Originally Posted by
Bill Greenwood
I think cross country flight is a step up in possible difficulty, and may require a more competent pilot. Lets say you want to go to EAA, if you fly from Californina or Texas to Osh, you have to evaluate weather and alternatives, along the way, even having to stop overnight. And going into other airports, with possible approach or atc towers.And pilotage like dead reckoning is good, but to go xc and have no vor or other radio nav aids is to give a lot away. I use all three for my fights. Now if really are going to fly totally below the clouds, not even above a scattered layer or one with fair weather cumulus, for an entire day or even the 2nd day, you are likely to have a very bumpy ride, especially out over the desert in the summer heat. By the way my I A flies his Champ from Colo to Osh.
I don't know fully what sport pilot is, but I flew with one brand new sport pilot, just passed his test that morning and he wasn't very good , really I was surprised he passed. He didn't know how to find the wind at our non tower airport, he was trying to find it on a gps or technro gadget on the panel as we passed about 1/8 mile over the big bright orange wind sock. He was a nice guy to take me for a ride in the Gobosh, but I would not have let my kids fly with him, he needed another few hours to get fully there.