Original Message

process is better than the sixties and early seventies.  Generally speaking later generations from then are more tech savvy, conversant and communication capable.  

However, with respect to stick and rudder skills the earlier generations are definitely above the sebsequent, both VMC and IMC.

Colin Powell got it right prior to the VIP pilot crew taking him in to a very tight LZ in RVN and crashing, as he had declared a Huey line crew should be flying that insertion; Colin survived, obviously.  

Current generations are good pilots, just not the Vietnam skill set, they are VIP pilot skill set generally speaking, which is plus or minus on the not highly skilled stick and rudder generation.  However there are those like the 160th that know what they are doing in all respects.