Pompey Paul,
NOW you're learning how to fly, as opposed to how to drive an airoplane. Yes, you can not only fly circuits, but you can pretty much just fly based on attitude and sound. You need a few more things along the way (altitude is tough to guage by eye), but for the most part, once you become really familiar with an airoplane, you find yourself using the instruments just to verify what you already know from look, sound, and feel. Disclaimer here is talking about VFR flying only (IMC is a bit of a different issue and a bit harder to do without instruments.
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