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Author
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Topic: Early programs' astronauts who still fly aircraft
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Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-03-2014 12:10 PM
   
I must confess that I was a little surprised yet pleased to see that Bill Anders is still flying privately at the age of 81.He looked in very good health indeed when interviewed on Professor Brian Cox's new BBC series "Human Universe." How many more Mercury, Gemini and Apollo-era astronauts still fly I wonder? Surely John Glenn has now retired? |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 11-03-2014 01:44 PM
I've always wondered how they feel once they lose the ability/option to fly high performance jets. They must feel a sense of loss. |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 11-03-2014 01:58 PM
John Glenn was still flying as of a few short years ago. I don't know about now, though. |
DeepSea
Member Posts: 68
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 11-03-2014 02:06 PM
There used to be a clip on YouTube of Gene Cernan getting a back-seat ride, although I can't remember the aircraft. The pilot asks him what sort of flying he still gets up to, and he replies 'I'm doing a lot of flying in Lears.' |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 11-03-2014 03:30 PM
Does anyone know if Jim Lovell still flies his own plane? |
Chariot412
Member Posts: 156
From: Lockport, NY, 14094
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 11-03-2014 05:42 PM
Pretty sure Neil Armstong was recertified as a glider pilot in 2005 at 75 years old. Good chance he may have flown beyond then. Not sure if he flies private, but as of last month, Charlie Duke still flies a great stick when thermaling in a sailplane. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-03-2014 06:21 PM
Didn't Borman fly his own plane to one of the Novaspace signings? |
NovaRob
Member Posts: 242
From: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Registered: Nov 2008
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posted 11-03-2014 11:15 PM
Borman still flies his plane, although for this year's Novaspace signing, bad weather forced him to fly commercial. |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 11-06-2014 07:37 AM
There is a website listing all pilot licenses, so you can check the names one by one, if you want. I am rather surprised how many astronauts in their 60s I do not actually find listed any more... |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 11-06-2014 08:23 AM
I guess it's what's wrong with you rather than your age. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 11-06-2014 08:59 AM
You'd think that legendary pilots (Glenn, Yeager, etc) would be issued a non-flying lifetime license. An honorary license so to speak. |
David C
Member Posts: 1015
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 11-06-2014 10:40 AM
I'd think that one of the last things Yeager would want is his name on a civilian license, given his vocal opinions on civilian pilots.
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dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 11-06-2014 12:41 PM
So a military pilot is issued a separate license from civilian FAA? Maybe would that explain why some astronauts may not be searchable. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 11-06-2014 01:58 PM
I remember asking Al Worden a couple or so years ago if he still flew and he replied "Not as much as I'd like to". |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-06-2014 03:27 PM
If you are going to fly civilian aircraft, you need a civilian license. A military ability to fly does not cut the ice with the FAA.I knew a C5 pilot who had to get his military experience converted over to a civilian license so he could fly for CVS. |
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