Originally Posted by
PoppyPilot
Hello All, my husband and I are planning a VFR flight around the USA in April/May this year and are open minded from where to set off and eventually
finish. We are planning to hire a Cirus SR20. Has anyone out there done something similar or have any good recommendations? We also want to stay in some nice hotels and sight see en route. Thanks
You should have started a new thread, but no prob. First off, this is a big, big, big, country. In spring in the US, you can get good, bad, or marginal weather across much of the nation. The midwest(Minnesota down to Oklahoma and about 500 wide) will have regular storms that brew up, but they can be avoided for the most part. Storms also in the mountain west, but they move a bit faster most of the time. Good planning resource, if you haven't already found it; skyvector.com
If you like looking at things from the air - the east coast will be mostly metro areas, which look depressingly alike to me. The Everglades in Florida are kind of neat, but it's all pretty much the same. There are a few mountain ranges in the east, but for my 2 cents worth, if I were visiting the US for a flying vacation I would start in Denver, take a mountain flying course FIRST from Boulder/Jeffco airport, and then begin your journey from Denver going southwest, or due west and make a circuit of the western states.
I can't cover everything at once, but I'll give you some highlights. Rocky mtn national park, red rocks(south of Denver), then over to the grand canyon of the Gunnison via Monarch pass. Stop somewhere around Durango. From there, due west and a bit south through Monument Valley, veer a bit north and fly through Lake Powell to Page AZ. then SW again over the Grand Canyon(some restrictions apply, see your local FSDO). West to Las Vegas, pull some slot handles, play some 21, see a show, etc.
Now west again, over Death Valley, and to the spine of the Sierra Nevada mtns, somewhere close to Owens Lake. Start very early from Vegas so you don't get nasty winds against the Sierra Nevada Mtns. Swing north, staying on the west side of the mtns for best performance, and less bumps. Up to Tahoe Lake via the Minerets near Mammoth Lakes(try to find Devils PostPile too), and past Yosemite valley NP(look for Half Dome on your left). Stay a day or so around Tahoe, in spring lodging prices are quite nice, as the skiers have left.
Head north into Oregon, for Klammath Falls, and Crater Lake. If you have time, then you can go further north into WA, or better to turn east now, and head for Great Salt Lake, turn SE towards Orem/Provo. Straight south now to Bryce canyon, and then east toward Capitol Reef, Canyon Lands NM. From there, back toward Denver, and if you have time, direct north to Jackson, WY Teton and Yosemite.
A word or two of caution. Don't do this without first taking the mountain flying course. Flying in mtns, even in a high performance turbocharged plane is not the same as droning along over bean fields. Things can change in an instant. Learn the correct side of the mtns to fly on, learn about rotors, learn how to approach ridge lines. learn to read lenticular and other cloud formations. Leave yourself an out in all cases. I would also not rely on the A/P, and do most hand flying. You WILL experience some moderate turbulence, make sure you are not affected by it. Flying in the afternoons will be most likely to experience some thunderstorms. Generally, they can be avoided by flying around. Don't mess with T-storms, don't even get close. Strap everything in the plane down, including phones, bags, water bottles, etc. Understand and use the mixture lever. Check your D/A on EVERY takeoff, no matter the temp. Some airports you may be off the altitude/temp chart for the plane(CO8, Silver West airport 8300' at 86F = 12,000' DA!).
To repeat, there's a lot of country to see. I've flown all these places, and they are the most spectacular from the air. I'm not much for cities, if you are in S NM, let me know, you can stop at my place in Timberon, NM(52NM).
