OK (some of you).. this'll make your hearts ache. Friend of mine - one the the Heathrow ATCOs still at London Terminal Control has an interest in flying in as many different types of a/c as possible. I think he's way over 300 and a few years ago he managed to wangle his way on board an An-22 flying from Germany to Russia for a "new type". He told the crew what he did... held a PPL... had his own aeroplane... flew balloons, etc.. and they let him fly the thing manually for a while!!!