Trip to KMYF

[RiddlePilot]

I'm wondering if anyone from Montgomery Field (North of San Diego)can tell me what I'm getting myself into when I come out to pick up N48650 (1977 C-152) to fly it across the country to a flight school where I live in Virginia? Also, anyone that may have ever flown the southern route across the US and has suggestions on nice airports at which to stop, please let me know.

Thanks,
Travis Faudre

[metro752]

Isn't Montgomery where King Schools is based, if so, watch out!



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[lnuss]

Well, I can't comment on your specific route, but allow plenty of extra fuel, and be aware of possible problems with density altitude. It's not that a C-152 won't fly in the high country (which you must cross), but that takeoff times and distances will be longer and climbs will be slower than you are used to. And the distance between cities (and airports) will tend to be quite a bit further than you get used to in the east.

So if you cut across Phoenix to Tuscon to Las Cruces, NM, you won't have to go TOO high. And Flagstaff (7000 ft elevation) to Winslow, Gallup, Albuquerque is another possibility. But again, density altitude can bite, especially on a hot day. You may want to follow I-10 or I-40 across Arizona and New Mexico. Don't go north of about Albuquerque or Santa Fe, as the 11,000 to 14,000 foot plus peaks will sometimes be above your aircraft's ceiling (density altitude, again), or nearly so, especially on warmer days. And there are times that lowering the nose and gaining airspeed is the only way you can climb, and then it will be sloooowly.

There are no section lines and landmarks for navigation are a bit different than those in your part of the country. Navigation by mountain peaks is easy, for those who know the country, but it can be confusing to those new to it.

And this time of year, it's best to do most of your flying before noon, when possible, out in the west. All that hot sun (a mile less of atmospheric filter than you're used to) causes thermals early (starting after 9:00 to 10:00 AM), which means you'll get bounced around a lot. And on a 90 degree day in Albuquerque (5200+ elevation), the airplane will think it's near 9,000 feet -- when you are sitting on the ground.

But mornings tend to be cool (30-45º less than the daytime high), so starting your flight shortly after sunrise and stopping by noon will make good sense until you are into Texas or Oklahoma.

I'm not trying to discourage you with the above comments, but rather to make you aware of how much different it is in the desert and in the high country, and give you something to think about (and ask at each local airport about) for your trip.

As to recommended airports, it depends on your route, but you have to take what's available. I'd check terrain elevations on your planned route to see what can keep you at or below 9,000 MSL, when possible, and I'd also check for airports spaced to let you arrive at each destination with at least an hour and a half of fuel (don't forget to lean the mixture before takeoff, and again in cruise, then enrichen slightly on descent). I'd also be sure that each intended airport has at least a 4,000 foot runway -- you'll need most of that, at times.

Oh, yes -- be aware that there are many places where the terrain climbs faster than your aircraft does, so don't be shy about circling to gain altitude, when necessary.

And ask for advice from the locals -- they'll respect you for it, and you may avoid some dangers that way. Oh, yes -- visibility. On a lot of days, things are MUCH further away than they seem. When I lived in Albuquerque, I could see Mt. Taylor (80 miles west) from my back yard -- some easterners have trouble believing that. The air is often clear enough that you may see a mountain 100 miles away and think it's only 20 or so -- don't let it throw you. From my back yard in Denver, I can often (when pollution is low) see Pike's Peak, over 70 miles south, and Long's Peak, around 50 miles Northwest.

So work WITH the country -- don't fight it, and you'll be rewarded with beauty of a kind rarely experienced elsewhere. It's a wonderful area to fly in, but it's definitely different.

Have a fun and safe trip!

[metro752]

I just remembered,

POSITION REPORTS.

When you are over the dangerous terrain, for extended periods, you can give flight service a position report, so if something does happen, they'll have a better idea where to look. It's in the FAR/AIM somewhere on how to do it exactly.

I think thats a good idea.

EDIT: It also can be fun practice for when someday you cross the pond, and you need to give pos. reports to Oceanic.

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[RiddlePilot]

Larry, thank you so much for all of your insight. I'll be a senior at ERAU in Daytona this year, and while they've preached and preached about the caution to take in mountain flying, it is always good to get some input from someone who has some experience in the area. I'm by no means going to rush it, but the flight school I'm ferrying it for really needs the plane as soon as possible, and the owner doesn't always see things from a saftey standpoint.
My sister has been so kind as to lend me her very nice 35mm camera to take on the trip. I'll be sure to take as many shots as possible (with saftey in mind) so that I will have something to remember this awesome journey by. Check back in next Monday or Tuesday and I'll have some photos and the chronicles of my adventure.

[flyinggriffin]

The C-152 that I learned to fly in came from Centennial Airport in Colorado. The flight school owner flew it back all by himself. One nav/com, no gps or loran. The good thing about heading east is that you usually have the winds with you.

Hey Larry, moving to Henderson NV the day after Labor Day. Will be a while before I can get in the air again, but it should be a trip! Thinking about getting involved with CAP to get to know some of the area pilots.

[lnuss]

Flying from the Front Range area to the east isn't bad at all in a 152 (except you're cramped, etc.), at least from a performance standpoint, as the terrain descends from about 90-100 miles west of Denver all the way east (at least until the eastern mountains).

When you start flying again in Nevada, be sure to get a thorough local checkout, and look into mountain flying clinics, as you can learn a LOT. You'll sure find it different living in desert country. Good luck.

[metro752]

Henderson is a nice airport, I stopped by it when I was in the Las Vegas area two years ago.

In MSFS when you get out there, a good long cross country trip would be to Big Bear L35 (in So.Cal)....in MSFS it's pretty awesome.


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[lnuss]

You're welcome. I hope you'll take the time to dig a bit more into flying in the desert/high country. Sparky Imeson's book Mountain Flying is an excellent reference, if you are unable to get into a mountain flying clinic somewhere. And perhaps the folks where you pick up the aircraft can give you some tips -- perhaps even a bit of instruction, if you can find the right folks.

Good luck, take it easy, and enjoy the trip.

[ladamson]

And, to add to the advice on "leaning"..........

When in mountainous country, lean the airplane like it's written in numerous mountain flying books. As in, think about leaning anytime the density altitude is 3000' or higher. "Don't" ever go by a rule such as "under 5000' ---- full rich".

At our airports (KSLC, U42)in the 4200 to 4600' msl range, we lean right after startup before taxi, and then again before takeoff. At these altitudes, plus the difference for density altitude on a warm day, the amount of available takeoff power "will be" reduced if not leaned.

And.......... we don't go full rich for landing either. If we do, we won't have full power for a go-around, if required.

Ladamson