Danny,
As a footnote on your comments about the training drop out rates. I have been reading Brian Trubshaw's autobiography (the Concorde test pilot) He joined the RAF in 1942 and went to No. 4 British Flying Training School at Falcon field Mesa, nr Phoenix Arizona. He said the drop out rate was ' over 50% for various reasons' They were required to solo in 5 hours otherwise a check ride would usually result in being rejected. They were trained on PT17A and then AT6 aircraft.
mmitch.