C-172 VFR On-top

Harry wrote
First time I ever flew VFR on-top. We were at 6500 fl (MSL). Sure was
pretty and no turbulence.

Harry, technically, you were not VFR-ON-TOP. In the USofA,Aircraft flying
under VFR are "VFR-OVER-THE-TOP". However, you were not actually "OVER-THE-
TOP" since that inferrs an underlying cloud condition that obscures the
ground, and that was obviously was not the case in your picture. Lots of
ground visible in the lower left corner.

From the AIM:

VFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft, means the
operation of an aircraft over-the-top under VFR when it is not being
operated on an IFR flight plan.

Over-the-top means above the layer of clouds or other obscuring phenomena
forming the ceiling.

IFR over-the-top, with respect to the operation of aircraft, means the
operation of an aircraft over-the-top on an IFR flight plan when cleared by
air traffic control to maintain “VFR conditions” or “VFR conditions on
top”.

Bob Moore
ATP, CFI