don't build a Plane at the same time you learn to fly.  Make sure you get a good instructor, so that you learn the Basics well. Doing unusual attitude recoveries  in the correct Aircraft I would consider essential. You are obviously Keen and 56 is not  OLD. Get going . Time Marches on.. Nev

[rgmwa]

I started my PPL at 59 and built a plane. 

[facthunter]

Most People who build a plane do  very little flying while they do it and "Building" takes much longer than estimated in most cases. Nev

[IBob]

5 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Most People who build a plane do  very little flying while they do it and "Building" takes much longer than estimated in most cases. Nev

Absolutely.

I'm one of those. And while I'm glad I did the build...one of life's special experiences...my energies went into that instead of flying.
Go flying, Baz!

[rgmwa]

The build took me four years but I flew reasonably regularly during that time. I thought it was important to do both. I really enjoyed building too.

[facthunter]

Did you start your flying training  the same time? Nev

[kgwilson]

I started flying at 22 got a PPL in my 30s but had breaks of weeks to several years as life, marriage and mortgage got in the way. I built my plane over nearly 5 years at age 61 to 65 & am still flying at 76 though not going on long distance flights these days. Didn't fly during the build years but lots since

[facthunter]

My emphasis is on getting the Basic skills of Pilotage right as a priority. That's best done by concentrating on it. IF you wish to do it differently, it's a free country. Nev

[rgmwa]

32 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Did you start your flying training  the same time? Nev

No, I got my PPL the day the first crate of plane parts was delivered. That was a good day. That's why I felt it important to keep flying because I didn't have many hours so I kept renting 152's and 172's. It's an expensive hobby!

[facthunter]

The enquiry was for a Person just starting to learn to fly who is 56. Would you really suggest it's wise to build a plane at the same time.? Nev

[rgmwa]

I'm not sure who you're asking. I think it's better to learn first and then build. Both absorb a lot of time, effort and money, but that's not to say you couldn't do both together if you have the time and resources.

 

[Marty_d]

Everyone's circumstances are different.

Flying lessons don't take all day and neither does building.

If Baz has both time and money (lucky man!) then there's nothing to stop him doing both.

If not, well then choices have to be made.

It's taken me 15 years to almost finish a plane because I work full time and have 3 kids (a 2yo and a baby when I started building) so had neither money nor time.

[onetrack]

An unbelievable level of persistence is required to build your own aircraft. There are many aircraft kit builders who gave up half way through - or, advancing age beat them.

It pays to examine your other committments in total, before starting a kit build - because it will demand a vast amount of your time, that may mean a very lengthy build period, just like Martys.

But I do admire Martys persistence and dedication to see the project through. They are rare traits in this day and age of needing fast rewards.

[Blueadventures]

The easiest compromise maybe to buy a rebirth project; and get an experienced person to check it over fist to eliminate surprises down the track. Good buys come up from time to time.