Rounding out my 1980s helicopter training in a Robinson R-22 in Maryland, my instructor upped the game by sending me on one final cross-country flight, including a landing at Dulles International.
I can relate. As I was building hours, still in high school in the early 70s, a friend let me fly a ‘46 Erocoupe (CF-BMW). It had a very basic panel and no radios at all.
One very memorable trip was from YGD (Goderich on Lake Huron) to YKZ (Buttonville, east of Toronto and Pearson International) with a friend to collect his new-to-him Musketeer. This was challenging as the TRSA had just been established. The procedure was to fly per VFR flight plan, and at a specific point on the TRSA, orbit twice, then proceed.
Quite exciting to fly over YYZ at 3500’ at 90kts amongst the heavies - NORDO.
On filing our return at the FSS the agent was amazed we’d survived - my pal replied, “no big deal we were IFR - I follow roads, railways & rivers!). We went back, in formation, using his radios/tx.
Funny LOL. Well, it is what it is!
Good story. In the R-22 you barely have a thumb. Collective friction to the max and trust it for just a little while.
Follow an “NDB radial”? What, was he hazing you? 