Totally agree and would prefer to see you find someone who is older and who will stick with you until you get your license.

Problem is that many times you get a younger instructor and they end up getting hired by someone (airlines and so on) part way through your instruction and you have to then start over fresh with a new person.

If you can find someone who will stick with you all the way its a lot better...

My instructor is 77, has owned the flight school since 1968. Hopefully he will hang in there for a few more months.

One insurance company I contacted said no one over 65 could be used for an instructor. As someone who will be 55 next month this sort of pissed me off. I would think that as long as he can pass the physical it should not matter.

I keep thinking about your situation. Once your instructor is happy and done with u (or vica versa?), is there a possibility that you could find a retired pilot(with or without a licence) that could ride around with u for some more hours to keep an eye on you. Don't take this personally but I think that it will take a while for u to feel comfortable with a faster a/c, var. pitch prop., retractable undercarriage etc. I am sure there are some volunteer pilots with experience in your area that would love to ride shotgun. Just a thought:)

Would not disagree with the above, as the Bonanza is a fast bird.

That said, with the right instruction, US Air Force pilots transitioned from a C-172 to a jet (T-37) for years...

Not a bad idea. I know a couple that would probably keep me company for a while.

A jet that many of the first responders lovingly call a lawn dart..... Doesn't bode well for the OP...

Yes a lawn dart in the form of an a/c does not have a happy ending. It is nice to have company when u go flying. Like the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Now I am dating myself. Tonto gets to do the radio work(if you have a radio licence don't they last forever?). The Lone Ranger does the stick handling and at the end of the trip the Lone Ranger looks like the real hero. :)That is how it is scripted anyway.

It always blows my mind thinking about people in their early 20s going from a C172 to a jet trainer. That is wild!

Older Bonanza.... nice! Love Bonanzas.

Makes a big difference when you are flying the same aircraft ? hours every day.

Rich,

The T-37 is pretty docile but then after not that many hours, the nuggets (new pilots) go to the T-38 and that puppy is a handful and very fast.

Its all in the training but then we pay for the best and they get it!

Joe A