ATC gliding course 1956 RAF Hawkinge, solo by Wednesday, the rest of the week we were given the spare aircraft to play with, load up the right seat with snowballs and "bomb" the launch point. Plus a bit of ridge soaring below the cliff top at Folkestone, with an instructor, land back at the hangar at the last of several loops, pointing into the open door with twenty yards to spare. Etc.
Some poor sod landed a Chipmunk, instructors all wanted a go, one took off pulled straight up into a tight loop and touch and go at the bottom.
By today's standards completely nuts. But I don't think I came away with a desire to do the same.
Today, even mentioning such antics and a few more that I can remember clearly, is viewed with distaste, disbelief, horror, suspicion that I'm lying etc.
And I'm not suggesting that we go back to that.
Tin hat, flak jacket, dig hole.