So many good answers to this question, but it begs the question-what is mastering any airplane by definition. Maybe it's as simple as performing the perfect scale takeoff, approach and landing. A trainer is designed to teach you just that. Then move up to aircraft designed for other things.

By the way, perfect takeoffs, approaches and landing are not easy. Just because it landed in one peice doesn't mean total success. I've seen guys that can perform very difficult stuff but can land worth a crap, at least where it looks like a scale type landing. Work on perfecting or should I say replicating scale flight.

A perfect line down the runway, no waivering and take off at correct speed with no tail dragging. A perfect two wheel touch down and slight run out. All these SOCALLEDsimple manuvers are not so simple with any plane-Work on that??

Good luck