I recall a few 2am departures from King Island in Twin Bonanzas in the early 1970's as a low instrument hour pilot. I was under no "illusions' about the importance of sticking to the AH like glue once the last runway lights disappeared under the nose. The occasional flash from the Cape Wickham lighthouse in my peripheral vision made it feel that the aircraft was banking. I can't imagine anything blacker than heading out over Bass Strait on an overcast night.