Which VFR cruising altitude is appropriate when flying about 3,000 feet AGL on a magnetic course of 185 degrees?

When flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), pilots need to select cruising altitudes based on the magnetic course of their flight. The general rule is that for courses between 180 degrees and 359 degrees, pilots should choose odd thousand-foot altitudes plus 500 feet. This is established to ensure vertical separation from other aircraft operating at different altitudes.

For a magnetic course of 185 degrees, you would fall within the range that requires using an odd altitude plus 500 feet. The nearest odd altitude in this case would be 3,000 feet MSL (which corresponds to 2,500 feet AGL), but since it's indicated to be 500 feet above that, the correct altitude would be 3,500 feet MSL (which corresponds to 2,500 feet AGL).

Thus, for cruising at an altitude of about 3,000 feet AGL and flying on a magnetic course of 185 degrees, the appropriate cruising altitude is 3,500 feet MSL. This altitude effectively adheres to the VFR cruising altitude requirements, allowing for proper traffic separation and safety in the airspace.