How do you keep your IFR current?

[Rookie50]

I'm with you. Don't like it, and Nordo is permitted, sure. But I'd sure be careful about it, of fly formation if I had no gear.

That was a nasty Glider case. And am not afraid of flying VFR down there, but I've usually flown long legs to get somewhere; so I've done IFR by habit. And the controllers are great folks -- very friendly and helpful. I truly like flying in the US.

Flying in the US though -- GA -- I simply look at as a priviledge. I'm a guest when I travel there, and I try to respect their culture. I don't look for problems. Cheers.

[Colonel Sanders]

VFR flight without a radio is a liberty permitted in the US by the regulations

It sure is! You can't let the paperpushers shut you down.

What I do is call 800-WX-BRIEF right before takeoff, for a
wx + notam + tfr briefing. If FSS says there are no TFR's,
then the recording of that phone call is my "get out of jail"
card.

I have had many pleasant flights, to Key West and back,
with the radio turned off and the MP3 on. Nice way to
spend a sunny day.

Eric and I flew back from south of Rochester yesterday
evening along the shore of Lake Ontario, on our private freq.
It was nice and quiet. Very nice. Only time I talked to anyone
was Wheeler-Sack for a xpnder code for border crossing
northbound which is not actually required by law but shows
that I care

I've done IFR by habit

When you get some more experience, you will learn that
IFR is not a magic potion. Sometimes it makes your life
easier, and sometimes it makes your life harder.

If you have a little weather, or some complex (unfamiliar)
airspace, then paying the cost of up front of getting into
the system(filing, getting a clearance) and flying IFR can
make your life easier.

However, sometimes IFR can make your life difficult. If
you have some nasty wx or icing, ATC may ask you to
do something suicidal in a little airplane, and it's up to you
to figure out how not to do that. For example, you might
have nasty icing in clouds, with an overcast at 2000 AGL.

You might want to file IFR and fly in the icing. I might fly
VFR underneath.

You might want to file IFR and have ATC try to make you
fly through a violent area of Cb's. He doesn't have any
secondary radar - all he sees is a giant hole with no airplanes
in it, so why won't you go there?

I know you think I'm stupid, but I have learned over the
years to be flexible. Keeps me alive.

[Rookie50]

CS; -- trust me -- I don't think you're stupid.