Never too old

About Us

05/17/2014

Karl is a retired engineer, financial officer, air charter manager, and computer consultant.   He started on his aviation career in 1954. At age eighty-one Karl owned a Globe-Temco Swift, and had FAA Commercial SEL, SES, MEL, and Glider certificates collected in 3,000+ hours over the intervening years.  His CFII rating is lapsed.

Dolly is enthusiastic about aviation and knitting.

Photo: The cockpit of Howard Hughes “Spruce Goose” in McMinnville, Oregon.

Saturday May 17th 2014 was the day I decided I was not too old to start building an E-AB aircraft. I started on my aviation career in 1954. At age eighty I own a Temco-Globe Swift, and have Commercial SEL, SES, MEL, and Glider certificates collected in 3,000+ hours during the intervening years. I have allowed my CFII rating to lapse. It was a hurdle to overcome the idea that I might be too old to start building a full scale airplane.

During the last three summers my wife, stepson and I completed a studs out remodeling of an apartment that is to be our summer home in Michigan. This year, contemplating how bored I’d be without some project, I came to the conclusion that doing an aircraft build is age independent.

I haven’t committed to the make and model of the build, but it likely will be an RV-7, tail wheel configuration. I’m just in the early stages of researching the project, and plan on attending the Airventure in July, armed with many questions.

The Swift is going up for sale, with the expectation that it may contribute to the build cost of the homebuilt.  Currently the Swift is home in Florida. Next week we again bring it North to the Swift Nationals, and then up to 3DA, Flushing Michigan, six miles from our summer home.

A new adventure begins. Empinage this winter in Florida and QB wings and fuselage in the MI barn next summer.