Met an amazing man today

LDJones

LDJones

Touchdown! Greaser!
Gone West
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
10,998
Location
Twin Cities, MN
Display Name
Jonesy
Home Airfield
KMSP / KFCM / KSGS
I was doing a flight observation today so rode the jumpseat from MSP to IMT. While waiting to reboard to return to MSP an elderly gentleman approached me (I was in my airline uniform) and struck up a conversation. Somehow we got to talking about age and he says, "How old do you think I am?" I figured he was probably in his early 70s but said "I'd guess late 60s." "I'm 96! And I'm still flying!" I swear, the guy was as sharp and agile as the most youthful 70-somethings I know. Then I remembered reading an article about the oldest pilot. One link is below. This is the guy. Amazing. I hope I'm still flying at 96. Oh, I think he mentioned he flew a P-51 on his 96th birthday! How's that for style?!!

I wish I would have thought to get his autograph.


http://www.adn.com/article/20150508...view-washingtons-monuments-wwii-commemoration
 
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That's cool Jonesy. I've read a couple of articles about him recently. Truly an inspiration.
 
His sage advice for aging gracefully was "Marry a good woman! I was married for 70 years and we never had a fight or raised our voices. My brother, on the other hand, married a difficult woman.....we buried him thirty years ago!"
 
When you reach that age,your advise has been proven. Like his style.
 
Too cool! I just hope to be alive at 96, of course if I am I would like to be flying.....
 
I sent a text to one of my airline classmates who lives in Fairbanks and said I met a 96 yo pilot from Fairbanks. He said, "Oh, you met Urban! He's a good friend of mine!"

Small world.
 
Keeping that in mind, if you start your professional flying career at age 56, you have another 40 years to go :)
 
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