So far I had been focusing on practicing takeoff and landings and flying direct Point to Point through VFR. No proper routes or flight plans.
Now I would like to take it step forward. I am trying to practice with Flight Plans using VOR-VOR. I have created my first plan (w/ SkyVector) and would request feedback if it can be improved (see attached screenshots).
If you want a more direct route and don’t care about entering and exiting at specific waypoints, you could pick up V5 between CVG and APE.
You don’t actually have to go backwards to the CVG VOR station or all the way to APE – you can just pick up the 59-degree radial on the way out of KCMH and ride it out from where you finished taking off, then switch over to APE when it comes in range. When you get near your destination, call ATC and ask for landing – you won’t be flying directly over the waypoint anyway.
Disclaimer: not a real pilot, it might be a bad idea to do this for some reason.
Thank you @Vibstronium.
Edited: So with Victor Airway, theoretically, it quite possible to be in conflict with the IFR flights, unless, I am using IFR and requesting flight following. Am I correct?
Not that it necessarily matters, but your flight plan has no VORs in it… BU and PWF are NDBs. That works too, but most would probably agree it is quite a bit more challenging. One issue could be to identify when you are over AIRBO relying on NDBs rather than VOR/DME, but if you are relying on pilotage and dead reckoning using your navlog that might not matter much either.
Agree with Vibstronium the easiest is probably KCMH GOBVE V5 VUSPU KCVG (tuning in BU to help you get to GOBVE since they are so close together). That means you can use VORs instead of NDBs which is easier.
If you are flying VFR and want to be realistic you could fly at 4500 ft rather than 3000. In addition to being a correct altitude for VFR westbound and keeping you above the 4000 ft necessary to receive the CVG VOR it also keeps you above the Wilmington Air Park Class D that goes up to 3600 ft (not that the sim will care!).
You haven’t said what you are flying… If it is something like a C172 I would say yeah, 3000 - 5000 ft is what I would typically aim for in real life. But it is quite flexible if you want a different altitude.
Weather, any high terrain, and airspace considerations of course matter. Can be good to be high to have more landing options in case of an engine failure if the terrain is not landable everywhere such as when crossing towns, forests, or lakes.
The C172 takes about 60 nm or a little less to get to 8000 ft and back down at comfortable cruise climb and descent so 8000 ft is available on a 100 nm flight if desired. On the other hand if clouds are lower and there are no obstructions 1500 ft or a little less is also a perfectly viable cruise altitude.
Next to the already many valuables hints. Check out GatComb on YouTube and try to replicate his flights and VOR flying examples. He does a great job explaining it all.
If you want to take it even up another notch, there is eg the Vatstar academy, which provides PPL for flightsimming. You don’t have to get into Vatsim just to participate and study. IMHO the Vatstar academy is the best next to start to becoming a real life student pilot. But it is work.