Doug Spencer wrote:
After flying in near actual instrument conditions, it is easy to see
where a VFR pilot, even one with simulator experience but without real
world experience, could lose control of the plane in short order.
Continued VFR flight into instrument conditions is a top cause of
accidents according to the Nall report. Throw in some turbulence and
some distractions and you have a completely different experience from
the safety of a simulator.

Exactly my point Dough.

I had a similar flight for my night cross-country when doing my PPL
(moderate turbulence below 12000, strong winds, snow(!) and of course
night).

I could see lights below but because of the extreme sideways ground
track due to the winds It was all i could do to keep the plane level.
I kept wanting to turn it so that the pretty lights below me were
traveling in the "right" direction.