If you are just a layman, and not a pilot or student pilot, and you go
up with another pilot, you can manipulate the controls. The FARs don't
say you can't, and they don't say the pilot can't let you.

If the other pilot is an appropriate instructor, then you can log those
hours as instruction, no matter what the cruise speed of the aircraft is.

After certain instruction and other requirements are met, you can get
your certificate. To interpret the regs to say that "now that you have
your certificate, you can no longer do what you used to be able to do"
is a bit of a stretch, especially when the alternate interpretation
makes at least equal sense.

I suppose it hinges on what the FAA intends by "fly". It makes sense to
interpret it as "act as PIC". In a vacuum, it also makes sense to
interpret it as "maniuplate the controls". However, if it does not mean
"act as PIC" then getting a certificate would impose a restriction, and
I don't think anybody thinks that's the intent.

Jose
--
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except there's no God, and there's no dice. And maybe there's no universe.
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