Old Airplanes

The disgraced and corrupt Republican ex-Alaska senator Stevens was riding in a fully loaded (maybe overloaded?) 1957 airplane when it crashed. He and several others died in the crash.

The company I worked at for 25 years had a history of buying used but very high quality airplanes. A Beechcraft Bonanza, several Barons, and a couple of King airs. But then the brother in charge of sales took over, and they bought a cheapo worn 25 year old Cessna jet. A Cessna? The cheapest of the cheap. And a jet that is 25 years old.

All of these men would be horrified if their favorite daughter departed the east coast to go to college on the west coast driving a 25 year old car, much less a 1957 vintage. They would worry terribly about her safety and mechanical breakdowns.

It is a complete myth that aircraft maintenance is so high quality that these ancient airplanes can keep flying safely virtually forever. People keep letting their greed and their pocket books overrule their good sense. And they keep dying because of it.

-
-
-
-