My thought always go back to those pilots in WW1 who "learnt" on aircraft that were FAR harder than a modern trainer,they were often sent to the front line with less hours than most students go solo on these days, they were then flying at heights that need o2 - but did not have it. The oil system was a dead loss castor oil one that gave them the runs and they would drink Brandy to overcome this. So these low hour pilots flew difficult aircraft, hypoxic, with the runs and half pissed - no wonder there were so many killed in landing accidents - massive respect for them.