Unpressurised planes sink even if undamaged, due to water ingress through the various holes in the underside, past the pedals, etc.
Most low wing SEPs sink in 1-2 minutes even if the ditching went perfectly.
I vaguely recall reading of Robins floating for a long time, if the tanks were empty.
Here is the earth rounders single engine page. Some of the legs westbound have been quite heroic, Santiago de Chile to Easter Island for example. Not sure what the statistics are for successful completion multi vs single, but let us not forget that by and large, Jason excepted, we are mainly flying puddle jumpers. I like the fact that a brace of Piper PA-12 Super Cruisers (fat Super Cubs) figure on the list. A Maule has done it westbound.
What about the risk of a midair collision when crossing the channel via Dover?
There can be a lot of VFR traffic there, all trying to reduce their time over water.
On a busy flying day it might statistically be safer to cross the North Sea in a straight line 
Jan_Olieslagers wrote:
I don’t know what you mean by a “block altitude”. What I am hoping for (realising the hope is very very faint) is the owner of the airspace making it class C or D instead of class A up to FL080. Perhaps I caused confusion by mentioning a “block” of airspace – a “chunk” might be a better term.
Sorry, I misunderstood you completely.
dublinpilot wrote:
You can’t get a clearance into class A airspace under VFR, and SVFR is only available in a CTR (controlled airspace that goes to the surface).
Hmm….. why ? I can request to climb above FL100 into German Charlie airpace under SVFR any time. If the initial call isn’t a total mess, they’ll clear me. Done it and gotten it. Why shouldn’t this be possible with London Information ? Or does this community have a proven track record of rejected requests ? I can also wait until I’ll have IR and then I don’t care anyway….. :)
EuroFlyer wrote:
Hmm….. why ? I can request to climb above FL100 into German Charlie airpace under SVFR any time.
You can fly in German class C VFR, but not SVFR. SVFR is indeed limited to control zones. You may be referring to CVFR, which is an obsolete concept altogether.
You can NOT fly in UK class A – neither VFR, nor CVFR, SVFR or XYZVFR.
Suddenly, Enroute IR starts making sense.
Class A by defination, doesn’t allow VFR.
You can fly under SVFR (Special VFR) but that is only available in a control zone (CTR).
So therefore there is no way to fly in class A, that doesn’t go to the ground, other than under IFR.
dublinpilot wrote:
You can fly under SVFR (Special VFR) but that is only available in a control zone (CTR).So therefore there is no way to fly in class A, that doesn’t go to the ground, other than under IFR.
I would even say there is no way to fly VFR in class A – regardless if it goes to the ground?
SVFR is only available in control zones (which obviously go to the ground) to enable you to continue your flight to land, when the (WX) minima for flight in the CTR cannot be met (cloud base, visibility). Would you argue that using SVFR, you can access a class A CTR likewise? That would be a new idea to me.
Yes, SVFR is available in a Class A CTR.
For many years, that the only way to access the Channel Islands without an IR!
Before London changed their CTR to class D, it was the only for to access the London Zone without an IR.
It basically means that ATC treat you like you were IFR, providing IFR equilivant seperation standards, and you can avail of reduced weather standards.
