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Into the wild blue: At 80, pilot heads for the skies
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| At the helm: Recreational pilot Tom Smith flies over the San Pedro Valley with passenger Thelma Grimes. (Thelma Grimes/Photo.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
(Editor's Note: News-Sun reporter Thelma Grimes accompanied the pilot on a flight over the valley.)
Age does not deter 80-year-old Tom Smith from flying high in life.
Smith, a Green Valley resident, recently earned a recreational pilot's license after two years of training at Benson Municipal Airport.
Smith said flying a plane was one of the things on his bucket list, and two years ago he decided to take action.
"A friend of mine was a pilot and talked about it, and I always said I wanted to fly," he said. "He told me I could do it if I went through a program to get a recreational license that allows me to fly up to 50 miles."
Such a pilot's license comes with restrictions. He cannot fly near any airports with control towers, which meant his options for training near Green Valley and Tucson were limited.
The choice was between the Benson airport, and airports in Marana and Rio Rico.
"Benson was a good choice. When you are learning to fly, it helps to be at an airport that doesn't have a lot of traffic," Smith said. "This was a comfortable place to learn."
While flying was at the bottom of his bucket list, Smith said he is proud of the accomplishment, noting it feels good to take the controls 1,000 feet in the air.
A good humored Smith said he had to do something after having shoulder problems and in retirement could not play as much golf.
Smith's wife, Nancy, said she was surprised to hear of his plans to fly.
"I said I was going to Florida to see my sister, and he told me he was going to start taking lessons to fly," she said. "It was just a complete shock to me."
For now Nancy remains a ground supporter.
Not wanting to fly in the small aircraft, Nancy said she is still proud of her husband's accomplishment because it was a tough task.
According to statistics, 78 percent of adults who start the process to get a pilot's license fail. Nancy said she is proud because her husband was one of the 22 percent who passed.
On Sept. 1, Smith took to the air in one of his first solo flights, with his first passenger who was not an instructor.
Smith appeared at ease in the air as he flew around the San Pedro Valley, pointing out golf courses, mountains, Kartchner Caverns and other landmarks that stood out from above.
"I feel just like a kid getting his driver's license for the first time," Smith said. "You do anything you can to use the car. That's kind of how I feel. I just want to fly. Once you do it alone, you become anxious and you just keep asking to do it again."
While it is mostly a hobby, Smith said he will use the license to entertain visitors.
However, flying doesn't come first, as Smith and his wife travel the country, having visited every state but Hawaii.
Flight plans will also remain in Benson for the time being, as Smith said he likes the airport and he is able to rent planes by the hour.
(Editor's Note: News-Sun reporter Thelma Grimes accompanied the pilot on a flight over the valley.)
Age does not deter 80-year-old Tom Smith from flying high in life.
Smith, a Green Valley resident, recently earned a recreational pilot's license after two years of training at Benson Municipal Airport.
Smith said flying a plane was one of the things on his bucket list, and two years ago he decided to take action.
"A friend of mine was a pilot and talked about it, and I always said I wanted to fly," he said. "He told me I could do it if I went through a program to get a recreational license that allows me to fly up to 50 miles."
Such a pilot's license comes with restrictions. He cannot fly near any airports with control towers, which meant his options for training near Green Valley and Tucson were limited.
The choice was between the Benson airport, and airports in Marana and Rio Rico.
"Benson was a good choice. When you are learning to fly, it helps to be at an airport that doesn't have a lot of traffic," Smith said. "This was a comfortable place to learn."
While flying was at the bottom of his bucket list, Smith said he is proud of the accomplishment, noting it feels good to take the controls 1,000 feet in the air.
A good humored Smith said he had to do something after having shoulder problems and in retirement could not play as much golf.
Smith's wife, Nancy, said she was surprised to hear of his plans to fly.
"I said I was going to Florida to see my sister, and he told me he was going to start taking lessons to fly," she said. "It was just a complete shock to me."
For now Nancy remains a ground supporter.
Not wanting to fly in the small aircraft, Nancy said she is still proud of her husband's accomplishment because it was a tough task.
According to statistics, 78 percent of adults who start the process to get a pilot's license fail. Nancy said she is proud because her husband was one of the 22 percent who passed.
On Sept. 1, Smith took to the air in one of his first solo flights, with his first passenger who was not an instructor.
Smith appeared at ease in the air as he flew around the San Pedro Valley, pointing out golf courses, mountains, Kartchner Caverns and other landmarks that stood out from above.
"I feel just like a kid getting his driver's license for the first time," Smith said. "You do anything you can to use the car. That's kind of how I feel. I just want to fly. Once you do it alone, you become anxious and you just keep asking to do it again."
While it is mostly a hobby, Smith said he will use the license to entertain visitors.
However, flying doesn't come first, as Smith and his wife travel the country, having visited every state but Hawaii.
Flight plans will also remain in Benson for the time being, as Smith said he likes the airport and he is able to rent planes by the hour.
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