I heard an uplifting story (in more than one sense!) earlier this week about a former US fighter pilot who recently set a record as the world’s oldest active pilot. Pete Weber, from California and a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War established his record in the presence of his 70 year old son who videoed the whole flight.

To those who know Pete, the achievement was evidently no big surprise since he has always been something of a daredevil. He even turned up four hours late for his own wedding due to engine failure which caused him to crash land his plane in a corn field earlier that day! His bride’s irritation, no doubt tempered by relief, soon abated and they are still happily married 72 years later!

It just proves that, body and spirit willing, you are never too old to do or try anything. Better to regret a failure to succeed than a failure to try at all.

As for old Pete, there’s a saying that old pilots never die they just fly higher! Let’s hope it’s a good few years before he makes his final flight!