Planning a long X-country in a slow plane

[crazynut52]

Next week I plan to fly a C-150 from Northern NY to a small town half way between Kansas City and Denver. Its the first time I will be making a cross country this far on my own. I've flew to the bahamas and to florida with an instructor , but this time I will be solo. I guess its a good time to expand my knowledge and expierience. Should I order the two WAC charts I need, or splurge and spend the extra money on several sectionals? I plan to fly high, well for a 150, to burn less fuel. Any comments regaurding this trip would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Mr Wu]

Get the sectionals. Forget the WAC charts. Get a VFR/IFR planning chart instead.

 

[User998]

Yea, I agree. WAC charts are only decent for doing your cross country route planning. Sectionals give you an abndance more information such as airport codes, frequencies, all the fine little details you'll need. Plus it'll be hard to do any kind of pilotage with a WAC. You'll feel much better off with the Sectionals believe me.

Also, for a small peace of mind have your route drawn up along the sectionals and have airports picked out about every 50 miles (give or take) that you can use for landing if an emergency pops up, have ATIS/ASOS so you can follow weather along the route if weather is questionable day, or use for a fuel stop if fuel isn't looking like it should.

Also, if you are fortunate enough to have a ADF onboard, go to www.radio-locator.com, and make a list of all the radio stations you'll be flying over, so you can entertain yourself. That or don't forget your iPod!

Just try to put yourself in the day of the flight as much as possible, and try to come up with all the possible scenarios you might come up with, and try to plan ahead for them, so on the day of the flight you have all your bases covered, and you can takeoff feeling confident. That's important in a small airplane going that far!

P.S. I don't envy you for a second!

 

[gkrangers]

Here is a suggestion...if time isn't a concern, land at a lot of airports along the way. Find interesting places to stop, because you WILL get bored.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I plan to fly high, well for a 150, to burn less fuel.

Will that really be cost-efficient? The prevailing winds aloft are westerly and get stronger the higher you go. You could be burning 10% less fuel but going 30% slower.

 

[Immelman]

I bought WACs on a similar trip. Didn't mark them up. Had no trouble whatsoever.. but if you want to practice pilotage then have at it. A cheap handheld GPS is also a good backup if you're trying to find an obsure airport in haze, etc.

Remember to have fun... what would it be like to fly all day long at or below 1000' agl and watch the country go by? Pretty cool!

 

[NW_Pilot]

I have done that route many times WAC's and a GPS with current AFD's should do you fine if you don't have a GPS Sectionals & AFD's Have fun

PS: I am headed that way between KC & DEN early next week monitor 123.45 Oh and watch for all the antennas that are not on your chart's

 

[User998]

You got me curious now, how long of a flight are you looking at going that distance in a 152?

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

I delivered a C-150 from NJ to Louisiana.

1. Have a GPS onboard. You don't NEED it, but it's nice to have.
2. Sectionals and approaches. Just in case.
3. Food and drink. I suggest bottles with large openings, for urination later.
4. Money. Enough for hotel and a few hot meals.

I suggest flying at 6500'. Any fuel saved after is minimal. My flight was
completed in 1.5 days. Would have been 1 day if the weather cooperated.

Watch out for Gotta-get-there-itus.

It's a great time, enjoy.

CE

 

[AC560]

I plan to fly high, well for a 150, to burn less fuel.

Get up around FL400 and you should true out around 200kts

 

[pilotguy733]

If you are really flying slow, you mind want to think about navigating with a calendar...

 

[crazynut52]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm bringing a sat radio and a garmin 196 for the trip. I'm thinking its going to be about a 13 hour trip, well, 13 hours in the air. I plan to split it up into two days. I know it may be a long boring trip, but it sure beats building hours flying around the pattern. Also I have flown to all the airports in upstate NY about 10 times each, so I figured since the weather will be nice, I could get a few hours in one long trip. So you guys think 6500 would be a good altitude.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

6500' is about where your normally aspirated engine produces 75% power
with the throttle full open. The winds should be favorable (but check with
your local FSS) and it's usually most effective for visibility and terrain for
your entire route.

On my trip, I checked every (well most of them) airport within 50 miles of
my route for fuel availability and details and mark the favorable ones. It's
nice to have a cheat sheet for pop up T-storms, engine problems, unexpected
potty breaks (due to that breakfast burrito).

From NJ to LA, I had to fly directly west to the Mississippi and then south.
(damn T-storms and visibility kept me north of KY). The river run was much
more scenic than I expected.

Is was a alot more fun than a daily flight on autopilot. Believe it or not, I
envy you.

CE

 

[FL420]

The longer you fly and especially if you become a professional pilot, you will have many opportunities to cross the US. Unfortunately, it will be at high altitude and will become a chore instead of an adventure.

When my wife was 6 months pregnant with our first child we wanted to go visit all the relatives and friends we could in a 2 week period. I realized once the baby was born we would have more butts in the family than seats in the Swift so I would eventually have to give it up.

We flew a zigzag course from SAN to GCN to PHX to DAL to SAT to TUL to CNU to STL to CVG and then back via DEN and JAC and SLC. We flew as low as possible and tried to land for fuel at the smallest airports possible, preferably those with grass runways. We soon learned to call ahead to make sure that not only did they sell fuel but someone would be around to pump it.

It was a very enjoyable and memorable trip. I have crossed the US hundreds of times since then but that trip stands out. We got our pictures and an article in the paper in Chanute, KS and were struck by lightning over Julian VOR. We discovered a wonderful little lake somewhere in NM I haven't been able to find since. We landed on a ranch strip near Las Vegas, NM when fuel got low. The ranch house was a historic waystation on the Santa Fe Trail and the ranch manager flew F-4U Corsairs for the USMC in WWII. Treated us like family(probably better.)

My advice. Go low. Go slow. Meet people. Enjoy.

 

[cobraman]

Two words..... FLIGHT FOLLOWING!
Be safe.