Steven Stott (Flight International, 10-16 February) is adamant pilots should be retired at 60. I am Flight International's helicopter and tiltrotor test pilot. A few years ago I was testing a modern helicopter, but asked the aircraft commander, a young, experimental test pilot, to demonstrate a particular tailrotor malfunction. We were at a small grass unmanned airfield where another of the same manufacturer's helicopters was operating. We did left-hand circuits, it did right hand. To put the wind on the helicopter's right-hand side, my pilot elected to use the crosswind runway. All the radio traffic between us and the other helicopter was in another language. As he was positioning the helicopter on finals for a crosswind landing, I was following him through on the controls and watching his movements. Something caused me to look out to my right. I was horrified to see the other helicopter coming straight at us at the same height and very close: I could see the other two pilots' eyes. Without a second's thought I dumped the collective pitch lever, which allowed the other helicopter to pass over the top - just! The helicopter was manned by two experimental test pilots, both considerably younger than me. I beat them all.
I can also beat all my family, except for my 40-year- old son, at squash, a quick reaction sport. But he has to work very hard to beat me. I am 68 years old.
Do not give up so easily, Mr Stott, on us old timers!
Peter Gray Redhill, Surrey, UK
Source: Flight International
