We're getting some track drift from Damo's original post, but 100% sure he won't mind!
I reckon Damo loves flying more than I - he is a true "stranger to the ground" as Richard Bach once said about himself. This is the Trojan I went for a ride in years ago. Sadly this is the one that crashed near Launceston just after the air race down there. Classic case of "Rogue pilot".
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24872/ASOR199500444.pdf
I got a bit of stick time - pretty heavy beast that just flies along on rails - very different from the little Decathalon I was flying at the time. I felt I'd gone from a little sports car like a MG to driving a truck! Still it was a great experience and I got to fire the big R-1820 at Moorabbin when we flew over there from Point Cook to get some "Go Juice". Canopy open, one finger on the button that turns over the engine, count 9 blades I think it was then hit the button that gives the sparks to the engine - result - huge cloud of white smoke enveloping the open canopy and cockpit, cough, splutter - BRILLIANT!
I guess the lesson I learnt from this is to understand as best possible the "head space" the pilot in command - ask his/her experience both overall and current and a statement like - "Hey buddy, no stoopid stuff" can help as well. No one wants to experience what the poor passenger went through in that T-28 or that awful Yak-52 crash off Stradbroke Island.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/coroner-attacks-australia8217s-aviation-watchdog-saying-aerobatic-pilot-barry-hempel-should-not-have-flown/story-fnihsrf2-1226732895245
