In days of yore when I was learning to fly, I was quite pleased with my mapreading ability one day when an experienced PPL had taken me for a fairly long jolly to the extent that he was uncertain of his position and I was able to point this out to him on the map that I was readng. The following weekend the weather was nice so I decided to have a go on my own. With instructor's authority to do a simple no land away triangle, I confidently took off, turned on to calculated heading and looked for ground features. The aircraft I was in kept turning left didn't it and before long I was similarly uncertain of my position. Oops! I knew I would have to admit it as I could have been close to the controlled airspace of my local "big" airfield. With much sinking feeling in my stomach, I pressed the button and, on a crystal clear day requested a QDM. This was immediately given, I turned onto the given heading and saw my home airfield in the distance! Within a few minutes I had accurately identified my position as well clear of the control zone concerned and went on to complete my flight.
When I got back to the club, I was anticipating a load of ribbing about having to request a QDM on a gin clear day, but nothing happened. I didn't bother to mention it to my authorising instructor either, but by jove I learned from it!
In future years when I heard similar happening on the radio as an instructor, I always made a point of complimenting the student pilot concerned for good airmanship. Those who requested a "QDM - I know where I am but just want to test the system" received an almost as enthusiastic compliment for good airmanship. The radio is your friend, and ATC are there to help.
Think what it was like in the days when no light aircraft carried radio - they managed!
P.P.