Flying light aircraft is fast becoming America’s retirees’ answer to keeping the golden years full and interesting.  Flying is a challenge; it keeps the mind active and young.  It requires thinking skills not normally found in the elderly.  However, by challenging the mind with all of the technical expertise required to fly, the brain is stimulated and rejuvenated.  The more you use the brain, the more the brain is capable of.

Flying puts students and licensed pilots into a social network with people of all ages and with people who are interesting and capable.  When on the ground, pilots mingle with other pilots, instructors, mechanics and facilitators.  And yet, while they are in the air, flying solo, there is a peace away from the chaos of ordinary life.

With friends only 1-3 hours flying time away, it is more feasible to pop in on them every couple of months.  Think how convenient this is compared to an 8-hour drive or a commercial flight where the drive to and from the airports is added to the preflight time at the airport.  That much hassle or time makes such visits almost impossible.

Depending on how you intend to use your pilot’s license makes a lot of difference in the cost and time involved.  If all you want is to fly solo over your area and just enjoy the scenery and the solitude you may prefer to fly helicopters.

Of course, any new project has a cost in time and money.  To get a helicopter’s pilot license requires about 55 hours of in air training that comes to 60 to 90 calendar days. The cost of a 4-seater helicopter will run about $300,000.  You could purchase one with partners and share the cost.  The training cost is under $15,000.  To own and fly a private jet such as “the Eclipse” will cost close to $1.5 million.  To fly your own Eclipse, you will need considerable experience to be safe and to be insurable.

Many retirees are accepting the challenge of flying.  They look forward to the benefits to their minds, enlarging their social group and doing something they’ve always wanted to do.