It really is fun - just be careful!
The recent 2004 HAA Industry Conference in Australia had a night segment to look at night visual flying and flying with NVIS equipment. We were not knocking night flying – to the contrary. Just asking people to be more careful.
Night can bite.
As a past rescue pilot, I have probably flown more at night than day.
Lessons to pass on are few but important! Learn to interpret the weather forecasts correctly and when following your flight plan stick to it! If the weather gets ugly or you have to divert into an area you haven’t really done some map checking – you go home to your loved ones.
Not them to your funeral!
You must learn to say no! The hardest person to convince is yourself (ego).
Best of luck and enjoy cruising in the totally smooth air that sometimes is a gift to aviators.
Oh and a last tip! Get hold of a military text book which explains levels of illumination in relation to moon and stars. This reading may give you an awareness of the limits of the human eye.
Night can bite. But night is fun!
Enjoy!!