First page Back Continue Last page Overview Graphics

Mr. Miller, 96 year old Bonanza Driver

  • Soloed a Jenny, without an instructor, at 18
  • Probably the oldest professional-level pilot still flying.
  • Two health advantages.
  • 1: Father and grandfather lived long lives, to 92 and 99.
  • 2: Prudent, active life.
  • At 11 (1916) decided to avoid eating fats and kept it up.
  • Walks almost every day, one nautical mile, up and down hills.
  • Kept his weight when 18, with effort.
  • Has never drunk alcohol or smoked, or even had a drink of coffee.
  • Washes hands, after handling door knobs, etc., eating to avoid colds.
  • Physical changes he's noticed that are due purely to aging:
  • Eeyesight. Formerly better than 20/10, now barely 20/20.
  • Memory. Lifelong difficulty remembering names is worse
  • Language. Coming up with familiar words quickly.
  • Short-term memory is deteriorating; attention span is still excellent.
  • Flying skill is not as good due to lack of opportunity to practice:
  • Practice and recurrent training, especially for instrument flying, is important.
  • Has adapted to aging by not flying 'hard' IFR any more.

    Notes:

    Excerpts from a letter, 24 January 2002, from Mr. Miller, a 3-page single spaced typed manuscript without typos or erasures.

    I soloed myself in a Jenny, without an instructor, when 18, in 1923. I was born in December 1905. I believe I am now the oldest professional-level pilot still flying. I am an exceptionally vigorous and healthy person for my age...

    I have two health advantages over other people. My father and grandfather lived long lives, 92 and 99. Second, at the age of 11 (1916) ... I decided to avoid eating fats and kept it up. ...I walk every day, one nautical mile, up and down hills. ... I have kept my weight down to what it was when I was 18, most of the time with effort.

    I have never drunk a drop of alcohol or smoked, or even had a drink of coffee. ... In the case of coffee I discerned that i was definitely a drug habit, by the way the addicts could not get going in the morning without it.

    I realized, by checking my diary, that almost all colds were preceded by eating in a restaurant by two days or so. ...I wash my hands, that have handled door knobs, etc., before handling my food. I don't have any phobias, just sense.

    As for noticing what physical changes are due purely to aging, I would say the eyesight. Formerly I could see better than 20/10, now barely 20/20. I have all my life had difficulty remembering names and that is worse now that I am aging, along with coming up with words that I know perfectly well but have difficulty in bringing to mind quickly sometimes. My short-term memory is deteriorating; my attention span is excellent.

    My flying skill is not as good as it was when I was earning my living at it, for I just don't do so much of it as I would like to do. If I were a violinist it would be embarrassing to make errors, but in the case of an aviator ... it can be more than embarrassing.... Practice and recurrent training, especially for instrument flying, is important.
    [When asked what changes he's made in his flying, he said, 'I don't do hard IFR anymore.']