[Hulka]

Not if the pilot has any air sense.

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots.

[Paladin2]

There are old pilots planes and bold pilots planes, but there are no old, bold pilots planes.

[Cribb]

Re:"There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots."

Of course, there are always exceptions - in this case: Me. Gone through 2 cats - well into the 3rd. [:>)

[old curmudgeon]

I missed it that the crash happened at Reno.

However my comments regarding mountain flying are valid.

By the way, short field high performance takeoffs are flying on the edge. You can kill yourself at it without a wild and gusty day although gusts certainly raise the danger level.

I once saw a C-47 crash killing all on board on one of the nicest fling days you will ever see.

He took off into the wind on a runway about three times as long as he needed but the pilot made a short field takeoff.

A very low level wind shear caused the aircraft to stall and it cartwheeled and burst into flame. I was in the car that got to the plane first but there was nothing we could do but watch it burn.