I served in the Air Force (with a "Royal" in front). And while I was in it, I actually did a lot of flying - and of course with instructors. I have to say that it was the extremely high quality of the men that I served with that survives all these years. I lost touch with most of them, virtually my only contact being with a retired Air Vice Marshall who lives near me, and (until he died) with a survivor of the Dambusters and latterly via this internet site. But they were men of quality, real men, men whom I could admire, with whom I was glad to serve/serve under, men whom I respected enormously.