[crusty old prospector]

It was tongue-and-cheek. I would fly one as long as the pilot was ‘Mercian.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Mercian? How about someone from East Anglia, Essex, Kent or Sussex? I hear that even the Scots can make good pilots. 😉

I even hear that Canucks, Aussies, Kiwis and even 'Murcans make good, professional pilots!