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.
That is what I thought. They need to pass a medical to fly.
Chris Karamesines from Chicago is still driving Top Fuel dragsters. He is still competing. I think he is now almost 79. He still qualifies against the young ‘uns, also. To the best of my recollection, he has never had an accident of any consequence.