RPTR PLT ENTERED CLASS C AIRSPACE BY MISTAKE. BEING ON A XCOUNTRY FLT AND FLYING AROUND A VERY BUSY NAVY TRAINING AREA; RPTR INADVERTENTLY ENTERED CLASS C. DEP CTLR INTERVENED AND CLRED RPTR TO CLB.

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I FLEW A BE58 FROM MILTON; FL (2R4); TO BIRMINGHAM; AL (BHM). CONDITIONS AT MILTON AND BIRMINGHAM WERE VFR; SO I TOOK OFF UNDER VFR. UPON LEAVING MILTON'S TFC PATTERN I CONTACTED PENSACOLA APCH AND ASKED FOR A VFR FLT FOLLOWING TO BIRMINGHAM AT 6500 FT. THE CTLR FROM PENSACOLA RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST WITH A SQUAWK CODE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO STAY CLR OF THE CLASS C AIRSPACE. IN MY CONFUSION I ACKNOWLEDGED THE INSTRUCTIONS THINKING THE CTLR MEANT PENSACOLA'S CLASS C AIRSPACE; AND HEADED N DIRECT TO BIRMINGHAM. I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE MILTON IS NE OF PENSACOLA REGIONAL AND ITS CLASS C AIRSPACE. I WAS ALREADY HEADED N (AWAY FROM PENSACOLA) SO I THOUGHT I WAS CLR. AFTER VERIFYING ME AT 1500 FT MSL THE CTLR INFORMED ME I HAD PENETRATED WHITING NAS CLASS C AIRSPACE. AT THAT TIME I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 5500 FT AT WHICH POINT I DID. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY MY BECOMING BETTER OR MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPLEX AIRSPACE IN THAT AREA AND MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE CTLR. IT WAS AN ACCIDENTAL PENETRATION CAUSED BY MY CONFUSION INTO UNFAMILIAR AIRSPACE. THE CTLR WAS NOT AT FAULT ON THIS INSTANCE; BUT I WAS ACCUSTOMED TO ATC GIVING INSTRUCTIONS; SUCH AS VECTORS; TO HELP KEEP YOU CLR OF AIRSPACE.