Tony wrote:

[...]

What about those of you with 500 plus hours: what has your experience
been like? Am I just unlucky, or typical?

In about 800 hours I had several mechanical failures - all benign:

1. Alternator failure during dual instruction. Got to practice light
signals recognition from the tower. I was the student.
2. Broken airspeed indicator in an Aeronca Champ. Hardly noticed.
3. Electrical failure in PA-12 Cruiser. Just came back NORDO, as my
home airport is non-towered.
4. Failed altimeter. When I tried to set it during flight it went off
by 1000 feet or so. Had to eyeball pattern altitude.

....richie

NC2691M PA-12 "Cruiser"