Flight Planning PYM to DEN

[William Snow]

I am in the process of planning a flight from Plymouth, MA PYM to Front
Range Airport in CO, starting 12/21/2005 in an Arrow. (Yes Jay I am planning
to stop in Iowa City to see you.).
Does anyone know of a long range planning weather source?
Thanks
Bill Snow CP, IA, ASEL

[Ron Lee]

You can get 10 day forecasts from www.weather.com but that is hardly
useful for planning a flight. I live south of FTG and I don't make
flight decisions until that morning.

Just weeks ago I made a decision to do a short local flight close to
the airport because of concerning clouds to the north. Five minute
drive to the airport, opened the hangar door, pulled the plane out and
looked again to the north. Did not like what I saw so put the plane
back in. Home five minutes later and it was snowing. Not sure if it
was predicted.

If you are not familiar with high altitude flight, read up on it.
Leaning the engine during the runup process is always done by me. Plus
use your airspeed during landing and take-off. Actual ground speed
will be higher than you are used to so don't let groundspeed
perceptions determine flare and rotation points.

FTG does have a tower now so make sure that you have that frequency.

Red Oak IA typically has cheap fuel.

The visibility out here should please you.

Ron Lee




"William Snow" > wrote:

>I am in the process of planning a flight from Plymouth, MA PYM to Front
>Range Airport in CO, starting 12/21/2005 in an Arrow. (Yes Jay I am planning
>to stop in Iowa City to see you.).
>Does anyone know of a long range planning weather source?
>Thanks
>Bill Snow CP, IA, ASEL
>
>

[William Snow]

Thanks for the tips Ron. I just bought one of those Anywheremap systems.
We'll see how they work. Also, I would like to get the airplane inside
during our stay so that it is warm and ready to depart on the
27th. Any recommendations for an FBO at FTG?
Thanks
Bill Snow

[Paul kgyy]

AOPA has some general long-range predictions.

This one isn't very long range, but longer than a TAF:
http://usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?sta=KGYY&model=avn&state=IN&Submit=Get+Forecast

Midwest weather is notoriously unpredictable beyond 2 days.

[Ron Lee]

Check this link for the FBO (at the bottom):

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KFTG

Also note that you are under Class B at pattern altitude and would
enter Class B just to the west or north of the east-west runway. Be
careful about that.

Ron Lee


"William Snow" > wrote:

>Thanks for the tips Ron. I just bought one of those Anywheremap systems.
>We'll see how they work. Also, I would like to get the airplane inside
>during our stay so that it is warm and ready to depart on the
>27th. Any recommendations for an FBO at FTG?
>Thanks
> Bill Snow
>
>

[Ron Lee]

You can also do the last part of the trip IFR (Interstate 70)

Ron Lee

[Jay Honeck]

> I am in the process of planning a flight from Plymouth, MA PYM to Front
> Range Airport in CO, starting 12/21/2005 in an Arrow. (Yes Jay I am planning
> to stop in Iowa City to see you.).

Reservations are always a good idea. (Don't worry -- we'll let you off
the hook if conditions fall below 1000' and 3 miles...! :-) Go here:
www.AlexisParkInn.com/reservations.htm

> Does anyone know of a long range planning weather source?

Sure, you've got ADDS, The Weather Channel, NWS, and our local TV
stations. Oh, wait, did you say you wanted *accuracy*? Sorry, no such
thing!

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

[Blanche]

In article >, Ron Lee <none> wrote:
>If you are not familiar with high altitude flight, read up on it.
>Leaning the engine during the runup process is always done by me. Plus
>use your airspeed during landing and take-off. Actual ground speed
>will be higher than you are used to so don't let groundspeed
>perceptions determine flare and rotation points.
>
>FTG does have a tower now so make sure that you have that frequency.

Ah yes, high-altitude flying. Ron & I are do used to it that
it's instinctive. But on the plus side for you, from IOW to FTG it's
pretty much flat land, with an airport no more than 20 min. from
anywhere. Mountains, on the other hand, are a different matter.

Please promise you're NOT going to try to fly to Steamboat...

blanche

[Blanche]

With the tower, there's not much worry about Class B during office
hours. They'll keep you away from the north side (class B surface is
about 1.5 miles north of the 8-26 runway). If you're IFR you'll come
in on either 35 or 26 (ILS & GPS on both). If the winds are
horrendous, then you get 17.

As a rule, 8 and 35 are right traffic unless the tower says otherwise.
I've noticed lately that they'll often put the T&G students on 17/35
and put the rest of us on 8 with left traffic to avoid confusion. I
had to confirm left traffic last week -- I just didn't believe it!
And yes, they promised to keep me out of Class B.

When the tower is open, airspace is surface to 8000 MSL, otherwise
it's surface to 7000 MSL under Class B.

AWOS 119.025
Tower 120.20
Ground 124.7 yes, we know this is wierd.
FBO 123.0 (and also the Erie freq)

I live at FTG (well, the cherokee lives there) so let me know if
I can help.

blanche

[Blanche]

In article >, Ron Lee <none> wrote:
>You can also do the last part of the trip IFR (Interstate 70)
>
>Ron Lee

Remember to turn north BEFORE the set of golf balls (Buckley AFB)
and BEFORE Denver International (DIA/DEN) or you may have an
unpleasant view of a B757.

[William Snow]

I may make your place on the 22nd, latest will be the 23rd.
I will sleep under the wing if we have to.. ;-)
Bill Snow
N5381F

[Ron Lee]

Blanche > wrote:

>With the tower, there's not much worry about Class B during office
>hours. They'll keep you away from the north side (class B surface is
>about 1.5 miles north of the 8-26 runway).

Yet when I was there last weekend someone strayed into Class B
airspace. The tower mentioned it to the pilot and I think his
response was "I guess I better get out of here." A pilot new to the
area should be aware of the airspace layout regardless of the tower.

Ron "I fly over the Class B" Lee

[Ron Lee]

>Ah yes, high-altitude flying. Ron & I are do used to it that
>it's instinctive. But on the plus side for you, from IOW to FTG it's
>pretty much flat land, with an airport no more than 20 min. from
>anywhere. Mountains, on the other hand, are a different matter.
>
>Please promise you're NOT going to try to fly to Steamboat...
>
>blanche

Maybe we should take him to Leadville to get his certificate.

Ron "Who needs O2 at 12,500' ?" Lee

[Ron Lee]

Bill, have you ever thought of going to Leadville CO

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLXV

What kind of plane do you have....horsepower....prop?

What kind of climb rate and expected takeoff/landing distance do you
have at 9000 to 10,000' density altitude?

Do you have time in an RV-6A?

Ron Lee

[Blanche]

In article >, Ron Lee <none> wrote:
>>Ah yes, high-altitude flying. Ron & I are do used to it that
>>it's instinctive. But on the plus side for you, from IOW to FTG it's
>>pretty much flat land, with an airport no more than 20 min. from
>>anywhere. Mountains, on the other hand, are a different matter.
>>
>>Please promise you're NOT going to try to fly to Steamboat...


>Maybe we should take him to Leadville to get his certificate.
>
>Ron "Who needs O2 at 12,500' ?" Lee

Oh you are *so* evil! Winds aren't bad now. But over the past week
we've had hurricane Level 2 winds (100+ mph).

[Blanche]

In article >, Ron Lee <none> wrote:
>Bill, have you ever thought of going to Leadville CO
>
>http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLXV
>
>What kind of plane do you have....horsepower....prop?
>What kind of climb rate and expected takeoff/landing distance do you
>have at 9000 to 10,000' density altitude?
>
>Do you have time in an RV-6A?
>
>Ron Lee

IIRC he's in an arrow. If I can make it to Leadville in the cherokee 180,
Bill can make it with either a mountain CFI (Jer, Mark, anyone around?)
or with you. Last time I went up was in May.

[Matt Barrow]

"Blanche" > wrote in message
...
> I live at FTG (well, the cherokee lives there) so let me know if
> I can help.
>
Glad you clarified that:

Al Sleet (The hippy-dippy weatherman): It's 72 degrees at the
airport...which is stupid because I don't know anyone that lives at the
airport.

[Ron Lee]

Blanche > wrote:

>>Maybe we should take him to Leadville to get his certificate.
>>
>>Ron "Who needs O2 at 12,500' ?" Lee
>
>Oh you are *so* evil! Winds aren't bad now. But over the past week
>we've had hurricane Level 2 winds (100+ mph).

If you mean that speed at ridge level you won't find me flying to
Leadville. Can you say rotors?

Ron Lee

[William Snow]

OK Guys and Gals......the airplane is an Arrow, non-turbo. Leadville is
out.........I am a flatlander and mountain flying is a requirement in my
book before a trip to Leadville, or Aspen or Vail or Steamboat. I am such a
fuddy dud I know...maybe I can get some time to get a mountain flying
lesson. I am doing my CFI now and who knows, one day I may relocate to CO
and do some mountain stuff.

Thank you all for the input it has been invaluable.

Bill Snow

[William L.Snow, PE]

I may need to get a lesson. I will actually be staying very near Glenwood
Springs Airport.


"William Snow" > wrote in message
...
> OK Guys and Gals......the airplane is an Arrow, non-turbo. Leadville is
> out.........I am a flatlander and mountain flying is a requirement in my
> book before a trip to Leadville, or Aspen or Vail or Steamboat. I am such
> a fuddy dud I know...maybe I can get some time to get a mountain flying
> lesson. I am doing my CFI now and who knows, one day I may relocate to CO
> and do some mountain stuff.
>
> Thank you all for the input it has been invaluable.
>
> Bill Snow
>

[Blanche]

Bill:

Glenwood Springs is a good 4-5 hour drive from Denver, weather and
roads permitting. If you're getting a rent car, make SURE it's
got an ice scraper & snow brush.

You may want to consider the train...I'll volunteer to pick up
up at FTG and drive you to the train station.

[William L.Snow, PE]

Blanche
How long is the train ride??
Bill Snow

"Blanche" > wrote in message
...
> Bill:
>
> Glenwood Springs is a good 4-5 hour drive from Denver, weather and
> roads permitting. If you're getting a rent car, make SURE it's
> got an ice scraper & snow brush.
>
> You may want to consider the train...I'll volunteer to pick up
> up at FTG and drive you to the train station.
>

[[email protected]]

Blanche > wrote:
> IIRC he's in an arrow. If I can make it to Leadville in the cherokee 180,
> Bill can make it with either a mountain CFI (Jer, Mark, anyone around?)
> or with you. Last time I went up was in May.

Jer/ here. Yes, I'm available for an Arrow trip into LXV... pending
winds and weather. I used to own a 1971 Arrow.

Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction/mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer<at>frii.com http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot BM218 HAM N0FZD 235 Young Eagles!