I am a couple of days away from my final stage check. I've done a couple of cross countries, but they were both to airports only a bit more than 50 miles away, and basically amounted to straight shots. I found out today that for my stage check and checkride, I'm gonna be planning a flight well over 200 miles. I'm not worried about that; there are a million airports along the way, and pretty distinctive coastline, so checkpoints should be plentiful. However, I am wondering primarily about how I should use VORs when planning.
Like I said, my previous cross countries were pretty much straight lines. Gulfport has a VORTAC, and I tracked in on it just for practice's sake during those cross countries. It didn't really factor into planning, however, as it was a short, direct flight. My question is, what should I do with the VORs, with respect to my initial flight plan? I'm thinking that I'll plan my route primarily along the radials of the numerous VORs along the way, but I guess I'm wondering if I should utilize them in my checkpoints somehow? I really just don't know what the examiner will be looking for.
Also, question unrelated to VORs but relevant to my flight: I will be flying through the Gulfport TRSA on the way there. Is there any reason, flying several thousand feet above TPA, that I would not be able to fly directly through the center of the airspace? The same question applies for Class C, I guess.
Like I said, my previous cross countries were pretty much straight lines. Gulfport has a VORTAC, and I tracked in on it just for practice's sake during those cross countries. It didn't really factor into planning, however, as it was a short, direct flight. My question is, what should I do with the VORs, with respect to my initial flight plan? I'm thinking that I'll plan my route primarily along the radials of the numerous VORs along the way, but I guess I'm wondering if I should utilize them in my checkpoints somehow? I really just don't know what the examiner will be looking for.
Also, question unrelated to VORs but relevant to my flight: I will be flying through the Gulfport TRSA on the way there. Is there any reason, flying several thousand feet above TPA, that I would not be able to fly directly through the center of the airspace? The same question applies for Class C, I guess.