Wally,
Don't kid yourself about the turbine crap mate, it's a lot easier than a turbo charged piston engine. We only had these ridiculous limitations imposed on us(20000hrs on type and 5 lunar landings to fly a Gonad,Twotter or Bandit etc) so that the privileged few who flew them could protect their own turf, and a healthy amount of hero worship or adulation from the rank and file.