No Insurance after 90

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

I took a coffee break this morning and sat outside, leaning against the hangar.
A pickup drove by and stopped...within 20 minutes I had a verbal commitment to purchase the plane, the hangar and ALL its contents.

We sign the paper work today at 4PM

A quick clean break is probably the best re impact on my mental health and outlook. Its like removing a Band Aid, a quick pull is less painful
than a slow one.

I leave aviation that I began in 1948...oh well, everything ends, you and me
also.

Good luck to all....Wolfgang

That, my friend, is the way to do it. Seventy-two years is a very long aviation career. Best wishes on an enjoyable new chapter.

Be sure you include in the paperwork the right to lean up against the hangar with your coffee.....

[TomVal]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

I took a coffee break this morning and sat outside, leaning against the hangar.
A pickup drove by and stopped...within 20 minutes I had a verbal commitment to purchase the plane, the hangar and ALL its contents.

We sign the paper work today at 4PM

A quick clean break is probably the best re impact on my mental health and outlook. Its like removing a Band Aid, a quick pull is less painful
than a slow one.

I leave aviation that I began in 1948...oh well, everything ends, you and me
also.

Good luck to all....Wolfgang

Blue skies Wolfgang...I may be stopping by for a cup of coffee soon.

[Tankerpilot75]

Wolfgang,
You?ve had a great aviation adventure and you?re obviously a very smart and responsible gentleman. I salute you and wish you well.

I?m getting ready to turn 73 in a few months, in relative good health, but don?t plan on flying too much longer. I?ll probably sell my plane in two to three years and I?ll regret it when I do. But there?s an old saying that I?ll paraphrase: ?it?s better to regret something on the ground than to be in the air and regret it.?

The joy of flying is something I still do and will always treasure and dream about. The life lessons, friendships and experiences I?ve enjoyed have made me the person that I am. No matter my age that dream will be there and the joy remembered!

[Piper J3]

When you get too old to fly full scale - try this https://youtu.be/MYNgYYpNsWc

A group of us plan to fly in the nursing home cafeteria before we put down the spoon...

[DanBaier]

Back in February, I had to provide some assistance to a pilot who, not insured and not having flown in awhile, decided to taxi their aircraft for fuel while waiting for the instructor to arrive. $40,000 damage for the airplanes they hit and the aircraft they were in (probably worth $40 - $50,000) was likely a total. That's almost $100,000 of loss in just an instant. Or how about the two gear ups by uninsured pilots that I've seen in just the past couple of years? Or the pilot who lost control taxiing and hit a hangar - serious damage there as well as totaling the aircraft inside the hangar that was hit.

Operating without insurance probably wouldn't be my first choice.

[grubbat]

First, I?d have a cup of coffee and then solicit input from this community. Then I?d consider self insuring, maybe buying an insurance company and call it 70plus, or maybe I?d consider liability only if it was available. Last, I?d sell it and then fly with some of my buds at airport who have an empty seat from time to time. Just because the insurance company can?t make a dime on insuring you doesn?t mean your life of flying has to end. It?s just means that your life of solo flying has hit a speed bump. Flying dual may open up new friendship doors now that you would have never entertained before. I loved my RV-3 but man that solo stuff got old fast. At least for now, I can load up several buds in the twin and scare the $@@@ out of them which provides much joy( scare meaning they are used to 30mph over the numbers, not 130mph). Seriously, I know this next chapter for you will be great no matter what you decide and I hope that each and every day is as rewarding as yesterday. Good Bless.

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

I am thinking of a sacrifice sale of the plane, my hangar, and all the other things you gather after flying for years. I feel as if I was hit a fatal blow. My
RV-12 has 350 hours on 912ULS, auto pilot, ADSB in, wheel pants, a few other extras. it was an early RV-12, serial 120185.

What would you do?

[iwannarv]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

I took a coffee break this morning and sat outside, leaning against the hangar.
A pickup drove by and stopped...within 20 minutes I had a verbal commitment to purchase the plane, the hangar and ALL its contents.

We sign the paper work today at 4PM

A quick clean break is probably the best re impact on my mental health and outlook. Its like removing a Band Aid, a quick pull is less painful
than a slow one.

I leave aviation that I began in 1948...oh well, everything ends, you and me
also.

Good luck to all....Wolfgang

While you may not be an aircraft owner/PIC going forward.... Keep your airport friends. I hope they'll gladly welcome you to join in the co-pilots seat for breakfast for more years to come.

[DonFromTX]

From someone in their mid eighties: That all sounds easy but has some problems. I recently had to give it all up, sold my planes and hangar after 50 years of being a safe pilot. I flew a lot of those years without insurance for various reasons, but for me the Flight Review rules changes got me. As you know, after 50 years of accident free flying, I now need some young person with a few months of flying experience to decide if I can fly or not and give me an exam all over again to cover his certificates Compound that with their monetary incentive to get in a bunch of instructor fees to pay for their CFI rating and their total fear of anything with Experimental in the name and you have been shut out. Oh did I mention, NO review in anything without old round gauges!
I was bitter, I cried a lot, and still am not over it but will get there. Still looking over ultralights :-)

[wilddog]

Don,
Is there a glider club near you? Mine in Va. offers all instruction free to members. This is for the instructor only, still have to pay rental on club planes and tow fees. But flight reviews are instruction and are free. Most of our instructors are older and most ex Navy and AF, no low hour kids looking for fees and time. This could be a path to check out.

[donaziza]

Hey---Check our Sam Buchanan's avatar. He's 118 years old and still flyin