That's what I had hoped to do, and in fact asked ATC at one point if I could do VFR-On-Top on my desired route. ATC refused. I suppose I could have cancelled IFR and flown VFR at an altitude above the cloud deck, but I wanted the experience of flying "in the system," so I just went with the...
This flight is best filed under the heading of, "Man Plans, and God Laughs..."
The forecast of "severe clear" gave way to a pretty persistent cloud deck that extended several miles inland. I was unable to depart VFR. So, I accepted the updated clearance and flew that route.
It was unfamiliar...
0900.
So, here's what I've decided to do: I'm going to get my clearance on the ground. If it's not "as filed," then I'm going to ask if there's any way I can get "as filed" with an IFR to VFR on top at 9,500. If the answer is "yes," great. If the answer is "no," I'm going to cancel IFR and...
That's been my experience. I filed a VFR flight plan for a long flight from NorCal to KCMA, and when I contacted ATC after taking off from a non-towered airport, they did not see the flight plan. I ended up asking for, and receiving, flight following.
I'm thinking that the best thing to do at this point is take off, and when I get handed-off from the tower to ATC, ask for flight following. Unfortunately, flight following can't be arranged on the ground at KCMA.
I should add that the weather today is forecast for "severe clear." I want to file IFR for the experience of being "in the system." I can easily go VFR with flight following, and that option is looking more attractive as I get closer to departure.
My trip is KCMA to KPSP. As I'm looking at approved past routes, I think I was mistaken that my filed route had previously been approved. That said, what I want to do is fly the filed route as IFR to VFR on top at 9,500, and then either do a visual approach or cancel IFR at the end (after...
Friends - I'm a low-time IFR pilot (just received my IFR ticket in October). I filed a flight plan last night via Foreflight, and received two emails. The first confirmed the filing. The second told me to expect a different route than the one I filed. The updated route is literally 30 minutes...
I've found that once it goes from ARM to FLAG, it won't go back to ARM, or go to CPLD, simply by getting below the glide slope. My experience has been that once it goes to FLAG, it won't change.
I spoke with an A&P friend of mine this morning, and he had the same thought. My plane is hangared, and rarely sees rain, but it does get washed several times a year. I'm guessing that the drain holes are plugged, and water has pooled in the belly (as you describe). Next time I'm at the hangar...