On 28 Jun 2004 12:11:27 -0700, (Peter Bauer)
wrote:

Hi,
i'm asking myself to make an Instrument Rating or not.
There are some questions to IFR-Pilots :

.. when flying under a flight plan (IFR) can i fly routes at my choice ?

You have to submit a route when you file the IFR plan. In flight, you
can request changes to the route but it is nowhere the flexibility of
VFR.

e.g. take-off under IMC, enroute 10 min under IFR (clouds), 30 min VFR on
top, descending to my destination under IMC (through cloúds), landing
at destination under VMC (below the lower layer of clouds)

This is very common and typically would be accomplished entirely on an
IFR flightplan. The exception would be if VMC conditions exist below
the cloud layer at the destination, which would allow a visual
approach, or cancel IFR and complete the flight as VFR.

.. when reaching IMC after 30 min. VMC ("round trip under VFR") do i have
to file a flight plan (IFR) or am i able to fly only by reference to the
instruments through an e.g. 300 ft Layer of clouds and after that, when
reaching "On Top" fly again under VFR ?

In the States, in class G airspace, you can fly IFR without a
clearance. Fortunately, class G is the exception, and pretty much
everywhere else, a clearance is required to fly IFR.

-Nathan