The Air Force and Navy, both of whom ostensibly know something about flying,
do all their training in tricycle gear aircraft. Yet they arguably turn out
some of the best pilots in the world.

I have given initial pilot training in Cessna 172s to four Air Force Academy
graduates so far. All of them have been assigned to F-16s. Apparently the
Air Force is happy with my work.

I will tell you one thing about old pilots: I have never flown with a pilot
who had more than 15,000 hours who did not scare me to death. The last one,
a guy who had 17,000 hours and more than 7,000 hour in type (a twin), could
not hold altitude within 200 feet and had no idea how to set up an
instrument approach. He knew it, too.

There comes a time when a pilot goes from 'experienced' to 'washed up.'