Slant Alpha Adventures: Guide to US VFR Route Planning

(IMPORTANT NOTE: at 18:44 I incorrectly say that the midfield-overflight and direct-downwind join should start at TPA+500. That is incorrect. In this method of joining the downwind you should START at TPA. Only in the method mentioned BEFORE that should you overfly midfield at TPA+500 then do the descending, 225-degree turn to join the 45.)
A quick tutorial on navigating VFR when flying on the VATSIM network. VFR flying is often less about following a precise route, and more about knowing the airspace around your origin, your destination, and in between.
This tutorial will walk you through plotting a route on SkyVector -- then determining a method for navigating betwen origin and destination while avoiding prohibited and restricted space, and being aware of controlled and special use space, along the way. The three main navigation methods covered are GPS, radio nav-aid, and visual with deduced reckoning -- although often, a pilot navigating VFR employs a mix of all of these.
The tutorial also touches on the basics of flying a standard VFR traffic pattern at a non-controlled arrival airport, as well as how a pattern entry at an ATC-controlled arrival airport may differ.
SkyVector -- skyvector.com/
SimBrief Virtual Flight Planning Solutions -- www.simbrief.com/home/
US IFR Route Tutrial (referenced with regard to generating a GPS route within SimBrief then exporting it into a format which can be loaded into the default FSX GPS) -- • Slant Alpha Adventures...
tutorial presented by Slant Alpha Adventures -- / slantalphaadventures

[@roloduarte3100]

Your videos are awesome man, you're a good teacher.

[@danewatson4193]

Yep, you sure covered it Rob. Liked the options you gave for avoiding restricted as well as airspaces.
Also the various traffic pattern entries was a good review.
Looking forward to ATC communication for both IFR as well as VFR flights - that's probably two videos.

[@dixielandfarm]

I learned so much from this video - thank you so much! Note: I watched a real world video that showed someone doing the "new way" of joining the pattern flying over the field and basically cut off someone who was already joining the pattern by not doing it the "old" way that you mentioned. The guy in the video was ticked :)

[@SlantAlphaAdventures]

I definitely think the old way was better. But, what do I know -- I'm just a dude playing video games in his basement, lol!
Glad you enjoyed & found it useful -- 2 for 2 on the main goals of the channel. ;-)