On Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:06:13 -0500, Mike Rhodes wrote:

One maneuver may be appropriate, but there is too much concentration on
GMT in training. Do any of you keep current?

Ignoring the educational benefit, which others covered, you seem to be
missing something important. These maneuvers are *fun*.

If I've a little free time and no need for something else, I'll go into
the practice area and lazy-8, spiral up and down, try something that's
less tough to fly than it is to spell, or even just do steep turns,
trying to catch my own wake. Sure, there are benefits. And I call it
"practice".

But it's really just having fun. If it's not fun, then why fly?

- Andrew