Interesting places to fly to in the USA
 

Hi,

I'm planning on doing some hour building in the U.S early next year, I will probably be using either a C152 or C172.
The plan is to do 50 hours, in two weeks.

Has anybody done this? Are there any worthwhile places to go to or routes to do.
I would need to average about 5 hours a day.

Thanks

I did it a fair while back - where are you starting from and what sort of thing do you like? Obviously there are certain destinations from Florida and certain from California, or you could fly from one side to the other, or from, for example, San Diego to Canada and back. I've done all, so feel free to PM too.

I can recomend the west coast - far more interesting than Florida.

I can only speak of the West Coast (California/Arizona/Nevada) where there's a wealth of stuff: Do a quick search and stacks of threads will appear: Las Vegas: Grand Canyon: Death Valley:Big Bear:Napa:Sedona:Van Nuys: Lake Havasu City the list is endless.

There are plenty of smaller places to drop into just for gas and a burger: Harris Ranch, Agua Dulce, Chiriaco Summit:

Yep, you could do all your 50 hours in and around the west coast and still leave space for another visit the year after.......

However: some of the altitudes involved might be a bit much for a C150 - your best bet would be a C172.

Where are you going to be based?

Beware the LA basin unless you have an IR as the Marine layer can spoil your day.........

Someone else will be along soon singing the praises of Florida, or a cross continent flight.

I guess that at 5 hours a day you won't get much time in for sight seeing...

Enjoy it: Flying in the US is a dream.

Hmmm. now you've got me thinking again.

Cusco

If you're east coast Kittyhawk got my vote in 2003: if you're near Durham or Charlotte NC it's only an hour or so.
Nice flight over sea past Navy bases and a totally deserted uncontrolled strip next to the memorial and museum.

It would be rude not to !

regards
HnH

Cusco, the invite is there! :ok:

I am open to the west coast option as well, Disney world and Cape Canaveral being the draw card for the east coast.

Can you recommend any schools with reliable aircraft, that are willing to rent the a/c over multiple days on the west coast.

I have extended the trip to 20 days, so will hopefully be able to get some sightseeing in.

Definitely West Coast - and don't forget to do a night flight over L.A. One of the most memorable things you can do in a spamcan:ok:

One nice outfit there is Justice aviation in KSMO. You may have to contend with the marine layer there, but as you're going away for a trip, this is not really a problem (in fact, it rarely is one anyway, as the marine layer typically burns off by about 10-11am).

Look at a map of the national parks and recreational areas in the USA. All the ones on the West coast are very good. I just recently did a trip and have posted some information here: http://www.pprune.org/professional-p...ml#post4312150

LAX area - must do - Big Bear, Catalina & Santa Barbara.

You will be spoilt for choice, unfortunately so much so that you will probably need to go back again and again to see everything :)

For me, the highlights have been,

Las Vegas (make sure you time it to land just as night falling, flying parallel to the strip is an amzing sight!!!)

Grand Canyon (never get tired of this one)

Hoover Dam.

Santa Monica (the land of 'the beautiful people' - I remember EAs eyes popping out when we went here :eek:)

Sedona

Catalina

Big Bear

And thats just a few off the top of my head....

J.

out of interest how long does it take to get your FAA licence forms back once sumbitted.

i know you have to pay £17 to the CAA for data protection release then send off to the FAA and designate a US flgiht school for your check flights.

i m thinking about doing a US trip in december

I've done the Florida area and really enjoyed it! Some highlights include:

-Florida Keys

-Bahamas (although did them in a twin...)

-Miami and all the way up the east coast of FL to Jacksonville.

-Naples and all the way up the west coast of FL and then round to New Orleans.

-Continue north from Jacksonville towards Philladelphia although how far you get depends how cold it gets and maybe stop in Atlanta along the way.

-If your up for a challenge - flying Tampa Int, Orlando Int and Miami Int in one day.

-Flying visits to Disney and NASA.

West coast every time.....Start in LA then do Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Northern California, New Mexico (I flew through Monument Valley, between the monuments.....that was FUN!) etc etc etc......

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2262/...4fde29af_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2171/...dd9e2f31_m.jpg

At least you should be able to find VMC, somewhere! 50hrs in 2 weeks? Phew, sounds hectic.

Three weeks and I'll be there :ok:...Julian, are you up for it???????

englishal, is that a DA-42 out of San Diego..?:ok:

Long Beach ;)

Any diaries out there? Wouldn't mind seeing some pictures etc. Something I'd love to do in the future

Here are a few more to whet your appetite for the West ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/...d57dedaf_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/...2d5fa7d7_m.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/...5eb1c382_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2335/...fc0a24f4_m.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/...8390ed01_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/...2d0b2a51_m.jpg

Fantastic shots englishal!!

May I ask, How much experience did you have when you flew in the US?

Thanks

Pictures are amazing, thanks for posting.

I have revised my two weeks to three weeks.
I'm struggling to find a school that does not require 4 hours minimum/ day for a C172. C172 I will be taking a passenger along for the ride so C152 just aint big enough