To IMC or not to IMC?

[Sillert,V.I.]

Echoing just about everyone else, just do it. The skills & confidence you gain may one day save your life.

I started my ab initio training with a somewhat quirky instructor (anyone remember the late Harry Knight?) & began flying in real IMC on my second PPL lesson. In consequence, instrument flying became ingrained from the outset.

Just as well - later in my PPL training, on my first solo flight away from the circuit, I ended up in a cloud a couple of miles from the edge of the Heathrow CTZ boundary. A stupid thing to do (and the CFI gave me a first-rate rollicking for it), but at least I was alive to receive it & managed to navigate my way back to visual conditions without busting CAS.

I did my IMC pretty much immediately after getting my PPL.