Well, I started flying, I was 17 years old, flying out of a small county airport. My instructor was ex US Airforce. He was the best instructor I ever had. He said I was ready to solo and I had just over 3 hours. He said that although he though I was ready, lets take the Citabria up and practice some in it. Now, understand, we trained in a C152. We took the Citabria up twice once just TO adn LNDs and the second time, we went acrobatic. That was EXCITING.
He soloed me at 4.5 hours. I flew a few more hours and then dropped out for 30 years.
I decide to get my PPL, I wanted good instruction, I came to a part 141 school, I believe I had 13 hours when they soloed me. I got my PPL and then my IR and now my CPL
I know I fly well, but I think my skills were sharper when I was 17, I felt I was the plane and could feel every movement. It was instinctive. Now, I fly with my mind, more than instinct, but I think some of that has slowly returned.