Gums,
When my ANG unit transitioned from the "Hun" to the "Hawg", many were concerned we'd loose the instrument edge we had flying 170 knot finals on an MM-3 (at least it was white on top, black on the bottom). I'm beginning to think that level of proficiency in basics has gone. I'd hate to go from "glass" (Collins Fusion) back to the FD system I had in the C-5 and I flew a 2 NDB aporoach into Yerevan with threatening terrain, no map display, no FMS, no EGPWS.
The pilots grown up in glass cockpits can't transition back to something they never knew. The two cases (C-17 at Elmendorf and F-16) show it's possible to have out of control with even well-trained pilots, BUT neither of those accidents were in cruise with miles of airspace to work out the problem.
GF