But I never really felt motivated to learn how. I thought it might be fun, but it is an activity that is too much exposed to regulation and control by the state. (And thankfully so!).

You are constantly being tested and evaluated, instructed and vetted. There are licenses and examinations, and the flight itself is a maze of regulations and rules that must be followed to the letter. You are told where to go and how to get there, how high to fly, exactly how to maneuver, and strictly supervised. It is all about procedures and bureaucracy and doing administrative things strictly by the numbers.

I guess in your day it was all about barnstorming in biplanes, right? ( Sorry, I couldn’t resist that. )

I have no problem with any of that administrative stuff, it is essential for safety, but I want no part of it personally. I even recoil at the thought of licensing for recreational boaters, although I think it might not be a bad idea for powerboat operators. I figure if you can rig a sailboat properly at the dock, you already know more seamanship than most powerboaters.

Back in my airphoto days I occasionally went on mapping missions in our Piper Twin Comanche, and the pilot would let me handle the right seat controls and talked me through a few basic maneuvers. (I even “landed” on a cloud top, once.) It was wonderful.

I flew off of a grass strip, occasionally shot touch-and-go’s at Portland International, but the tail never came down. The first time I landed on an asphalt strip in the 120 and the tail came down, that trumpet funnel of a fuselage produced a roar like a lion running from a tsunami. I was terrified, certain that some tragedy beyond my imagination had befallen me. I hit the brakes hoping to get out and the noise subsided as fast as it had started. Those little things were fun to dink around in, though the 7AC had to be started by hand. I’d forgotten about that.

I know what you mean. Prop planes are like sailboats.
And tail-draggers are like wooden sailboats.

I have no idea why but whenever I see and hear WWII fighters, I get choked up.