How high do you fly
 

Just an Idle interest, Myself i usually fly with the tail sticking in controlled airspace... if C starts at 2500 i am at 2499. I do a lot of coastal flying where all southerly traffic sticks seaward so i like to have a good gliding margin to land.. that probably effects my decision alot.

however i do see chaps scudding along at 1000ft going in the same direction..

I know from some experience the UK airspace is a lot lower in places than say NZ so theres not always the choice.

So its marmite question i guess.... up high for the view and safety, down in the weeds for fun?

whats your preference?

I'm definately up high for the views. One of the first things I did after getting my licence was going as high as I could, 12,000' in a tomahawk. I was very patient both going up and coming down.

I'm certainly not one for scudding round below 500'. I kind of dislike teaching and practicing PFLs, both for the safety issue that if the engine really fails and the student cocks it up there's nowhere left to go, and also the thought I might be annoying someone on the ground and possibly be reported as low flying.

It still amazes me that people don't like to go high, I know instructors who've never been above 6000'.

As high as I can, unless there is a reason not to...winds / short trip / airspace / weather. The UK has pretty varied airspace, for example you can get up to FL195 VFR over Wales, or only 2499' near London.

FL50-80 is a comfortable altitude in many parts of the UK due to airspace, you can fly most places at this altitude - FL100 is better (TAS) when there are no airspace concerns, and although we have a ceiling of 20,000' on our aeroplane we don't have 02 and until we get it then we keep below FL120.

When I fly in the USA I normally go at 11,000 / 12,000, again due to the O2 thing.

I get uncomfortable up high, don't know why. It's like my fear of heights goes into full swing above 8000-10000ft, so I normally stay below that. But I can fly high (and regularly do) if the terrain is also high - then I have no problem with it.

I also don't carry oxygen at this time, so prolonged stays above 12500ft is something I try to avoid.

Below CAS, UK Class G, I fly at funny numbers e.g. 2300 2700 3300 3700 4300 etc. Never below 2000ft (too much traffic).

CAS permitting I fly VMC on top (sunshine and nobody about), or about 5000ft.

On IFR/Eurocontrol flights I file for FL140 and stop climb at FL100 if the wx is clear, otherwise I climb to VMC on top, to FL190 if necessary (use various means to check tops before going). Oxygen is always carried; no oxygen = no go.

Up to 10k occasionally 12k for a short burst but I have no oxygen.

Rod1

For scenic flying 600' to 2000' AGL unless crossing water. Below 6000' as mainly on mogas in the UK. (I've landed at 7600 in Colorado.)

Work or play?

Work generally between 15,000 and 25,000. Play 501ft.

When i got my 172 rating (i was PA38 learnt) i took my mum (and wife) for a brithday flight to Tape-O-Nuekau which is the highest mouintain in the Kaikoura ranges i popped 11000 ft which was nice... the 172 was barely climbing by the end of it... i was keeping a good eye on the temps and airspeed. i had to circle to get down as a descent cruise at safe numbers would have had me busting airspace... i very nice ride here's a few pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucarse...in/photostream


http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucarse/6643258267/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucarse...in/photostream

can anybody see the pics above? something went wrong?

No and indeed.

In Class G, in my small PtoF aircraft, generally 1000-2000ft. Sometimes 500ft where I can do sightseeing without upsetting the locals. Over the Channel, as high as i can.

I like to fly as high as possible so you have more options and are above NORDO aircraft and farmer Jim who learned to fly from his private strip and believes he doesn't need to tell anyone what he is doing in his own plane. ATC doesn't bite (except Auckland when it's really busy) and it's nice to know someone is keeping an eye on you.

For fun, 500 ft and below used to be my preference (in the US, that was).
For work, it became whatever I felt happy with that day and the what the weather allowed. Normally high enough so I could glide to an airfield.

Somewhere between 1000' and 2000' for preference, in Class G, occasionally lower and, like Chuffer, as high as possible over the Channel. I feel uncomfortable at 'great' height, except in a glider, oddly enough.

Low and slow :) I feel guilty going past about 1500ft.

Work is different but that goes without saying :)

As the best performance for a normaly asperated piston engine is between 6 & 8000 Ft That is normaly were you will find me and a bit higher if I can find a good tailwind.

The policy works quite well, once did Glasgow to Booker in a PA28-161 in 2 hours 06 Min, most of the flight was at FL105 and you have guessed it a very big tailwind. ( the B757 took 1h 15 to go LHR - GLA to get me up north to pick up the aircraft !)

Oh work its FL410.

As low as safety and legality dictates in a light aircraft. Generally FL430-FL450 at work to top slower airline traffic and get direct routeings more readily.

Depends on what gear I'm able to get man, but I do my best.

That is the "high wing phenomena"...and one of the reason's I have a low wing aeroplane :)....Me and a buddy were flying back into the LA basin from Nevada, it was one of those murkey days and we were at 12500. The mountain peaks could be seen ahead but other than that it was kind of milky everywhere (not mist, cloud or anything, just milky) and it was turbulent, bouncing us around . Looking down you could make out the desert below ok. I was sitting there thinking, blimey I feel like I have got vertigo....then my buddy (who if flying) says here, you fly I think I have got vertigo....! Don't get it with low wing aeroplanes.