Entertainment for the longer flights
 

I was just thinking about what I tend to do on longer flights, along with the usual navigation and FREDA checks, to amuse myself and came up with the following list:

1. Sticking the hand out the DV to 100 MPH of wind.
2. Looking for the most obscure place I can find on the chart.
3. Massively out of tune singing to whatever is coming through the Bluetooth function
4. Thinking about the best shortcut I could get denied going through the next control zone

What do you guys do? :D

I turn off the GPS and practice old school nav, or if there are clouds nearby I'll make sure my transponder has the alt function selected and get a radar service if its available and start skimming down the side of clouds etc.

If I have a passenger I'll also have them do a good amount of the flying just to keep them interested.

Hmmm... Well i would mentally give myself a good talking to and a reminder to concentrate on look out and not to relax the attention that i need to give to flying the aeroplane. Maybe thats not important if youre driving a helicopter, given the number that fly overhead our field at less than circuit height completely oblivious to the difficulties they cause to aircraft in the circuit and the raised blood pressure of the instructors hoping to send students off solo. Grrrrr...

Having been a pilot for a few decades now, I find that the flying I choose to do is still the best entertainment in, and of itself. I am entertained by watching where I am going, and monitoring the plane.

I do like to include music in the background to supplement the pleasant experience.

Must admit I've done the hand out of the DV panel lark. Trouble is it starts with just a finger and before you know it it's the whole hand every flight. If the panel was big enough I think I would stick my head out. It's just one of those things that not many people talk about but you see them doing it. I think it's a lot more common than people admit.

I carry a stopwatch to see how long I dare hand fly with my eyes closed:cool:

Tried a few different things including IPods and Bluetooth this or that then came the the firm conclusion that happiness is under my kilt !!!

I try to fly really accurately, and maintain the best possible situational awareness despite the temptation to do otherwise.

Or occasionally, find a layer of cloud, and practice en-route IFR in IMC.

G

I find a good snooze works wonders on CC flights.

Fats

Do what the pros do: struggle for hours to solve a crossword without getting anywhere with it and then play flight sim on your iPad instead...

B.

Do what they do on Cabin Pressure, play a word game with your P2 such as naming cities that rhyme with each other, or if you're in something with a decent sized passenger cabin, the Lemon Game.

THE LEMON IS IN PLAY....

This thread certainly sorts out the ones with no sense of humour :D