Originally Posted by
First_Principal
I think that 1940's Sptifire pilots certainly got the chance to 'feel' an aircraft a lot more, or at least a lot earlier, than today's pilots.
I learned to fly on a PA38.
I had the very good fortune to be sent off on first solo by an instructor who flew a Spitfire in combat in the Battle of Britain.
I was never taught to do stabilised approaches from 500' & didn't need a tarmac runway to land safely.
That first solo was done from 600m of grass & I was expected to be vacating on landing by the halfway point.
During initial training I did once try following the PAPI's at Hurn on a dual XC & quite rightly got severely chastised for it.