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 a parallel between his own aging body and his vintage 1972 airplane, both experiencing wear and tear ("squawks") as they get older.
He contrasts the ability to repair and even upgrade airplane parts to be "better than new" with his body's irreversible physical decline and persistent pain from past injuries.
Despite acknowledging his inevitable physical deterioration and mortality, he embraces the ephemeral quality of life and intends to continue living fully, appreciating the time he has left.

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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.