Mechanical know how

[wilcom]

As one of the few members here whose younger than his R65

Jeez,................. I hadn't thought of that statistic. I'm just a tic under being twice as old as my Airhead.

I won't think of myself as old, but rather a person that as a fresher bike than the rest of ya......

[MichaelSydney]

My R65 is half my age but strangely eligible for "historic" registration concessions. How can that be? Still, at least I get a discount if I ride by bus.

Having taken up this motorcycle thing at age 64 it has been a steep learning curve but a fascinating one. I have developed a deep appreciation for this airhead, my first bike.

A friend with very limited mechanical skills asked how I learned my mechanical skills. I explained I started by pulling apart a lawn mower at an early age. "So did I !" He said.

"Ah, but then I put it back together" I said. Therein lies the difference.

[wilcom]

Having taken up this motorcycle thing at age 64

Good for you   You get bonus points in my book!!

[decorn33]

You know, I don't feel that old, but after reading all this I realized that I was the same age that the bike is now, when the bike was built. Oh well, the weather is warming up around here early this year. Me and my repacked steering head are going riding real soon.

[Bob_Roller]

I thought I'd add this to the thread .
I'm an aircraft mechanic with Southwest Airlines, been in aviation since June, 1976 .
Had a conversation with one of the mechanics, that goes to job fairs, etc., to interview prospective applicants for mechanic jobs at Southwest .
He's been on the road for 7 weeks since mid January, with about 4 job fairs a week .
Southwest needs to hire 70-100 mechanics for the work load at the present time .
Future estimates are 400 additional mechanics in the next 5-6 years .
12,000 applicants, 3700 basic interviews with this group, in 25 major US cities .
They could not find one qualified applicant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Southwest has an apprentice mechanic program, that Southwest employees in other departments, that have their A+P  (Airframe and Power plant ) license, can apply for and then spend two years with on the job work experience and book learning .
The 80 % of the people wash out before finishing the two year program .
The 20 % that  make it through the program, about 1-2% are mechanics, the rest are ' filler material " .
The average age of the maintenance workforce here, is 53 years old, within 10 years or so, about 60 % of the mechanics will be retiring/leaving/ dropping dead on the job .
That leaves a gaping hole in the experience level of mechanics working on these increasingly complex machines .
The future of aviation is getting more scary all the time !!!!!

[wilcom]

I'm an aircraft mechanic with Southwest Airlines, been in aviation since June, 1976 .

I'm an "A" lister with Southwest, keep up the good work Bob!

[marcmax]

I know what you mean Bob. My brother spent 25 years as a jet mechanic in the Air Force and since he retired he has been working at Sikorsky building the prototypes of the next generation of military heavy lift helicopters. He is in his mid 50's and is one of the youngsters at work.