Time to ferry the Traumahawk - Advice???

[FlyingToIST]

This weekend (and the next) will be the time to ferry the Tomahawk from KOSU to KRNT. I was planning for the northern route, Chicago, MSP, ND, MT and then to GEG but looks like the cold front will keep the northern route wet for next two weeks.

On the other hand NM, AZ, So CAl and TX look all fine for this weekend and the next.. Even though this will add a lot more time to the ferry flight, I think I can cover it this weekend and the next.

My question is , what is the best route to take.. I heard things like go to ELP , TX and then follow the river until you hit TUS. Then follow the interstate to So Cal and take the bird up north..

Can anyone give more detailed routing information? What are the airports to overnight? What are the fueling options. The flight in the flat land will be done during day time and some night, but to cross the desert I will use daytime only..

Thanks..

 

[Crizz]

KAEG - Double eagle II in Albuquerque is a very friendly stop. Gas is reasonable.

KSJN - One of the best stops you can make. St Johns in Northern arizona. Their gas prices are ridiculously cheap, and the guy that attends the field is a sweetheart.

 

[Wankel7]

KSJN - Yep, that was a great airport to stop at. I wish we had to time hang out. Jeta was 1.55! Not sure on 100LL. If you don't know about www.airnav.com it is a great way to get airport info.

Have fun and don't forget a survival kit!

Wankel

 

[Vector4fun]

Not that familiar with the Mountains west of PHX, but the Rockies, depends on how high you're comfortable flying in the Tomahawk. Going over Las Vegas towards Alburquerque, you'd fly over Glorieta Pass, just SE of Santa Fe, and you'd want to be at least 9500', even better, 10,500 through that pass. Tijeras Canyon, just east of ABQ isn't much better. Further South, between Socorro and ABQ, you could probably pick your way through at 8500' OK. Remember, 8500' MSL in New Mexico, in May, the Density Altitude can be like 12,500. How tight is that Lycoming?

If you go down over El Paso, you could do most of it at 6500', but there ain't no river between ELP and TUS! You can follow the Rio Grande up to Las Cruces, but then you better hang a left and follow I-10 to TUS.

There isn't ANY pass in Colorado over the Divide I'd like to try in a standard Tomahawk in warm air.

Tuscon, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Reno, and on North seems doable, but even Tonopah is a bit over 6000'. Plan for lots of rough air after 10 am until nearly dark. It don't smooth out til well above 10,000, sometimes well above 14,000'...

 

[414Flyer]

If you go to El Paso and then follow the river, you will end up in brownsville eventually

Now if you want to follow I-10....

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

well due to recent wx and the fact that the mountains up in the MT area are pretty crazy when it comes to a small single I would definatly fly through socal and head up the coast or just west of the FAT area. Good luck, have fun.

 

[414Flyer]

From ABQ, you could just head west on I-40 and you should be okay, but the terrain at some points along the way between ABQ and Flagstaff will be at least 7,000 minimum.

It goes back down hill after that, at least to you get to the sierra nevadas.

If you want to go southern NM/AZ route, you could go from ABQ, down the rio grande valley along I-25, cut over SW to I-40 (Deming area) once you think you are south enough from the Gila mountains to your right.

Then follow to Tucson - Phoenix - Blythe - Palmdale (If its a weekend you might be able to fly over Edwards AFB which is definitely cool) - Fresno.

 

[FlyingToIST]

Ok guys, I made it all the way to Denver last night. The midwestern TS kept me going all the way to Springfield, MO until I could turn West again. It was a fund trip, but I learned my lesson well in terms of the capabilities of the aircraft with density altitude. At 2 pm in DEN the density altitude at FTG was 7200 feet. I could get to 7000 feet and that translated to about 9,000 feet in terms of DA.

It was amazing to see the radiation from the ground lifting me up like crazy with 5 degree pitch down..

Next weekend the plan is to have an early start to Casper, WY and not to fly after 12N.

I guess following I-80 looks like a better option than going up to Billings, MT and following I-90..

Thanks for all the support..

 

[414Flyer]

Be sure to lean the engine too before you take off, or you will lose even more power and could be a in world of hurt too, if its pretty hot, high with terrain

 

[FracCapt]

The flight in the flat land will be done during day time and some night, but to cross the desert I will use daytime only..

Do yourself a favor....do all your flying during the day. If this means getting up an hour before dawn to be airborne at dawn and fly all day....so be it....but don't do it at night. If you are not familiar with a single engine, you don't want to be flying it at night. If you are not familiar with an airplane, you don't want to be flying it in low IFR conditions. These statements really only apply to ferrying IMO. I ferried quite a few aircraft(singles, twins, helis), including several King Airs to/from Hawaii, back in the day. I had two rules. 1) The inspection I did prior to flying the aircraft was extremely thorough, including pulling inspection panels and doing extended ground engine runs(unless these things were done by a mechanic I trusted, then standard preflights). A typical inspection normally took at least 4-6 hours, sometimes as much as 8-10. There were a couple that I refused to fly based on what I found(such as SEVERE corrosion on the spar and some ribs of a C-310). 2) Fly day only, VFR if possible, and NEVER in low IFR conditions. I can't tell you how many times I had instruments and various equipment fail during the trip. Now, keep in mind, I was ferrying aircraft that I was not at all familiar with. I was usually contracted to fly a plane I had never even seen before from point A to point B.

Good luck.