...with smaller planes (707), on shorter distances,
Well, I don't know about
that, having personally done 12 hours in said 707....quite a few times.
Pilots in those days knew how to
fly not just push a multitude of buttons.
Of course, younger pilots now might say...'well yeah, but those older airplanes crashed more often.'
Not with yours truly in Command, they didn't.
Perhaps it's now time to be seriously considering age 70 for retirement, for those (certainly) more experienced Captains, thereby greatly increasing safety.