Experienced pilot wants to refine flight skills—what ship, what loadout?

Seeking thoughts and opinions on what I should use as a solid, relatively low-cost ship with which to refine my flight skills.

Ive been playing pretty heavy for a year or so but I’d always relied pretty heavily on strategies that obviated the need to be a particularly good pilot. I use flight assists and in combat rely on turrets, strong defenses, and escape. High-reflex flight always felt difficult due to some nervous system issues. Ive come to realize that they’re not quite the obstacle I thought—I might never be in the top leaderboards, but I think I can learn to fly a lot better than I do.

I have a goodly fortune and several flying fortresses, but there’s little challenge there. So I’ve been playing around with small ships and I can’t really settle on one. I’m looking for something relatively cheap to rebuy, capable of rare trade at least, decent at combat, decent jump range.

Got back into a Cobra and I’m liking that but the asymmetry is killing me. I like both explorers but maybe there’s something I’m missing.

TL;DR need a low-cost ship to REALLY learn to fly. Open to any suggestions.