Time Is Ticking on My Youth—and My Airplane's Too

It's become quite clear that my physical fitness is deteriorating at a much faster pace than that of my Beecraft Bonanza.

Ben Younger

Monday, January 08, 2024 at 01:11 PM ET

Verified

The 'Six Million Dollar Man' comparison doesn’t hold water in regard to my body. But in some ways it does hold true for my aircraft. [Courtesy: Ben Younger]

Key Takeaways:

The author draws extensive parallels between his own physical aging, injuries, and health issues, and the maintenance needs and deterioration of his vintage 1972 airplane.
A key distinction is made: while mechanical components of the plane can be replaced or overhauled to make it "better than new," the human body experiences an irreversible decline that doctors can only manage, not reverse.
The article concludes with a philosophical reflection on mortality, acknowledging the inevitable decline of the body (unlike the potentially longer-lasting plane) and the importance of appreciating life's ephemeral nature.

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Woke up in pain this morning. I tore my shoulder in January while snowboarding in Utah. Knew it the second I hit the ground. It was day one of a five-day trip, so I gritted my teeth, threw a bunch of Advil at it, and enjoyed the rest of the vacation as best I could. Truth is, I often wake up in pain these days. I’m now seemingly able to injure myself in my sleep. New level achieved.

My airplane has similar issues. I shouldn’t be surprised. We were both made in the same year: 1972. She’s serial number 9046. I’m somewhere around 108 billion. The Bonanza has evolved a lot faster than humans have. My knees are still Gen 1, and my electrical system hasn’t been upgraded to 28 volts. Not holding my breath either. My autopilot works just fine, but that’s not considered a desirable attribute in a human.