My problem with "My Friend Fred..." was that I could never remember what all the words stood for, so I had to learn the more prosaic "Mixture, Fuel, Flaps, ..."
However, that downwind check (and the pre-takeoff check), with some additions for more complex aircraft, has stood me in good stead during the intervening 40+ years!
Concerning the carb-heat, I seem to remember that one of the forced-landing checks was to break the wire-lock and try cold air.
"India One One, fan stop."
"Roger, call climbing away."
Those were the days.
