Harrison Ford may be 72-years-old, but
he's still airworthy -- even in a 70-year-old plane -- according to experienced
pilots and mechanics who have personal knowledge of the actor's aviation
skills.
We
called around to various pilots who fly vintage aircraft, and several have had
first-hand experience with Ford. They say his motor skills are good and he is
thorough and professional when it comes to inspecting the planes he flies
before takeoff to make sure they're airworthy.
There's
no FAA rule that knocks a private pilot out of the air after a certain age, but
all pilots over 40 must get evaluated every 2 years for vision, hearing, blood
pressure and mental acuity. They also have to prove their flying skills.
Ford
has logged 4,000 hours in the air with various aircraft. As for the one that
crashed, however, some pilots have reservations, especially when it comes to
the engine. The Kinner engine that quit on Harrison "isn't the most
reliable," so claims a pilot who is very familiar with the aircraft. But
several people we spoke with say the plane in question was well-maintained and
"solid."
And
the pilots we spoke with all said the proof of Ford's flying abilities were
validated on a Venice golf course Thursday ... he laid it down as safely
as possible, without an engine.
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