Doctor learns to fly at 54!
And he needs your help...
"My wife gave me flying lessons as my 54th birthday present. I think she was trying to get rid of me because when I said to her that my life insurance would not pay if I was killed as a student pilot..."
Pat says...
"I’m a 66 year old retired MD "living my dream" 1.2 miles from the airport in Fairhope, Al (KCQF). Am still sharp and healthy, I think. My wife says I am turning into a little old man who likes to mosey.. My main hobby and passion since retiring from Medicine is my plane, flying it, and hanging around the airport. I have some golf clubs, but I rarely use them.
I have a beautiful air conditioned 2002 Piper Archer III (N48PR) which I’ve owned for 5 years and flown about 200 hrs. Prior to that I had a 172M.(N9671V) Got my PPL at 55 years old. I’m instrument rated, but not current, fly mostly VFR. 470 hrs as PIC, 607 landings, all successful so far. I’m a conservative, careful, checklist kind of pilot, never in or near trouble of my own making..
My wife won’t fly with me (chicken), my grandchildren are not allowed to by their mother (control freak), so....I usually fly alone, local stuff around Southern Alabama, occasionally up to Birmingham or Fort Payne (2.5 hrs in my Archer). I’m only an hour from Lakefront Airport in New Orleans via 48PR.
I want to fly to Dallas (KTKI) to visit family, and to Durham, NC for the same reason. I’d love to fly more and further, out to Sedona for example. Maybe check off lots of states I’ve landed in.
(Scouts on board... exhausted after a long flight)
I tell folks I’m slow and not personally complex, and my plane is just my speed and type as I have nowhere in particular to go and no deadline to get there anymore.
There is a nice V35B for sale at our airport. I secretly wanted one for years, flown in V-tails and straight tails with friends, but….
It makes no sense mission-wise for me to have a Bonanza. But, dang that it a pretty Bonanza, and I’d love to have it in my hanger...
Help me think this through please…"
Patrick, some say Bonanza's are doctor killers, and others say doctors are Bonanza killers. You will not be either! Now... GA world... Help Pat decide... fill his hangar and with a Bonanza?
What do you think?
XO Karlene