"Flying for Fun' - but the Duty of Care Remains
It is indeed a pleasure to fly by yourself on even the most simple sortie. After 40 years flying, I still enjoy a half hour just before sunset on one of our perfect Aussie days. In the c170 it gives me an opportunity to develop some polish on my handling from the right hand seat, which is invaluable when it comes to demonstrating to a student. I've said before that instructors really need this time to themselves, to hone up their handling skills, to produce the best demo possible.
Unfortunately, those needing this most, (young instructors), don't have the opportunity to practice, because they don't own the aircraft, the boss won't approve 'practice', or the instructor simply can't afford it.
But when I fly 'solo', a duty of care still remains with me by the very fact of being an instructor. I stick to my training area, use the radio, keep a proper lookout etc. When asked by locals about the late afternoon flying, I am able to explain it as 'practice - because instructors need to', and this is well accepted.
If I happen to be in my home base of Albany, on the south coast of Western Australia, and be going out for a late afternoon formation flight with fellow RV6 owners, then the flying is really fun. Most enjoyable, sitting off the southern ocean cliffs, clicking 150 KIAS with other RV's. But....and this is the really important thing for me...I have a duty of care to others in the flight - mostly because of being an instructor. So, we brief before the flight so that every pilot knows what the plan is, who'll lead etc. I think that it's incumbent on me to take the lead in this.
If flying with a fellow pilot in the RHS, but as a pax, it is my duty to establish that he/she is in control at all times and that I won't be interfering. This defining of the PIC is important stuff in 'fun flying' because there is always the doubt in the mind of less senior pilots as to who is really PIC. I do the same for my own BFR.
This doesn't mean that the whole fun flight should be rigid and inflexible - but it does give us all a target of performance, learning and safety.
cheers,