Student pilot takes off at 91

When Cliff Garl, 91, told his doctor that he wanted to earn a pilot's certificate, the physician could only reply, "I'm not sure."

But last week Garl, of Shoreline, proved skeptics wrong and made his first solo flight as a student pilot.

Garl flew a single-engine Cessna 172, at an altitude of 1,000 feet, twice around Arlington Municipal Airport — about 10 miles in the air in all.

His flight instructor, Joe Bennett, who's 75, could only marvel at what Garl accomplished and shook the hand of the oldest student he's ever had.

Garl was proud of his accomplishment but said other folks in their golden years shouldn't look to him for inspiration.

"I'm just doing my thing," he said.

Garl said he had been nervous before takeoff but that once in the air he did what he had been taught.

He now is considering logging more flying hours to get a recreational or private pilot's certificate.

Bennett had asked to be Garl's instructor at Northway Aviation at Paine Field, figuring two active old guys could relate to each other. Bennett, a retired Seattle firefighter, flies four to five times a week.

"You go into a nursing home and you'll see people a lot younger than he just sitting there," Bennett said about Garl. "I actually don't know of anybody, even in their 80s, who's soloed."

Of the 600,000 pilots in the U.S., according to the Federal Aviation Administration, there were only 59 student pilots in 2004 over the age of 80.

There are no figures for student pilots over age 90, but Bennett said he wouldn't be surprised if Garl was the only one.

There is no maximum age limit for private pilots. The minimum age to be a student pilot is 14.

One hurdle for Garl was getting the needed FAA medical clearance.

After months of taking numerous physical tests, including a vision test — all of which Garl passed — he finally was given clearance to fly.

Given his age, Garl said of his dealings with the FAA, "I think it was a question of who was going to outlast who."

The FAA does require a thorough medical report by a government-certified examiner. Garl's longtime personal physician, Dr. Robert Bettis, happened to be one.

"I saw nothing to disqualify him," Bettis said.

This was a patient with a very healthy blood pressure of 120/70.

Garl says he's long had an interest in aviation, having worked for Standard Oil's maintenance and construction division, which took him to remote areas in Alaska. The bush pilots would let him try the controls of the plane.

But his wife, Lois, who died in 1988, hadn't been very enthused about her husband's interest in flying an airplane, he said. The couple had no children, and Garl's nearest relatives, a brother and sister, have passed away.

The day of the flight was for celebrating.

At his age, the day wasn't going to end for Garl with a night on the town.

"I think I'll have a Pepsi," said the newest member of a very elite club, maybe the only member.

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com