What's your most familiar route?

[Ben Jackson]

What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
a compass to find all the cities and airports?

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Cub Driver]

>What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
>far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
>a compass to find all the cities and airports?

With 12 gal gas, the Cub has an effectived radius of one hour without
refueling. I most often fly from Hampton NH up to Lake Winnipesaukee,
touring Alton Bay and if the flight has gone quickly Wolfeboro also.
(There's an airport at Wolfeboro, but no gas.) If I have the plane for
more than two hours, I'll land and refuel at Moultonboro. The Big Lake
is one of the loveliest places I know.

A couple years ago I wrote a story about this route for the Wall
Street Journal: www.pipercubforum.com/biglake.htm



all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[Dan Luke]

"Ben Jackson" wrote:
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with?
> How far could you wander from your home base without needing
> a map or even a compass to find all the cities and airports?

I assume you're also excluding, GPS, VOR, etc. I suppose I could make
it ok from Mobile to Houston without a map or a compass or even without
following I-10 the whole way. After a couple dozen trips I probably
have it wired - might be interesting to try it next time if the
weather's nice.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[G.R. Patterson III]

Ben Jackson wrote:
>
> How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?

I could make it from Old Bridge, NJ to Atlanta, GA without a map or compass. It
certainly wouldn't be a direct flight, and I wouldn't know *all* the airports, but
it's pretty easy to do. My usual runs would be more like 60 miles from Old Bridge and
return (Pocono Mountains).

George Patterson
This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to
play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home
a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind".

[C J Campbell]

I can think of several places out of Tacoma Narrows I could get to without
map or compass -- given good visibility. Hoquiam, Kelso, Port Angeles, even
Friday Harbor (though I might not be able to find my way back).

[Gene Seibel]

I had along distance relationship in which I flew the 200 miles edach
way from Springfield, MO to Alton, IL at least every other weekend for
10 months. It got real familiar.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.


(Ben Jackson) wrote in message news:<EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51>...
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?

[Dylan Smith]

In article <EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51>, Ben Jackson wrote:
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?

My entire nation.

It's only 30nm long by about 14nm wide, so it's hardly difficult :-)

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

[Ben Jackson]

In article >,
Dylan Smith > wrote:
>My entire nation.
>
>It's only 30nm long by about 14nm wide, so it's hardly difficult :-)
>--
>Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man

I bet there's not a lot of hangar talk about how fast you can fly!

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Richard Kaplan]

"Dylan Smith" > wrote in message
...

> My entire nation.

> It's only 30nm long by about 14nm wide, so it's hardly difficult :-)


How many airports are there in the nation? How many pilots? Airplanes?


--------------------
Richard Kaplan, CFII

www.flyimc.com

[Maule Driver]

Durham NC to Lake Norman NC - only 108 miles.

From my glider days I could still fly Blairstown NJ to Cumberland MD as the
hawks fly. No map or compass required once you get to know the ridges
(Kittatinny ridge, Delaware Water Gap, Hawk Mountain, jump up to the perfect
Mahatango ridge , over the Susquehanna and jump to the Tusquawarra(sp)
ridge, jump someplace before Burnt Cabins up to the 'main ridge', Altoona
gap, ___ gap, Cumberland, then return. Never made the entire flight without
stopping but know it all, something like Twain's Missippi river boat
captains.

"Ben Jackson" > wrote in message
news:EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51...
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?
>
> --
> Ben Jackson
> >
> http://www.ben.com/

[David Brooks]

"C J Campbell" > wrote in message
...
> I can think of several places out of Tacoma Narrows I could get to without
> map or compass -- given good visibility. Hoquiam, Kelso, Port Angeles,
even
> Friday Harbor (though I might not be able to find my way back).

Chris, I think you underestimate yourself. We have all those wonderful
crinkly shorelines: Nisqually Reach coming from the south, and Whidbey
shoreline from the north and northwest, are pretty good for orienting
yourself back home. Personally, I might find it harder on the outbound to
Kelso and FHR.

-- David Brooks

[John Harper]

Since when has it been a nation? Doesn't it have much the
same obscure protectorate status as the Channel Islands?
Is it part of the EU?

John

"Dylan Smith" > wrote in message
...
> In article <EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51>, Ben Jackson wrote:
> > What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> > far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> > a compass to find all the cities and airports?
>
> My entire nation.
>
> It's only 30nm long by about 14nm wide, so it's hardly difficult :-)
>
> --
> Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
> Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
> Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
> "Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

[John Harper]

All of California west of the Sierra Nevada/Banning Pass
and north of (and including) the LA basin, and the southwest
corner of Oregon, roughly speaking. Couldn't name
EVERY airport or one-horse town, but can certainly
find my way around.

John

"Ben Jackson" > wrote in message
news:EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51...
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?
>
> --
> Ben Jackson
> >
> http://www.ben.com/

[John Galban]

(Ben Jackson) wrote in message news:<EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51>...
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?

I've been regularly flying between Phoenix and Las Cruces, NM for
the past 15 yrs. I can't remember the last time I pulled out a chart
on that trip. It's about 240 nm. It's a lot like driving down to
the corner grocery store.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Jay Beckman]

"John Galban" > wrote in message
om...
> (Ben Jackson) wrote in message
news:<EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51>...
> > What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> > far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> > a compass to find all the cities and airports?
>
> I've been regularly flying between Phoenix and Las Cruces, NM for
> the past 15 yrs. I can't remember the last time I pulled out a chart
> on that trip. It's about 240 nm. It's a lot like driving down to
> the corner grocery store.
>
> John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

John,

What (traditionally) are your checkpoints for this route?

Just curious,

Jay Beckman
Student Pilot - KCHD
12.8 Hrs ... Nowhere to go but up!

[C J Campbell]

"David Brooks" > wrote in message
...
> "C J Campbell" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I can think of several places out of Tacoma Narrows I could get to
without
> > map or compass -- given good visibility. Hoquiam, Kelso, Port Angeles,
> even
> > Friday Harbor (though I might not be able to find my way back).
>
> Chris, I think you underestimate yourself. We have all those wonderful
> crinkly shorelines: Nisqually Reach coming from the south, and Whidbey
> shoreline from the north and northwest, are pretty good for orienting
> yourself back home. Personally, I might find it harder on the outbound to
> Kelso and FHR.
>

Yeah, well, I have been lost twice crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca, both
times due to overconfidence bred of familiarity with the area. It is too
darned easy to start following the wrong coastline.

[Cub Driver]

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 17:36:10 -0000, Dylan Smith
> wrote:

>It's only 30nm long by about 14nm wide, so it's hardly difficult :-)

Do you make the circuit to port or starboard :)


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[Capt.Doug]

>"Ben Jackson" wrote in message > What route do you fly most often or feel
>most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?

A real pilot in these parts navigates by the color of the water. :-)
In my student pilot days, I was riding shotgun in a Twin Beech to the
islands. Just after the gear came up, the captain pulled out an alarm clock,
wound it up, and set it to go off in 3 hours. Then he said to me to keep my
heading and altitude and to wake him up when the clock goes off. Sure
enough, when it went off, there was the island right under the nose.

I used to run a C-402 about 600 miles down island and back every day. Both
ways, I would set the autopilot heading bug just after crossing the shore. I
wouldn't touch it until nearing the destination. Most days, I would be
within 10 miles of centerline.

D.

[John Galban]

"Jay Beckman" > wrote in message news:<9K%ec.2029$432.87@fed1read01>...
> "John Galban" > wrote in message
> om...
> >
> > I've been regularly flying between Phoenix and Las Cruces, NM for
> > the past 15 yrs. I can't remember the last time I pulled out a chart
> > on that trip. It's about 240 nm. It's a lot like driving down to
> > the corner grocery store.
> >
> > John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)
>
> John,
>
> What (traditionally) are your checkpoints for this route?
>

I just go SE to Coolidge to bypass the restricted area east of
Gateway, then it's 090 degrees direct. I pass just north of the peak
on Mt. Graham (10,000+ ft.), Safford (KSAD), Silver City (KSVC) then
Las Cruces (LRU).

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Jay Beckman]

"John Galban" > wrote in message
om...
> "Jay Beckman" > wrote in message
news:<9K%ec.2029$432.87@fed1read01>...
> > "John Galban" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > >
> > > I've been regularly flying between Phoenix and Las Cruces, NM for
> > > the past 15 yrs. I can't remember the last time I pulled out a chart
> > > on that trip. It's about 240 nm. It's a lot like driving down to
> > > the corner grocery store.
> > >
> > > John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)
> >
> > John,
> >
> > What (traditionally) are your checkpoints for this route?
> >
>
> I just go SE to Coolidge to bypass the restricted area east of
> Gateway, then it's 090 degrees direct. I pass just north of the peak
> on Mt. Graham (10,000+ ft.), Safford (KSAD), Silver City (KSVC) then
> Las Cruces (LRU).
>
> John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

Thanks John,

It sounds like a very scenic trip.

Jay

[Tom Sixkiller]

"John Galban" > wrote in message
om...
> >
> > What (traditionally) are your checkpoints for this route?
> >
>
> I just go SE to Coolidge to bypass the restricted area east of
> Gateway, then it's 090 degrees direct. I pass just north of the peak
> on Mt. Graham (10,000+ ft.), Safford (KSAD), Silver City (KSVC) then
> Las Cruces (LRU).

You don't drop down a bit further south to Lordsburg?

[MikeM]

Ben Jackson wrote:

> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?
>

In the 80's and 90's, my elderly parents lived in Grants Pass, Or.
I have flown from SLC to 3S8 about 25 times, a flight of ~500nm,
across NW nevada, which has nothing but wild mustangs.
Several times, I turned off the radios and loran, and just flew
the route navigating by recognizing familar mountain peaks. Cant
miss Pilot Peak, the Rubies near Elko, Mt Shasta, or the big volcano
between Klamath Falls and Medford (Mt McLaughlin).

I routinely fly from SLC to Hall's Crossing at Lake Powell, about
200nm. I have made this trip about a hundred times, and can
do it asleep. Actually, I could fly anywhere in Utah, Wy, Idaho,
Colo, Nv, Az without maps, just point the nose and go.

My pilot wife is from Calgary, AB. We have now made the
trip SLC-HLN-CTB-Lethbridge-HighRiver enough times that
it is becoming routine, too.

Most difficult for me is SLC to OSH, which I have done about
6 times. I can easily get lost anywhere between E. Wy and
Wisconsin...

MikeM
Skylane '1MM
Pacer '00Z

[Dylan Smith]

In article <1081885275.894507@sj-nntpcache-3>, John Harper wrote:
> Since when has it been a nation? Doesn't it have much the
> same obscure protectorate status as the Channel Islands?
> Is it part of the EU?

The Isle of Man is neither part of the UK nor part of the EU. It has its
own laws, its own parliament (the longest running democratic parliament
in the world, and the first one to allow women sufferage), its own civil
service, health and immigration policies, vehicle registry and ship
registry (plus talk of an aircraft registry coming some time in the
mysterious future). I travel on an Isle of Man passport, not a UK one.

It's not quite a sovereign state (yes, an obscure crown dependency) but
it's much more of a nation than, say, Scotland. Try telling a Scottish
person that Scotland isn't a nation!

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

[Dylan Smith]

In article >, Richard
Kaplan wrote:
>> It's only 30nm long by about 14nm wide, so it's hardly difficult :-)
>
> How many airports are there in the nation? How many pilots? Airplanes?

Four airports (one public use, three private): Ronaldsway (where the
airlines go), Jurby, Mount Rule and Andreas (where the glider club is).
The flying club probably has on the order of 50 members. The glider club
has 18. There is also an active hang-gliding/paragliding club which
flies most days in the summer. At Ronaldsway, there is a British Airways
maintenance facility plus probably ~30 GA aircraft (including one or two
unusual types). The glider club currently has 5 servicable gliders plus
a tow-plane (a 1945 Auster 5J1 which has been re-engined with a 160hp
Lyc O-320).

There is an annual airshow (which last year had TWO P-51 Mustangs which
aren't really a common sight here), plus the Schneider Cup air races,
and we're trying to get an annual Reno-style pylon racing event going...

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

[Journeyman]

In article >, C J Campbell wrote:
> I can think of several places out of Tacoma Narrows I could get to without
> map or compass -- given good visibility. Hoquiam, Kelso, Port Angeles, even
> Friday Harbor (though I might not be able to find my way back).

When going to Friday Harbor (FHR) from Boeing Field (BFI), I would just
head north up the sound, along the east side to Paine, then turn NW to
follow the long narrow peninsula that points directly to FHR. Not only
does it make visual navigation easy, but it keeps you closer to land
than you would be taking the direct path.

Pretty much anywhere in the Puget sound area is trival pilotage.
Unfortunately, I never got to practice much DR navigation.

Of course, there was the time I was doing some night practice at
Bremerton (PWT) and decided to go to Tacoma Narrows (TIW), which I
knew from day trips is oh, about thataway from PWT. After about 3
minutes, I was hopelessly lost among the lights, and I didn't want to
blunder into the Seattle Class B airspace (nor the McCord airforce
base for that matter), so I did a 180 back to Bremerton. Then I
looked at the map, estimated the distance and heading, and calculated
an ETE. Worked beautifully.


Morris (currently living on the wrong sound)

[Blanche]

Just about anyplace from Cheyenne, WY to ABQ, NM. No problems. Keep
the mountains on the west side.

As a rule, if I can't see Pikes Peak from the house ('bout 60 sm)
I don't head south. If I can't see Longs Peak (about 40 sm) I
don't head north. And if the thunderboomers-fluffy white clouds
are covering the entire east sky, I change my plans and go
shopping.

[John Galban]

"Tom Sixkiller" > wrote in message >...
> "John Galban" > wrote in message
> om...
> > >
> > > What (traditionally) are your checkpoints for this route?
> > >
> >
> > I just go SE to Coolidge to bypass the restricted area east of
> > Gateway, then it's 090 degrees direct. I pass just north of the peak
> > on Mt. Graham (10,000+ ft.), Safford (KSAD), Silver City (KSVC) then
> > Las Cruces (LRU).
>
> You don't drop down a bit further south to Lordsburg?

That would be a bit out of the way. The most direct route passes
just south of the Silver City airport. I don't meet I-10 again until
I'm east of Deming.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Tina Marie]

In article <EMNec.26772$xn4.47816@attbi_s51>, Ben Jackson wrote:
> What route do you fly most often or feel most comfortable with? How
> far could you wander from your home base without needing a map or even
> a compass to find all the cities and airports?

I can easily do 50 miles out from Houston without needing a map. In
some directions, 100.

Most often flown route used to be AAP (now closed) - CFD. We were
based at AAP and spent most weekends skydiving at CFD.

Today, it's EYQ-89TA - from home base to the soaring club. I probably
do the round trip an average of 3-4 times a month.

The area I spend most time in would be the area around 89TA. I've got
more then 125 hours towing there, and only once did I take a tow plane
outside of a 5 mile radius of the airport. This makes me so familiar
with the area that one weekend I happened to notice the cows in the
field below me had a few calves I hadn't noticed the week before.

Tina Marie

[Cub Driver]

>Just about anyplace from Cheyenne, WY to ABQ, NM. No problems. Keep
>the mountains on the west side.

I do much the same thing. Fly north, ocean on right (starboard :). Fly
south, ocean on left.

The three most visible things when flying around southeastern New
Hampshire are: Boston, Mount Washington, and the concrete runways of
the former Pease Air Force Base.

Plus the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Winnipesaukee, of course.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[DP]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 05:22:13 -0400, Cub Driver
> wrote:

>
>>Just about anyplace from Cheyenne, WY to ABQ, NM. No problems. Keep
>>the mountains on the west side.
>
>I do much the same thing. Fly north, ocean on right (starboard :). Fly
>south, ocean on left.
>
>The three most visible things when flying around southeastern New
>Hampshire are: Boston, Mount Washington, and the concrete runways of
>the former Pease Air Force Base.
>

What ??? How about Plum Island 2b2? ya know......depart 20 stay
away from the nuke plant....cross the river....viola!


haha
>Plus the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Winnipesaukee, of course.
>
>
>all the best -- Dan Ford
>email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)
>
>The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
>The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
>Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

Don Paquette
PP-ASEL
N9723X

[Cub Driver]

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 02:39:12 GMT, DP > wrote:

>What ??? How about Plum Island 2b2? ya know......depart 20 stay
>away from the nuke plant....cross the river....viola!

Actually, I find the Plum Island runway very hard to see, considering
that it's asphalt. (Of course one can always find it, south of the
river and west of the ocean :)

One of the things I was pleasantly surprised by, when first navigating
around northern New England, was how easy runways are to spot from the
air. (I'd had the notion from Microsoft Flight Sim that all you could
see was cell phone towers, which of course you can't see at all.)
Hampton was tough because it's turf, but over the years some splendid
condo hangars have been built on the east side of the runway, so I
just look for a row of white buildings.

But 2B2 always eludes me for some reason.

You mention the nuke. One of the unwritten rules at Hampton is that
you fly north/south either along the beach or west of I-95, so as not
to give anxiety attacks to the security guards at Seabrook Station.
Many of us also no longer go on the 45 from the east. If we want to
land to the south, we do the 45 from the west and cross over so as to
join the downwind to 20. That way, we're never flying toward the nuke.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org