Bart Bratko (USA; b. 22 April 1921) qualified as a flight instructor at age 81 years and 176 days at Lawrence Municipal Airport, Massachusetts, USA, on 15 October 2002. He obtained his pilot’s licence in 1995. Bratko owns a Beechcraft F33A Bonanza and a 1964 HA200A Casa Saeta Twin Jet Spanish Trainer, which he flies daily. During the Second World War, he was a Flight Control Officer, attached to the 445th Heavy Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, USAAF, stationed in Norwich, England.
The oldest female person to paraglide tandem is Mary Allen Hardison (USA) who was 101 years old when she completed a tandem paraglide in Draper, Utah, USA on 1 September 2011. Mary decided to take the jump to celebrate her 101st birthday and is also keen to be able to do the jump again.
The oldest person to obtain a pilot’s licence is James Collins Warren (b. 16 August 1923, USA) at the age of 87 years old, in Vacaville, California, USA, in September 2010. Retired Lt. Col. James C. Warren is a former navigator of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces.
At 62 years 234 days, Warren Johnson (USA, b. 7 July 1943) became the oldest driver to win a National Hot Road Association (NHRA) event. He won the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, in Chandler, Arizona, on 26 February 2006.
Bob Champion (USA, b. 13 October 1917) became the oldest person to win a class championship at the World Horseshoe Pitchers Tournament 2006 at the age of 88 in Gillette, Wyoming, USA.
Anthony Mancinelli (USA, b. 2 March 1911) has been a practising barber since 1924 and continues to work today at the age of 96 years and 237 days. Age is as of record approval date (25 October 2007).
The oldest pig ever is Pig, a potbellied pig (b. 17 February 1992), owned by Kris and Tricia Fernandez (both USA) and was 21 years and 166 days old as verified in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, on 2 August 2013.
The oldest individual winner of a Freestyle Skiing World Cup event is Ian Edmondson (USA, b.19 April 1957) aged 42 years 277 days at Heavenly, California, USA on 21 January 2000. NB: The source, below, wrongly quotes Mike Nemesvary as being older. This is a mistake as Mr Nemesvary retired aged 38 due to an accident leaving him paralysed; his birth year is also 1961).
In July 2004 the best selling single in the US was ‘That’s Alright’ by Elvis Presley (USA). The track, which also made the UK Top 3, was recorded and released (without success) 50 years earlier in 1954.
The oldest helicopter pilot is Donald Hinkel (USA) who completed a solo flight at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 23 days, over Ocsoda County Airport, in Mio, Michigan, USA, on 28 June 2012.