The news keeps bringing up the fact that the pilot was 74 years old. Big deal. So long as they can pass their FAA medical exam and are current in make and model of aircraft they fly then it makes no difference how old they are. Chuck Yeager flew an F-15D when he was 74. The chase plane for the flight was an F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Bob Hoover, a famous air-show pilot, and his wingman for the first supersonic flight was 75.
Agreed, age is very unlikely to be a factor in the crash, but the press sure wants to make it that way.....effin dingbats.
Technically true, but these statements bring up a couple of questions:
Were they dogfighting? Or were they flying straight and level for the press cameras?
Were they both flying solo? Or, did they have a current, qualified F-15 and/or F-16 pilots 'along for the ride'?
Steve Ritchie is 68 and still flys an incredible air show in an F-104.
Oops ! Mssrs, Hoover and Yeager’s bonifides are well-established in the aviation community ! For many years Hoover used to “organize/pace” Unlimited starts with his signature call, “Gentlemen you have a race !” as he peeled off course in his -51.
Never thought Leeward’s age had/has anything to do with with the incident ! >PS
Exactly, a relative was a jet pilot in the Korean War. He has several planes and pilots them all the time. He passes his FAA examination every year. He had some corrective eye surgery a few years back and can see better than me.