I agree with your statement FH. I can take off, fly the BMFA 'A' cert pattern, have shown that I can control the aircraft in a spin, stall, inverted and loop and roll with ease. Its just my bloody landings. All my air time has been buddied to a great instructor who has taught me how to handle my aircraft in a safe manner. I dont think that without his aid I could be this compedent a flyer in such a short time frame. I bet I would have had far more dumb thumb crashes if my landings were up to scratch earlier and I was allowed to 'solo' with far less flight time.