"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
link.net...
The context of this issue as I opened the issue (increase of basic
piloting skills ) shouldn't be concentrated on the instrument side of
the equation. It should be directed more toward the benefits derived
from an ongoing concentrated training regimen that results in training
exposure and more importantly and specifically, residual benefit from
exposure and practice.
For example; after a concentrated period of instrument training, you
should naturally develop a better sense and execution for your basic
piloting skills. This is a residual effect of such training.

much snipped

Hope this helps a bit.

Yes, thanks for all that. I don't know, maybe it's just me. Looking at
this from a personal perspective, I suppose that since I did my IMC
rating (UK mini-IR) only a year after doing my PPL, I can't really
remember what my flying was like before I started the intrument training.
I can remember not feeling so different about my VFR flying at the
time, though I had added all the instrument strings to my bow.

A similar thing happened recently. I underwent a formation flying
course leading to taking part in an 18-ship formation. I was told that
the formation flying would sharpen up my flying skills and make me
a more precise pilot. But I'm not. Or at least I don't think I am. I fly
along exactly as I did before. I have a bit of a warm glow that I've
added yet another string to my bow, but my "normal" flying doesn't
feel any different. Maybe it's just the way I feel.

I've always wanted to do some basic aerobatics so that I could
sharpen up my handling skills and learn more about the handling of
my plane. I haven't yet, but I've been exploring the edges of the
envelope in other ways (admittedly some of it with an instructor!).
I'll have to wait until I've taken a bit of aerobatics training until I
pass judgement on this one, though I suspect it will do more than the
things mentioned above.

Maybe it's all part of the general experience I've been gaining since
obtaining my PPL. Every flight I do I feel I learn something from...
even if it's something I knew before but have forgotten that I knew.
I feel that the experience gained in one regime of flight (say VFR
cross country) is more valuable to that regime than experience
gained in some other regime.

Maybe as you say, everything just adds a bit to that knowledge and
experience bank, with any sort of intense training paying in at a
greater rate.

This thread has made me think!

Regards,
Paul