Henrik,

If winter is coming to you and you won't be flying I would suggest one of the simulators. I have used RealFlight G2 and FMS (the free simulator) and they have really helped my basic flying. Takeoffs (tail-draggers) and landings have been practiced without one plane being unflyable after a crash... just reset the plane and fly again.

They are not EXACTLY like flyin the real thing, but they are pretty close and do help with stick input practice (right and left mixups kill many planes) and teach you to caress the sticks instead of shoving them around.

Just as a testament to having a great instructor and a simulator to supplement... I took the sticks for the first time, on a buddy box, in late July 2002, then soloed on August 29th 2002. I flew a combat match Sept. 7th 2002 and took 2nd place in Open B out of 7 pilots. (my instructor took 1st) Then for grins and giggles I flew in the Fall IMAC (Basic class) 30 Sept., on a plane I flew for the first time 2 days before for 3 flights. It is my instructors Ugly Stick from 8 years ago that he lent to me for the IMAC. I did not win, but I did not finish in last place either.

I guess this was a long way of saying that stick time makes you better, and simulators are a great way to get stick time when you cannot get to the field for some "real" flight... hehehe.