Knowing slightly the gent you were talking to, I think you've had the pleasure of one of the most experienced Test Pilots in British industry sharing his wisdom with you - although as it happens, I agree with him completely about the progression of a career into Test Flying.
To throw up a few questions that interest me personally...
- How was the course structured (e.g. what did you do in the classroom first?, what was/were the actual exercise(s) flown in the air?, what did you (the students) actually do in the air?)
- What analysis, planning and data recording did you (as the students) have to do as part of the course?
- What do you think you actually learned? (As opposed to took part in)?
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it. We try not to tell the accountants this, since they start degrading our pay and conditions, but FT really is tremendous fun isn't it!
G