For 75 Years, a Mechanic Has Helped Keep Planes Aloft

I don't know how to feel about this.

My first reaction is why is he still working at age 92? I would hope it is not because he has to but then I realize that as an airline mechanic for 75 years he must have made a ton of money over that time and would also have a great retirement package so then he must still working because he loves his job not because he needs the money.

If he is still working because of his love of work there are positive aspects to that. It has probably kept him young. A lot of people who retire early just go to seed. Realistically however how much of his job can he really do? Any work he does must have to be double checked by younger mechanics.

Imagine if Joe Biden had decided to become an airline mechanic would you want to fly on a plane he worked on? And then there is also the fact that there is more to life than work. Lot's of retirees find new activities to keep them mentally and physically active while enjoying all the other great things in life outside of work such as travel and taking up new hobbies.

So it seems to me that this guy is just some kind of mascot for American Airlines much like the 85 year old AA flight attendant featured recently in the media. What's next? An 80 year old Captain?


I'm suspicious of stories like this. What is the purpose of these stories? To prepare Americans to the idea that they will need to work much later into their lives than their parents had do? With record runway inflation many seniors on fixed income will soon be forced to re-enter the workforce (if they can get a job at their age) or face homelessness.

I don't see these as the "feel-good" stories that they are meant to be. I see them as just gaslighting the population to prepare us for worse times ahead.