The oldest active flight simmer?

[birdguy 3,803]

Since I moved into a retirement home (A warehouse for old people) I've got a lot of time on my hands. I watch a lot of television programs; mostly old westerns like Gunsmoke and Wagon Train.  The TV feed into the home only has 38 channels so between news programs and movies and sports channels choices are rather limited for someone not interested in the news or sports.

But I have my flight simulator.  I do quite a bit of flying but mostly I've been creating scenarios.  I have 352 aircraft spotted at several airports around the world.  And I have 1150 scenarios spotting my Quest Kodiak at airports and float bases around the world.  It's taken me 5 months to create them all.

I have them all sorted out in Fences and they take up 9 desktop pages.

Of course I'm not going to fly them all.  But the project has kept me busy.

Next I am planning yet another around the world flight.  This will be my 4th or 5th but this time I am going to fly East to West instead of West to East like my previous ones.

Most of us who have been simming for a long time often wish we had more time to spend on the hobby.  Well, now I do.  I'm not bored with it yet.

The problem with being alone and consigned to a place like this is boredom.  I haven't reached that stage yet but others around me here have.  Thanks to my flight simulator and all the old Westerns I can watch on TV I'm kept somewhat active through the day.

I have no chores or work to do.  They feed me three times a day and once a week a lady comes in and cleans my apartment and changes out the bedding on my bed.  She launders the old bed linen and towels.  But I have to do my own laundry as far as clothes go.

I have a small kitchen in my apartment so if I don't like what's on the menu today I can fix my own meal.  I do that quite frequently.  Usually I heat up a frozen dinner but sometimes I make a full meal for myself.  And, of course, I have a cabinet full of snacks.

I am still able to drive and have my Prius parked outside.  It's my escape from this place when the walls start closing in.  And when I go grocery shopping.

Now the point of this post.  I am declaring myself the oldest active flight simmer.  Next month I turn into a 90 year old curmudgeon.  And in January start flying around the world again.  I'm looking forward to it.

Noel

[n4gix 4,899]

Noel, I'm delighted to learn that you are having so much fun. I hope you never get tired of sim flying!! 😉

[philmurfin 70]

You're an impressive fella Noel.

It's people like you that make the world go around, 

it' seems it's also people like you that go around the world

Well done and all the very best to you Noel

Phil

[hs118 667]

@birdguy Noel, so good to hear from you. Makes me smile that you got your sim rig working.

Clear skies and calm winds for you!!!

[ywg256 58]

This is awesome to hear. My best friend's dad just turned 90 this year and him and I share texts all the time about flightsimming and screenshots etc. He has a fairly good set up and is having a blast as well so this is awesome to hear you are having a great time as well. All the best to you!

Edited November 21 by ywg256

[ZLA Steve 356]

I'm happy to hear that I can still have another 40+ years in this hobby! Awesome story and keep at it.

[hjsmuc 392]

Noel, always great to hear from you. You are a true inspiration. Wishing you good health and many more years of enjoyment with flightsimming.

[Patco Lch 1,371]

Noel, you are certainly an enrichment to this community. I’m sure the folks around you feel the same.

[martin-w 3,109]

21 hours ago, birdguy said:

Next I am planning yet another around the world flight.

 

Make sure you land on my little island Noel. 😁 Low and slow and you might see some dolphins.

 

 

[jimh 21]

Hi Noel.

What an interesting post.  I'm really impressed with the life you have carved out for yourself in a Care Home.  It's good to hear that's possible.  I rarely post here because I live a very quiet uninteresting life.  Like you, my main interest is flight simming, and I fly most days for a Group called the Magpies.  I use a VR headset to take me into that other world, and at ninety, it seems to keep my brain working reasonably well.

Best Wishes to you, Jim

[birdguy 3,803]

I guess I'll have to withdraw my claim as the oldest active flight simmer.  I see at least two others have me beat and I won't really be a nonagenarian until Christmas Day.  But it's refreshing to know, if I may paraphrase a famous American general, old simmers never die, the just fly away.

I appreciate all kind words.  I have always considered the regulars here my friends.  I'm glad it's reciprocated.

Noel

[qqwertz 732]

I hope I will have the same zeal as you, Noel. So far so good, but I have a long way to go to reach your level 🙂

Peter

[birdguy 3,803]

I hope I haven't given you all the impression that this is a great life.  It's good but not great.  And I have adapted to it.  I would much rather have my old life back with my wife, a large yard to enjoy, a spacious kitchen to cook in, and 2200 square feet house to roam around in.  But that's not to be.

For example; I have a printed out a small sign that hangs from the bottom of my TV set and my computer monitor.  It says, "So What The Hell Else Have I Got To Do?"  That keeps me from being ashamed to spend so much time looking at screens.

And I have to thank Martin for our private conversations and arguments that keep the synapses firing.

I do miss my former life but am making the best of my current one.

Noel

[martin-w 3,109]

2 hours ago, birdguy said:

And I have to thank Martin for our private conversations and arguments that keep the synapses firing.

 

👍

[Matthew Kane 1,303]

I tell you what Noel I started Flight Sim when I was 12 years old and if I end up in a retirement home you bet I would take my Flight Sim with me, that has been the one consistent thing I have had since I was 12 and I am 52 years old now. People and places and things have always come and gone but the Flight Sim will always be there, and it has been a delight to see it develop from simple CGA graphics to this immersive world we have today. If you are the oldest Flight Simmer at the moment hopefully I will be one day too, be well my friend.