Would you fly a single-engine airplane across the Atlantic???

[pilotmiketx]

Count me in. Not sure why everyone is so worried about the engine quitting. Haven't had one crap out on me since I stopped flying junk. I'm pretty sure the odds are fairly good that any given piston airplane engine that is reasonably maintained will run for the next 30 hours. I'd be more concerned about icing up or hitting an iceberg while scud running (so as not to ice up) or having to shoot a zero/zero approach in Iceland. With my luck, the delivery of 55gal drums of $10/gal Avgas would be late and I'd be stuck freezing my sack off for weeks!

 

[FrozenPilot]

I'd do it, but it wouldn't be just any old airplane at any time.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Count me in. Not sure why everyone is so worried about the engine quitting. Haven't had one crap out on me since I stopped flying junk. I'm pretty sure the odds are fairly good that any given piston airplane engine that is reasonably maintained will run for the next 30 hours. I'd be more concerned about icing up or hitting an iceberg while scud running (so as not to ice up) or having to shoot a zero/zero approach in Iceland. With my luck, the delivery of 55gal drums of $10/gal Avgas would be late and I'd be stuck freezing my sack off for weeks!

Have you not seen the girls in Iceland ? I'd be real happy if I was "stuck" there for a few weeks. You may have to worry about something else happening to your sack, but freezing it off wouldn't be one of them .

TP

 

[pilotmiketx]

That must explain why Bill Cox has been doing it for 30+ years...Icelandic sack warmers!

 

[FN FAL]

Turboprop yes, piston no

I can dig it...let's go!

We'll rent some exposure suits, a life raft or two and some emergency communication gear; we'll enjoy a wonderful experience that most will never see. On the other side of the pond, we'll drink beers, have a great meal and reflect. I'll bring my wife...ut oh, she's already packed!

 

[Kream926]

This guy did it in his Cessna 152! No friggin' way! I don't even want to fly to a neighboring state in a 152, little lone cross the Atlantic!!
http://www.cessna150-152.com/transatlantic.htm

i took one to AMA once......never doin it again. i drove from buffalo Ny to here solo....never doin that again


think about the old days and tha nads the settlers did years ago crossin the country with only 1 horse

(name the movie)

 

[Spooky 1]

I knew some flying AG Cats from the west coast to PHNL. They would fly in pairs so that if one had to ditch the other would stay in the area until help arrived and then ditch along side the other so they could both be picked up. ETE was around 22 to 24 hours as I recall. Not a job for everyone to be sure, but I have probably done other things that would be called dumb.

 

[Goose Egg]

If the proper precautions were taken and survival equipment was on board, I'd do it in a heartbeat. It would be an amazing experience.

Oh, and Typhoon, my mom wouldn't let me play football. I played baseball for 10 years though. Played catcher. That's sort of like football, right?

-Goose

 

[johnpeace]

Why not?

Because I've had an alternator/total electrical failure on an XC flight before. Over the ocean, at night, 1200nm from my alternate, with no real navigation on board (ok, presumably I have a handheld GPS for this trip) doesn't sound worth whatever I'm being paid to make this flight.

 

[Publishers]

We have a young african American man that is going to fly around the world starting next may single engine.

 

[Flying Illini]

I would if given the opportunity. Take the proper precautions and you should be ok. It would be a fun trip. I would prefer to do it with someone who has crossed before before I do it solo.

 

[User546]

Take the proper precautions and you should be ok.

Should implies you should, but you might not! I don't think fighting to save my life in the Atlantic is worth it to me to be wrong! I'm all for a little adventure and fun, but when you weigh risk vs. benefit - this whole process doesn't seem that necessary for me!

Besides, I'm one of those people that is always the "1" in the 99 out of a 100 people statements. If it can happen, it probably will happen with me. I know my limitations based on that theory!

 

[TurboS7]

1) Since I am a professional pilot (whore) I will say for the right price I will do anything.

2) I am very familiar with the North Atlantic, would I do it without being paid for it. Maybe. There is a lot of cold water but it is an adventure so in that light I would like to do it. I feel that you can do anything safely and I would go to extremes to make sure I had a chance if the 1% chance became a 100% chance.

3)As for the weather in KEF. a zero, zero approach is a piece of cake, 80kts and just fly the airplane till the tires hit the pavement. KEF has CATIII approach and lighting, simple for a light aircraft.

4)The winds aloft would be my main concern hence a big fuel tank and a lot of fuel would be a must. I have seen things change aloft and on the ground in a nano second.

 

[Draginass]

Not no, but hell no.

 

[Lead Sled]

User, interesting links. I didn't even think a C-150 had that type of range. How many miles are we talking here???

If you take a northerly route the longest over-water distance is roughly 600 NM - certainly a doable distance for many light aircraft. Certainly there are many singles that make the trip without incident each year. There are also several cases of singles having to ditch in open water each year. Statisically, you can make the trip without expectations of problems - after all, how many engine failures are you going to experience? I've got my share of oceanic crossing under my belt and I've looked down on the North Atlantic and wondered how Lindberg had the cajones to take that trip - looking down at scattered icebergs in whitecapped waters takes away any desire that I might have in making the trip in a single. Even with a survival suit, your life expectency isn't very long. The suit would probably only prolong the inevitable.

I've made a career out of minimizing risks. There was I time when I wouldn't have given much thought about flying a properly maintained and equipted single anywhere, anytime - those days are long gone. In a single you have absolutely no redundancy of the only component that will keep your keester dry.

Now, let's discuss the trip in a Twin Commanche or other light twin. I think that that would be a hoot - provided my wallet could withstand the price of 100LL in Europe.

'Sled

 

[AdlerDriver]

USAF F-16 guys do it. Not that they have any choice. The first time I did, I was glad I had chosen to fly the F-15. At least 2 engines make for a much more relaxed crossing.
:beer:

 

[banned username 2]

think about the old days and tha nads the settlers did years ago crossin the country with only 1 horse

Yeah, but when the horse croaked, they just pulled over and ate it... When the engine dies and you are bobbing in the North Atlantic, you are dinner...

 

[siucavflight]

I have nine Atlantic crossings in a TBM 700, did not even break a sweat.

 

[jknight8907]

I have nine Atlantic crossings in a TBM 700, did not even break a sweat.

Cool; who do you work for to do that, Socata? Also, what kind of times are they looking for for that?

thanks

 

[Flying Illini]

Should implies you should, but you might not! I don't think fighting to save my life in the Atlantic is worth it to me to be wrong! I'm all for a little adventure and fun, but when you weigh risk vs. benefit - this whole process doesn't seem that necessary for me!

Besides, I'm one of those people that is always the "1" in the 99 out of a 100 people statements. If it can happen, it probably will happen with me. I know my limitations based on that theory!

Do a Vmc demo properly and you SHOULD be ok. Cross the mountains single engine, follow the highways and you SHOULD be ok. SHould applies to alot of stuff. look both ways before crossing the street and you SHOULD be ok. Sure, there is risk involved in dooing a single engine crossing, but there is risk in everything. Do whatever you can to minimize the risk and go for it. To each his own. You wouldn't, I would. Doesn't make either one of us better than the other.