My first very long x-country

[tbm700]

Dear All,

I would like to do VFR coast to coast cross country in my C172. The
starting point will be in caldwell(CDW), New Jersey and will end my
journey at Hayward Executive(HWD), California. Does anyone has any
experience or route suggestion?

Thanks,
Paul

[[email protected]]

tbm700 > wrote:
> Dear All,

> I would like to do VFR coast to coast cross country in my C172. The
> starting point will be in caldwell(CDW), New Jersey and will end my
> journey at Hayward Executive(HWD), California. Does anyone has any
> experience or route suggestion?

> Thanks,
> Paul

The March issue of AOPA Pilot had an artcle by a guy that did it you
might want to read (unless of course that's what motivated you in the
first place).

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

[Montblack]

("tbm700" wrote)
> I would like to do VFR coast to coast cross country in my C172. The
> starting point will be in caldwell(CDW), New Jersey and will end my
> journey at Hayward Executive(HWD), California.


When are you thinking of making the trip?
Solo? Buddy? Honey? Kids? Mut?

How much of this trip is sightseeing?
How much is get-there?

How much time might be budgeted for your journey?

Sounds fun.


Montblack

[Dude]

"tbm700" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Dear All,
>
> I would like to do VFR coast to coast cross country in my C172. The
> starting point will be in caldwell(CDW), New Jersey and will end my
> journey at Hayward Executive(HWD), California. Does anyone has any
> experience or route suggestion?
>
> Thanks,
> Paul
>

My only experience is to take the southern route through the Rockies.
Following I-10 means an off field landing will not necessarily result in a
slow painful death.

If you use the AOPA flight planner, and plan your flight using airways, you
can check to make sure your 172 can make the MEA's or at least MOCA's.

If you want to save fuel, watch the weather patterns for a good High to
change the winds in your favor. This happens every few weeks this time of
year.

Take a digital camera if you can and a survival kit. Borrow a hand held
radio if you can, and if you were thinking about a portable GPS purchase,
splurge for one of the new ones with terrain.

Take a friend.

[Jay Honeck]

> Does anyone has any experience or route suggestion?

Well, Paul, my copy of "Destination Direct" flight planning software routes
that flight almost directly over Iowa City.

I suggest you drop by for a cold one!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[vincent p. norris]

> Does anyone has any experience or route suggestion?

Two routes I've used:

Northern: Your choice of routes to Iowa City and then to southern
Wyoming. Follow I 80 across southern Wyoming; terrain is around 7000
msl but relatively flat; easy flying. Then via Helena and Missoula,
Montana, and west to Seattle. Then down the coast (or inland) to
Hayward.

Southern: Your choice of routes to Iowa City and then to Las Vegas,
New Mexico. Then to Winslow, see the meteor carter; follow the Grand
Canyon(buy a Grand Canyon chart) down to Kingman, Arizona, and
Needles, California; west to Bakersfield, then up to Hayward. (That
last leg is pretty boring.)

vince norris

[tbm700]

thanks for the tip Jim...I'll checking that out

[tbm700]

Not a hurry trip Montblack.....want to take 2 weeks off from work and
flying to see friend in Hayward.

[tbm700]

I'll sure will Jay......

[tbm700]

Thank for great advice Vince....will check route of flight according to
our suggestion.

[Blanche]

You may want to check out this month's AOPA magazine. Don Weber's
article about his flight is there.

[FlyWithTwo]

Hi Paul,
I live in the Denver area and have done most of your route in two
pieces. I went to Kingman, AZ in May 2002 and to Harrisburg, PA in
June 2002. My routes were:

To Walsenburg, CO then over LaVeta Pass toward Alamosa, CO. This is
one of the lower and easier passes through the Rockies. Alamosa is in
the San Luis Valley. Go south to the Taos VOR, then head west to
Farmington, NM, then parallel the south side of the Grand Canyon to
Kingman, AZ. There is one ridge that you have to pop over just before
going in to Kingman. I think another post tells how to get from
Kingman to Hayward.

NJ to Colorado. Climb to 4500 and head west. Once the sectionals
start to turn from green to tan, start climbing in 2000 ft steps. You
can pretty much go over LaVeta pass at 11000 and descend back down once
you get over the valley. Have a safe trip.

Brian
N3827X

[Blanche]

FlyWithTwo > wrote:

>NJ to Colorado. Climb to 4500 and head west. Once the sectionals
>start to turn from green to tan, start climbing in 2000 ft steps. You
>can pretty much go over LaVeta pass at 11000 and descend back down once
>you get over the valley. Have a safe trip.

The road over LaVeta is at 9000 ft MSL. And the mountain peaks on either
side as you fly thru the pass will be above you. Plus, you'll be
out of radio contact with ATC for about 10-15 min. But stay on
flight following before and after. They'll give you the freqs just
before you lose contact.

ALS is not towered but it's got a great avionics shop.

CHECK THE WEATHER! The valley is known for snow storms. Also, if
there are any forest fires in the area, the visibility gets a bit
murky. You can still see everything but there's a definite haze.

If the weather is bad in the valley, head south to LVS-TAFOY-SAF
then it's the same route Brian described.

[George Patterson]

tbm700 wrote:
>
> I would like to do VFR coast to coast cross country in my C172. The
> starting point will be in caldwell(CDW), New Jersey and will end my
> journey at Hayward Executive(HWD), California. Does anyone has any
> experience or route suggestion?

You might want to read "Flight of Passage", by Rinker Buck. Not that you would
want to follow his route exactly, but there might be a few pointers for you in
there. In any case, it's a decent read.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[jsmith]

I am still trying to figure out how I am going to get my 65 HP Champ to
fly that route. It's wheezing at 5500.

George Patterson wrote:
> You might want to read "Flight of Passage", by Rinker Buck. Not that you would
> want to follow his route exactly, but there might be a few pointers for you in
> there. In any case, it's a decent read.

[xyzzy]

Ride the thermals!

It helps if you have glider experience :)

jsmith wrote:

> I am still trying to figure out how I am going to get my 65 HP Champ to
> fly that route. It's wheezing at 5500.
>
> George Patterson wrote:
>
>> You might want to read "Flight of Passage", by Rinker Buck. Not that
>> you would
>> want to follow his route exactly, but there might be a few pointers
>> for you in
>> there. In any case, it's a decent read.
>
>

[[email protected]]

vincent p. norris wrote:
>
> Southern: Your choice of routes to Iowa City and then to Las Vegas,
> New Mexico. Then to Winslow, see the meteor carter; follow the Grand
> Canyon(buy a Grand Canyon chart) down to Kingman, Arizona, and
> Needles, California; west to Bakersfield, then up to Hayward. (That
> last leg is pretty boring.)
>

One comment on the Southern route. If weather is a factor you can
get to lower terrain (i.e. better cloud clearance) by going South in
New Mexico and picking up I-10 west. You can easily follow it at 6,500
ft. as far as Tuscon, then it's all down hill from there on into CA.

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

[tbm700]

Thank so lot you guys...I'm in planning stage, will not taking off
until early next month. Any tips, advised, or suggestion are more than
welcome.

Happy flying
Paul.

[vincent p. norris]

>Thank for great advice Vince....will check route of flight according to
>our suggestion.

Yer welcome! I strove for brevity; if you have any questions about
details, feel free to email me: .

(Before April 5, when I leave for Europe.)

vince norris