I think it's interesting all this talk about the 1000 hr mark. In the military, you are eligible for Aircraft Commander at 1000 TT. The guys that fly some of the fighters have only about 250 TT before taking their first flight in the jet. Some planes (the A-10 for example) don't have 2-seat models, so the first time a new student steps in one, it is a solo. Again, flight hours is not the same as experience.