It's think this has been aired before on other PPRUNE threads so I stand by to be flamed, but here goes.....how many times have you flown with a younger bloke who could barely get in the cockpit? How many 40 year olds have you seen in your outfit out on medicals with grounding conditions? It's not about age anymore.. it's how fit you are and at nearly 62 I'd stack myself and many of my age group against all comers any day. Oh, and as someone hinted. Experience does not come out of a book. Neither does common sense and to see the current crop pressing buttons faithfully as directed by the company SOPs
And before the flamers take aim.. I flew by the book..I also used 40+ years to consider when the book was less than appropriate.
Fire away.