Re: Couple Questions.
Right now?
22.3 PIC, 46.1 Dual. 68.4 total.
Nope, course not.
Can't afford a 172. :)
Not a current one, anyway. $55-60. For that I can get a Cherokee 180, with more performance, maybe even the Grumman Tiger I *really* want.
Insurance - nothing right now, I'm under my CFI's. I've been quoted about $960 from AOPA for renters insurance.
Don't know what your CFI told you. Plot where your Top Of Climb will be, because if your direction is off, you might can see it by then. (And it really confuses the time to have the first waypoint somewhere else).
So have a line there. Make a note somewhere of FSS and such, approaches you might want to get flight following from.
My flight instructor jumped me with "where are we' and "when will we be" etc.. so get a watch (one on your hand doesn't work well. :) - I got a $10 cheapo, with big display, and put it with some velcro straps from a server rack around my clipboard (you need a clipboard), and then when I get to a waypoint, note when, and then know how far to the next one.
Addison