Coast to coast Xc flight in USA
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 |
Where's your starting point and ending destination?
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Strating point is very flexable, but from the east coast.
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Starting point
The starting point will be from the east coast, but where from the east coast is very flexable.
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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? |
Need to know the type of aircraft before I can give you any answers to your questions.
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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 |
you have to incorporate the largest general aviation airshow in the world into your route! |
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.
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Type of aircraft for the flight
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 |
Dad & I ferried a PA-16 El Paso > Tucson, many years ago.
Yes, scenic and not too high. |
Not to mention that you will learn a lot about weather !!!!
:E f |
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. |
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 |
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 |
How about four corners?
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. |
Thank you all!!
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....
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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'. |
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.
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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? |
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