Did about 200 hours private prior to joining the military, at no time during training (Chipmunk, Auster, Tiger Moth, Cessnas 150, 172, 182) was mention made of a flight manual. All training was on the basis of being shown or being told. Seems not much has changed from my daughters experience a few years ago. Was flying off the last few hours for her CPL on a navex in a 150, rang to say the alternator had failed in flight and wanted to know what to do. Had no idea the POH had an emergency checklist covering the problem.