Best route from Charlotte to Lexington

[Eric Bartsch]

I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.

I'd like to have as much altitude between me and the ground as
possible, but since the plane is VFR only, I can't really plan on
climbing to 10,000 feet and crossing over (the weather will be a big
factor there)

Does anyone have experience with routes in this area?

Thanks,
Eric

[john smith]

> I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
> weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
> mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
> mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
> the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
> entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.
> I'd like to have as much altitude between me and the ground as
> possible, but since the plane is VFR only, I can't really plan on
> climbing to 10,000 feet and crossing over (the weather will be a big
> factor there)
> Does anyone have experience with routes in this area?

I fly the Asheville Gap to and from Ohio to Florida.
You can go through at 4,500 feet MSL.

[Eric Bartsch]

Thanks for the advice. It looks like good weather for next weekend so
hopefully I'll be able to cross at 6,500 or greater, but its good to
know that 4,500 works. Is there much traffic through that gap? It looks
like it would act as a funnel for all low altitude traffic in the area.

[W P Dixon]

There could be some traffic, but for the most part the locals stay out of
the area unless they need to be there. So from what I hear it usually is not
real busy. Our sightseeing usually takes place northeast or soutwest of the
gap. And most locals will stay out of Asheville airspace unless they have to
be there. The same holds true for TRI in northeast TN. You may get some
"training" traffic and commercial at TRI but nothing to really stress out
over. I'm a rookie and never have any problems around there! ;) And stop in
Middlesboro, KY and see the Glacier Girl !!! ;)
Training areas for TRI are Area 1 , south of TRI to west side of Johnson
City, Area 2 north of TRI around TN/VA line at Kingsport. Area 3 east of TRI
Bristol /South Holston Lake area. If you want to fly over Bristol Motor
Raceway be aware of Practice Area 3. ;)
Johnson City has alittle STOL port on the east side of town in sight of
the Watauga River, be aware of a little if any traffic in that area. Not
even sure that airport is even on the charts anymore!!! But it may help you
to know where it is. It is outside of TRI's Class D . So any traffic is
usually just locals going up for fun. Flew a Cub out of there a few weeks
ago, the runway is alittle rough but if you had to you can sure set down on
it....

Patrick
student SP
aircraft structural mech


"Eric Bartsch" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Thanks for the advice. It looks like good weather for next weekend so
> hopefully I'll be able to cross at 6,500 or greater, but its good to
> know that 4,500 works. Is there much traffic through that gap? It looks
> like it would act as a funnel for all low altitude traffic in the area.
>

[Bill]

2 Weeks ago I flew from Charlotte to Prestonburg (E of Lex). Flew GPS direct
at 8000 (IFR). You end up just N of TRI. there are VOR routes that come
close to the direct route. You can cross the mts N of Hickory at around
6500 VFR.
Bill

"Eric Bartsch" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
> weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
> mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
> mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
> the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
> entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.
>
> I'd like to have as much altitude between me and the ground as
> possible, but since the plane is VFR only, I can't really plan on
> climbing to 10,000 feet and crossing over (the weather will be a big
> factor there)
>
> Does anyone have experience with routes in this area?
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>

[Robet Coffey]

Eric Bartsch wrote:
> I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
> weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
> mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
> mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
> the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
> entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.
>
> I'd like to have as much altitude between me and the ground as
> possible, but since the plane is VFR only, I can't really plan on
> climbing to 10,000 feet and crossing over (the weather will be a big
> factor there)
>
> Does anyone have experience with routes in this area?
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>
You can go up the french broad river avl to newport tn, greenvlle then
to lex. I am based out of Lee Co. Va. 0vg and have flown this route
several times. If it's windy..forget it, you do not want to be in
there.. i always think back to something Evelyn "mamma bird" Johnson in
morristown KMOR told a friend of mine. "Never fly over the Smokies,
they are too easy to fly around." Not that I have always heeded that
advice, but you can shoot to kmnn? mcminn co. and through cumberland gap
if you need to. When i do fly that area "avl to Greenville" I take a
survival blanket, water, and my bear pistol. There is a stretch if you
had to put the plane down it could be awhile before anyone got to you.
Remember wind is weather- especially when trying to fly a mtn. pass w
low ceilings...

[W P Dixon]

I had heard that Lee County Airport was being closed ? Also that any pilot
taking off in their plane had to take it somewhere else? Can you give me the
real scoop on what is going on there? Any "sport planes" to rent over your
way? ;)

Patrick
student SP
aircraft structural mech

"Robet Coffey" > wrote in message
news:pWO2f.31816$q81.28143@trnddc06...
>>
> You can go up the french broad river avl to newport tn, greenvlle then to
> lex. I am based out of Lee Co. Va. 0vg and have flown this route several
> times. If it's windy..forget it, you do not want to be in there.. i always
> think back to something Evelyn "mamma bird" Johnson in morristown KMOR
> told a friend of mine. "Never fly over the Smokies, they are too easy to
> fly around." Not that I have always heeded that advice, but you can shoot
> to kmnn? mcminn co. and through cumberland gap if you need to. When i do
> fly that area "avl to Greenville" I take a survival blanket, water, and my
> bear pistol. There is a stretch if you had to put the plane down it could
> be awhile before anyone got to you. Remember wind is weather- especially
> when trying to fly a mtn. pass w low ceilings...

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Patrick,

How far are you from Alexandria VA?

These guys...

www.maspl.com

Have recently received the first SLSA Zenith 601XL.




"W P Dixon" > wrote in message
...
>I had heard that Lee County Airport was being closed ? Also that any pilot
>taking off in their plane had to take it somewhere else? Can you give me
>the real scoop on what is going on there? Any "sport planes" to rent over
>your way? ;)
>
> Patrick
> student SP
> aircraft structural mech
>
> "Robet Coffey" > wrote in message
> news:pWO2f.31816$q81.28143@trnddc06...
>>>
>> You can go up the french broad river avl to newport tn, greenvlle then to
>> lex. I am based out of Lee Co. Va. 0vg and have flown this route several
>> times. If it's windy..forget it, you do not want to be in there.. i
>> always think back to something Evelyn "mamma bird" Johnson in morristown
>> KMOR told a friend of mine. "Never fly over the Smokies, they are too
>> easy to fly around." Not that I have always heeded that advice, but you
>> can shoot to kmnn? mcminn co. and through cumberland gap if you need to.
>> When i do fly that area "avl to Greenville" I take a survival blanket,
>> water, and my bear pistol. There is a stretch if you had to put the plane
>> down it could be awhile before anyone got to you. Remember wind is
>> weather- especially when trying to fly a mtn. pass w low ceilings...
>

[W P Dixon]

Hey Gig,
Funny since I can see the welcome to Virginia sign from my house, but it
takes less time to drive to Ohio than it does to Alexandria, VA! I have been
waiting for this group to get some airplanes! Glad to see they finally got
one. I'll email them and see what all is going on. Thanks for the tip!

Patrick
student SP
aircraft structural mech

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wr.giacona@coxDOTnet> wrote in message
news:FYR2f.24738$b65.8349@okepread01...
> Patrick,
>
> How far are you from Alexandria VA?
>
> These guys...
>
> www.maspl.com
>
> Have recently received the first SLSA Zenith 601XL.
>
>
>
>
> "W P Dixon" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I had heard that Lee County Airport was being closed ? Also that any pilot
>>taking off in their plane had to take it somewhere else? Can you give me
>>the real scoop on what is going on there? Any "sport planes" to rent over
>>your way? ;)
>>
>> Patrick
>> student SP
>> aircraft structural mech
>>
>> "Robet Coffey" > wrote in message
>> news:pWO2f.31816$q81.28143@trnddc06...
>>>>
>>> You can go up the french broad river avl to newport tn, greenvlle then
>>> to lex. I am based out of Lee Co. Va. 0vg and have flown this route
>>> several times. If it's windy..forget it, you do not want to be in
>>> there.. i always think back to something Evelyn "mamma bird" Johnson in
>>> morristown KMOR told a friend of mine. "Never fly over the Smokies, they
>>> are too easy to fly around." Not that I have always heeded that advice,
>>> but you can shoot to kmnn? mcminn co. and through cumberland gap if you
>>> need to. When i do fly that area "avl to Greenville" I take a survival
>>> blanket, water, and my bear pistol. There is a stretch if you had to put
>>> the plane down it could be awhile before anyone got to you. Remember
>>> wind is weather- especially when trying to fly a mtn. pass w low
>>> ceilings...
>>
>
>

[Tamara Whitman]

Eric Bartsch wrote:

> I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
> weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
> mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
> mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
> the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
> entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.
>
> I'd like to have as much altitude between me and the ground as
> possible, but since the plane is VFR only, I can't really plan on
> climbing to 10,000 feet and crossing over (the weather will be a big
> factor there)
>
> Does anyone have experience with routes in this area?

KEXX is a great field with friendly folks. No need to go all the way out
by Asheville to get there from Charlotte unless you're sightseeing or want
to get some mountain experience. Asheville will be very pretty for the
next week or two, by the way.

Since you're VFR, just follow I-85 out to Lexington. You'll see the
airport where US 52 and I-85 diverge. Can't miss it.

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN]

Tamara Whitman wrote:
>> I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
>> weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
>> mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
>> mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
>> the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
>> entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.
>
> KEXX is a great field with friendly folks. No need to go all the way out
> by Asheville to get there from Charlotte unless you're sightseeing or want
> to get some mountain experience. Asheville will be very pretty for the
> next week or two, by the way.
>
> Since you're VFR, just follow I-85 out to Lexington. You'll see the
> airport where US 52 and I-85 diverge. Can't miss it.


Unless he's talking about Lexington, TN (M52)... half way between Nashville and
Memphis along I-40.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

[Robet Coffey]

The old kptg in pennington gap closed and will be up for auction soon.
the new 0vg is open 5000', 10 t-hangers, taxiways, and no facilities
except a porta potty. There are X X on the runway @ kptg, the pilots
based there before 0vg opened have permission from the county to
take-off but not to land at the closed airport. I think all have ferried
over to 0vg now.
A nice fellow from tri-cities gave me a ride in a glassair 1ft. None for
rent that i know of.
W P Dixon wrote:
> I had heard that Lee County Airport was being closed ? Also that any
> pilot taking off in their plane had to take it somewhere else? Can you
> give me the real scoop on what is going on there? Any "sport planes" to
> rent over your way? ;)
>
> Patrick
> student SP
> aircraft structural mech
>
> "Robet Coffey" > wrote in message
> news:pWO2f.31816$q81.28143@trnddc06...
>
>>>
>> You can go up the french broad river avl to newport tn, greenvlle then
>> to lex. I am based out of Lee Co. Va. 0vg and have flown this route
>> several times. If it's windy..forget it, you do not want to be in
>> there.. i always think back to something Evelyn "mamma bird" Johnson
>> in morristown KMOR told a friend of mine. "Never fly over the Smokies,
>> they are too easy to fly around." Not that I have always heeded that
>> advice, but you can shoot to kmnn? mcminn co. and through cumberland
>> gap if you need to. When i do fly that area "avl to Greenville" I take
>> a survival blanket, water, and my bear pistol. There is a stretch if
>> you had to put the plane down it could be awhile before anyone got to
>> you. Remember wind is weather- especially when trying to fly a mtn.
>> pass w low ceilings...
>
>

[Eric Bartsch]

I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.

The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
Greeneville through the river valley.

Eric

[Morgans]

"Eric Bartsch" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
> Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
> You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
> since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.
>
> The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
> Greeneville through the river valley.

If you are going I Follow Roads, you could go up I-77, all the way. It is
the most direct route by car, but I do not know the elevations of the
passes, going that way.
--
Jim in NC

[W P Dixon]

He won't make it to Lexington by following I-77 ;) I-75 would take him to
Lexington if he flew over to the Knoxville area and followed it north.
Have a good trip Eric and say hello to ManOWar Blvd for me,...such a
cool name for a street. Named after the race horse..of course of course! ;)

Patrick
student SP
aircraft structural mech

"Morgans" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Eric Bartsch" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
>> Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
>> You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
>> since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.
>>
>> The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
>> Greeneville through the river valley.
>
> If you are going I Follow Roads, you could go up I-77, all the way. It is
> the most direct route by car, but I do not know the elevations of the
> passes, going that way.
> --
> Jim in NC
>

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN]

Eric Bartsch wrote:
> I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
> Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
> You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
> since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.
>
> The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
> Greeneville through the river valley.


Alright... I finally pulled out the charts and had a look. Charlotte V259
(through Hickory) to HMV (Holston Mountain). Then V53 through Hazard, KY (AZQ)
the rest of the way to Lexington. I don't think there's a minimum enroute
altitude over 7500 feet.... easily done in a C-172. Just pick a decent VFR day
to go.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN