Coast to coast Xc flight in USA

[yuvalsh48]

Hi,
I plane a XC flight next July / August from the east coast to the west coast and back. I'll appreciate it if anyone have suggestions about a nice route and interesting palces to fly in and some attractions along the route.

Thanks

[JoeMcGrath]

Where's your starting point and ending destination?

[yuvalsh48]

Strating point is very flexable, but from the east coast.

[yuvalsh48]

The starting point will be from the east coast, but where from the east coast is very flexable.

[barit1]

Given that you'll be crossing the Rocky Mountains, the altitude capability of your steed will influence the choice of route. The northern Rockies are the most spectacular because they are tallest.

Beyond that, what interests you most? Rare airplanes? Geographical features? Cultural sites? Sports?

[flowerseller]

Need to know the type of aircraft before I can give you any answers to your questions.

[fernytickles]

Whatever your aeroplane, starting or finishing points are, you have to incorporate the largest general aviation airshow in the world into your route!

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Fly-In & Convention (http://airventure.org/)

[barit1]

you have to incorporate the largest general aviation airshow in the world into your route!
Yes, I already covered that under "cultural site". ;)

[rick1128]

It would also depend on what type aircraft you will be flying. If a low powered aircraft, then I suggest that you fly over El Paso, TX then follow Interstate 10 to California. That routing has the lowest terrain. And is still quite scenic.

[yuvalsh48]

The default is a Cessna 172 (low power aircraft). I'M well aware of the Rocky Mountains and I'm looking for airplanes with better performance . Are there any suggestions for a single engine airplane with ceiling of at least 16,000 ft. That can carry 4 persons with their laggeges in rental cost (including fuel) of about $140/hour?.
Thanks

[barit1]

Dad & I ferried a PA-16 El Paso > Tucson, many years ago.

Yes, scenic and not too high.

[fleigle]

Not to mention that you will learn a lot about weather !!!!
:E
f

[vector4fun]

On the East Coast, you'll likely pay $140/hr for the C172 if it's of modern vintage. Four passengers and bags in a C172 are going to require some careful fuel planning and early morning only flights, even over El Paso. Reliable fuel stops can be 100 miles apart and the thermals will beat you to death after noon in summer. Better plane for the trip would be a 1980s vintage Piper Archer, about 150-200 lbs extra useful load. Neither plane is suitable for the higher Rocky Mountains in summer. Possible routes would be over ELP, (the lowest, doable at 8500'), or via ABQ and highway I-40. (10,500' would be more comfortable westbound around the Sandias.)

Another possibility is along I-80 through southern Wyoming and Salt Lake City, but that's a lot more high terrain, though probably doable at 10,500 in light winds and good weather.

Forget Colorado, I just returned from there, and was playing golf at over 9500' with much higher terrain all around.

Density Altitude at El Paso in late summer can easily top 7500' on the ground. Late summer can be "monsoon" season in the American SW, with many afternoon thunderstorms. Up and down drafts can be severe in the afternoons. Have made many flights between ELP and ABQ, try to be on the ground and sight-seeing by noon.

[Gulfstreams]

I have done your stated trip several years back. Washington DC to San Francisco
We chose this route because I had family in Atlanta, GA, we could purchase Barbecue for breakfast lunch and dinner (SFO we had Sushi at Godzilla Sushi); between ELP and TUS there is a low altitude pass to fly through south of Truth or Consequences.
- headed west bound its almost impossible to make your fuel stops because of headwinds. Many stops are 3 hrs distance. Heading into a valley for fuel may out you into the situation of climbing to altitude for :45 minutes, then not making the next fuel stop. West to East you must select and at airports which are at 3 hr intervals.

If available, I would select a C-182 for its Fuel capacity, if it have a fuel management computer you could push some further distance legs. I'd still probably take the southern route, head up toward San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole WY, Livingston, MT, Montrose, CO, Aspen, CO (just some ideas not a route).

When accepting our IFR clearance we would request a VFR (visual) climb; departing PSP it took 1 Hr to reach cruise altitude in the C-172.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Hope you have fun

Aug
7/29 KJYO - GSO 3.1
7/31 GSO - PDK 3.2
7/31 PDK - GLH 3.5
7/31 GLH - DAL 3.0
8/1 DAL - BPG 3.1
8/1 BPG - MAF 3.2
8/2 MAF - ELP 3.3
8/2 ELP - TUS 3.0
8/3 TUS - PSP 3.5
8/3 PSP - LVK 4.4
------------------------------
8/4 LVK - VCN 3.5
8/4 VCN - SDL 3.5
8/5 SDL - ELP 4.4
8/5 ELP - TDW 3.6
8/6 TDW - FSM 4.0
8/6 FSM - MEM 2.9
8/7 MEM - N54 2.5
8/7 N54 - CRW 2.7
8/8 CRW - JYO 1.5

[evansb]

Here is a sample of rental rates from a company in Florida:


All aircraft are new models and are fully loaded.

SR20-GTS $265/hr
SR20-GTS Perspective $295/hr
SR22-GTS $325/hr
SR22-GTS Perspective 4-seat $330/hr
SR22-GTS FIKI 5-seat $360/hr

[mustangsally]

How about starting on the coast of Maine, across the Great Lakes to Oshkosh, Glacier National Park, maybe Yellow Stone then hit something along the northwest coast of Washington. Then down the coast to San Diego. Then start east, Yuma, Tucson, Corpus Christy, New Orleans, Gulf Coast then head south for Key West. Then back up the East Coast. One advantage of this circuit is the ridges aren't the Rockies of Colorado or California Ridges.

Great aviation history all along the way.

Hope it is something like a Champ or Cub. But, a 172 is good. Fly low and slow and enjoy the journey. Oh and take a good video camera and make a short movie out of it. But, first write a book about the adventure.

Years ago I flew a Champ from Arizona to the east coast. Camped out overnight at a lot of small grass strips. Made lots of friends and loved it. Av gas was about fifty cents a gallon. Never got more than 3000 agl. Got passed by some trucks in Texas, I had a ground speed of about 35 knots. Landed got a tour of the Money factory and waited till the next morning to continue.

[yuvalsh48]

Thank you all. You gave me a lot of critical information and the route is starting to be built. I may consider making this trip on June, in order to reduce the weather dangers... keep writing your suggestions....

[Cazalet33]

I concur with those who recommend the Southern route.

Stop off at the pissant little public use airfields in states like Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana & Texas. The welcome you'll get at the mom & pop FBOs will blow you away. Really lovely people. They'll usually offer you the use of an old jalopy. Usually a piece of junk, but it'll get you into 'town' and you just top off the tank and give it a wash as payment.

Once you get into New Mexico and Arizona the rural feel at such places is just enchanting.

Make the Grand Canyon a 'must see'.

[misd-agin]

I know a guy that did a US trip visiting every state. You can do the northern route in a non-turbo. It takes some planning to pick the mountain routes.

[evansb]

Flying across the U.S.A. is passé.

Fly across Canada..more of a challenge, don't you think?.. Think of the benefits of sporadic radar coverage, plus the advantage of a devalued Canadian Dollar. 1.25 Canadian equals one Yankee dollar! Don't you just love it?..

Identical fast-food outlets from coast to coast! East-Indian cab drivers and Vietnamese chamber maids await you! What is NOT TO LIKE?

[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

[galaxy flyer]

It’s a big country even in a plane for a month. East, West, South?

Check out

http://pilotgetaways.com

GF

[ethicalconundrum]

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).:ok:

[Hollywood1]

The default is a Cessna 172 (low power aircraft).

Oh come on. It has more power than a C150! ;-)

[B2N2]

The only problem is his wife now wants to come along.

Shame that she doesn’t understand the need to do that.

[ackaraosman]

ethicalconundrum;

Thats a great post. I will be flying over states next april. Planning the route starting from San Diego with C172. I didnt decide yet if i will go till east coast or will hang around some where as you have mentioned above. Thanks again for showing me another option.