On the other hand, on the East
side of the Mississippi, the winter can bring days and even weeks of
marginal weather, and the spring and summer bring fronts and convective
activity that isn't to be trifled with.

While your stats may be correct (although my experiences don't bear
them out) what you are not factoring in is the number of days out of
those IFR 5.4% when conditions would stop me from flying **even if I
were instrument rated **, because of my aircraft.

Here in the Midwest, a very large number of the crap-weather days
would preclude flying in Atlas, regardless of rating.

Today is a perfect example. It's actually been mostly VFR here all
day, with periods of "soft" IFR sprinkled in -- but nothing less than
a King Air is flying, because of ice.

Doesn't matter of your the Ace of the Base -- if you're flying a
Cherokee in February, you're gonna be sitting on the ground a lot.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"