John Halle,

You wrote:
"I agree with everything you say about the virtues of training except for the
implication that it is a valid substitute for good judgment..."


Your post is well said throughout.  As a product of the Air Force training program in 1973, I wholeheartedly agree.  Many of the posters on this topic seem too willing to play fast and loose with thunderstorms.  I admit doing it once 25 years ago, but I also admit it was stupid, inexcusable and I will never do it again.  None of us are flying A/C strong enough to survive severe storms except by the grace of God.

Many of us will fly when thunderstorms are in the forecast and actually close enough to be of concern.  However, I don't care what part of the country one lives in, there is simply no excuse for entering a thunderstorm under any circumstance.  If you can not be absolutely certain of their location, so as to totally avoid them, then the only reasonable course is to put the tires on the pavement.  To do otherwise is to risk death on every exposure.