"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
...

I don't know. I haven't studied that history. What was the purpose of IFR
before ATC was established?

Same as now, to keep the plane upright in the absence of a visible
horizon.

Yet the FAA not only allows VFR flying in the absence of a visible horizon,
it even allows you to log instrument time when flying VFR under those
conditions. That's why I conclude that the primary purpose (these days) of
the IFR-VFR distinction concerns separation rather than instrument flying
per se.

--Gary