Bit of a difference between drink driving and logging flying hours SuperF.
ShyTorque pointed out earlier that this is a professional pilots' forum.
With that in mind, to go flying without doing any paperwork, which according to the CAA includes 'making sure that your licence/rating, certificate of experience and medical are up-to-date. Also that the helicopter’s documents, including Certificate of Airworthiness/Permit to Fly, Airworthiness Renewal Certificates, Maintenance Releases and Insurance, are valid.', doesn't sound very 'professional to me.
Which is why, when this all kicked off, I merely asked the question in post 50, "You don't fill in any paperwork before flying ?!?! ". Do the ?!?! not convey an element of surprise in the question?
Coming from a military background (sorry Nigel) and now public transport flying, where I did & do have to complete paperwork before flying, is that really such an unreasonable question for me to ask?
I certainly don't think it deserved the response ,"In terms of paperwork, unless I'm mistaken, I'm not required to complete any paperwork before a flight", and all the pages of flack thereafter.
Let's just say that every single time I walk to an ac in order to go flying, I say to myself the mantra, "auth'd out, signed out, booked out, walked out." Then I do my walk round etc. I certainly don't have to do all of those things in my mantra, but it's a mental 'paperwork check' that ensures that I know all is well and I can concentrate on the job in hand rather than have any niggling doubts in the back of my head. If there's something I doubt during that process, I go back in and check.
I consider that to be a bit more than the 'kick the tyres and light the fires' attitude some may have. I'm getting the feeling even the kicking the tyres part might be a bit much for some, just incase doing what it says on a piece of paper might be considered paperwork!