What height do YOU fly at ?
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Compton Abbas
As high as I can, avoiding cloud and airspace, for decent cross-country trips. Being standard PPL this typically works out in the 3000' - 4000' range.
There are some good points in this thread about avoiding "standard" (or round number) altitudes.
There are some good points in this thread about avoiding "standard" (or round number) altitudes.

Joined: Oct 2003
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 163
Likes: 40
From: Walthamstow
There are some good points in this thread about avoiding "standard" (or round number) altitudes.

Think I'll stick to 2499ft *ducks*
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
From: Canadian Shield
Bit different here in remotest North-West Ontario (Class B only starts at 16000'). Europe was a nightmare - Northern Holland has Class A down to 1500'.
Tend to fly here at 5000-10000' as 90-95% of our days are OK for VFR. When using the J3 (on straight floats) stick to a max 5000' - no mixture control so it runs overly rich above that.
Apart from the safety factors, the additional altitude makes XC Nav Ded Reckoning far easier.
Happy flying!
Tend to fly here at 5000-10000' as 90-95% of our days are OK for VFR. When using the J3 (on straight floats) stick to a max 5000' - no mixture control so it runs overly rich above that.
Apart from the safety factors, the additional altitude makes XC Nav Ded Reckoning far easier.
Happy flying!



Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 523
Likes: 1
From: Kent
Just avoid cloudbase - that's were the folks with no engines hang out.
Seriously though - if it's a good (for gliders) weekend with a few nice Cu spread across the sky be prepared to find upwards of a dozen gliders circling under each one.
If there are "streets" of clouds be ready to meet a glider doing 80kts, in a straight line, at cloudbase.
Begin so aerodynamic they can be a little difficult to spot. Imagine this one a mile away!!!

OC619
Seriously though - if it's a good (for gliders) weekend with a few nice Cu spread across the sky be prepared to find upwards of a dozen gliders circling under each one.
If there are "streets" of clouds be ready to meet a glider doing 80kts, in a straight line, at cloudbase.
Begin so aerodynamic they can be a little difficult to spot. Imagine this one a mile away!!!

OC619
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: N/A
I fly in the Vale Of York AIAA quite often, so i try and fly between FL70 and FL110 and days that permit.
Especially when flying over the humber bridge, I have been over there on days and seen over 200 gliders circling below, the ATC controller gave up giving me traffic alerts and just said Good Luck!! Climb as high as possible, lol!!
Best feeling in a light aircraft when peaking over FL100, amazing!!
Especially when flying over the humber bridge, I have been over there on days and seen over 200 gliders circling below, the ATC controller gave up giving me traffic alerts and just said Good Luck!! Climb as high as possible, lol!!
Best feeling in a light aircraft when peaking over FL100, amazing!!




