spitfire I'm always slightly nervous before flying as I'm always aware that machines and peolpe can and do fail. The feeling fades as I get involved in my pre-flight and finally goes when the bird is back in the hangar
I feel it's a healthy thing as long as it doesn't distract you from the tasks you have to perform. It certainly keeps me checking the few gauges I've got and my head swivelling around like a voyeur on a nudist beach when I'm roaring (no silencer, not cos it's fast)along through our relatively crowded skies.