I think that everyone is confusing "Planning" with "Preparation".
Everyone should be able to plan a flight to the limit of the endurance of the aircraft within 45 minutes to 1 hour from scratch. That includes getting the weather and notams and having the plog prepared and being ready to walk to the aircraft. IFR or VFR, makes no difference. If you can't then get some practice. It is amazing how you can get a nice system in place which will allow you to spend more time flying or at the destination than lounging round the planning room.
However, making preparations for a flight to an unusual destination can take longer and dela with the more basic aspects of operating the aircraft rather than the flight itself.
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QUOTE=Timothy]This having been the first thread I have read on PPRuNe for some months or years, I am not encouraged to haunt these pages on a regular basis, but if something specific comes up which requires my input, please eMail me and I will come back[/QUOTE]
Email you to come back? You will be asking a fee for your input next
Regards,
DFC