[sirshackleton]

Just my way of thinking, and probably has a lot to do with the way I learned to fly. Frankly, I maybe request flight following 50% of the time...I usually just file a plan. What I was trying to say was that it's a pretty good idea to have a safety net, whether it's a filed flight plan, flight following, or both.

[LeGrande]

I agree that having a safety net is a great idea : ) But would filing a flight plan or using flight following have helped the people flying the MU-2? They were probably dead on impact or shortly thereafter.

In fact filing a flight plan is mostly a waste of time. I really can't think of a single instance where someone saved their life because they filed a flight plan. Flight following is good for peace of mind, but I know quite a few pilots that use flight following, set the autopilot and then just sit back and listen to tunes. They might just as well fly commercial, it would be saferr.

Personally my rules are no mechanical problems what so ever, good weather, plenty of fuel, plenty of time, a rested and relaxed pilot (me) competent and current in the plane. I may bend 1 of those rules at a time but that is it. I think it was Chuck Yeager who said that it is the third problem that kills you. So my fly, no fly decisions depend limiting the chances of three problems occurring : ) Filing a flight plan or using flight following is of very little importance when I fly. It also seems that when I need flight following the most, like at Oshkosh, it isn't available.