Interesting thread- coupled with our dear friend going through Eastbourne, shows the value of flight planning and flight plans.
On the question of "how many know" I guess the answer is probably ‘only those that need to’. I don’t know the proportion, but allot of people seem to only do VFR local flights or stay on mainland UK, so as they don't need to file them* & would understandably not remember how to do a flight plan. Also, when I was learning to fly, all-be-it in a University Air Squadron, I remember my instructor having to read up on how to complete one, the one time we used one. I wonder if it would be the same for many FI's?
I know this is slightly off topic, but I would love to see the results of a survey of what type of flying people do - i.e. local bumble only local aeros, UK only, international, Work, fun etc. Has this been done before, and if not could we do one on PPPRuNe?
*Before anyone else says it: - unless flying over inhospitable terrain.
PS. On the subject of mobile phones, I'd previously been advised to include the number if so if ATC had a question before the flight they could get to you - I think this thread also shows the post flight value.
PPS.
WestWind1950's post has reminded me of a question I would love an ATC answer from. A number of places, eg Guernsey, ask that a specific address is put in the address section of the Flight plan. Now in the UK I've always been told to leave the address section blank and so have assumed the filing ATSU recognises where these requests are needed and completes them - is always correct?