I’m a retired airline pilot and have been keen on flying all my life and started learning when I was 16 years of age. I had to work hard and pay for my flying lessons and study to gain my commercial flying licence and instructor rating and commence work as a flying instructor when I reached The minimum age 19 years. While I was doing this I was fortunate to gain additional training to fly jet fighters with the RAAF. I commenced my airline career with Ansett Airlines in 1962 and remained with the Airline for 28 years until the 1989 pilots dispute . I have also owned several light aircraft and built an aeroplane a Thorp T18 that took 7 years and thousands of hours labour to complete and I first flew in 1985, and flew the aircraft to many parts of Australia over the years until it was reluctantly sold in 1999. I have always enjoyed building things and self taught myself the many trades required. I still have a current license to fly for recreation. I am now divorced and live alone in my own home and enjoy many activities and like travelling to see my friends interstate Who have aeroplanes that I can still fly.