Flying weather in New York in March

[Danny Deger]

I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.

I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
the NE USA?

Danny Deger

[Peter R.]

On 3/1/2007 2:47:19 PM, "Danny Deger" wrote:

> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
> two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
> the NE USA?

There are some pretty days and there are some very nasty days in the
northeast US in March. It is still snowstorm season, so you cannot rule out a
monster there. Also, icing remains a big concern in the clouds, since the
freezing levels are still quite low.

In my opinion I wouldn't cancel any plans just yet. Heck, last year it became
spring in March. You just never know.

--
Peter

[Dan Luke]

"Danny Deger" wrote:

>I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>
> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
> two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
> the NE USA?

How much time do you have available to make the flight?

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, "Danny Deger" > said:
>I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>
>I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
>two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
>the NE USA?

It depends a lot where you are in New York. Here in Rochester, you'll
still need to sit out some days because of lake effect snow.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://blog.xcski.com/
When I hear the history of some of the more ugly European cities, with
"... destroyed in 14xx, burnt in 16xx ..." I get the urge to ask why
they keep rebuilding it and if they can't get the hint.

[Danny Deger]

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Danny Deger" wrote:
>
>>I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>>
>> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is
>> this two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt
>> airplane in the NE USA?
>
> How much time do you have available to make the flight?
>

I am retired, so time is OK. I am thinking of a week which will give me
about 4 weather days. It should take 3 days of flying.

Danny Deger

[Dan Luke]

"Danny Deger" wrote:

>>> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
>>> two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
>>> the NE USA?
>>
>> How much time do you have available to make the flight?
>>
>
> I am retired, so time is OK. I am thinking of a week which will give me
> about 4 weather days. It should take 3 days of flying.

Should be doable.

Be sure to take something to read while you're sitting around in FBOs.
Trade-a-
Plane gets old real quick, and you don't need it anymore!

Where are you based in Houston?

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN[_2_]]

Danny Deger wrote:
> I am retired, so time is OK. I am thinking of a week which will give me
> about 4 weather days. It should take 3 days of flying.


I am reminded of a trip back when I was a brand new pilot (around 100 hours or
so). I was coming from Panama City, FL heading back to Rock Hill, SC in a
Cherokee Six with a few of my friends, VFR only. Unfortunately the weather
didn't cooperate, but we really needed to get back. I kept getting lower and
lower, trying to keep the ground in sight. Finally I gave up and landed in
Dublin, GA.

When I landed, I met a fellow who was an airline pilot by day who was trying to
bring a C-120 hone thqat he'd just bought down in Texas. He was headed to New
York. Anyway, he had the same problem we did as the airplane barely had any
kind of panel. He told me he'd finally landed on a road and stopped to ask
someone if he could use their phone.

"Don't have a phone", the man said, "the closest phone is at the airport...
about a mile down the road."

He took off again and landed at Dublin. And I thought I'd had an interesting
flight...



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Danny Deger" > wrote

> I am retired, so time is OK. I am thinking of a week which will give me
> about 4 weather days. It should take 3 days of flying.

The weather patterns have moved rather slowly this spring, and have been
rather mild, so if you wait until you get a favorable weather pattern, then
jump on it, you just might be OK.
--
Jim in NC

[gpsman]

On Mar 1, 2:47 pm, "Danny Deger" > wrote:
> I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>
> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
> two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
> the NE USA?

How far is it from NY two Houston...?
-----

- gpsman

[Danny Deger]

"Dan Luke" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Danny Deger" wrote:
>
>>>> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is
>>>> this two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt
>>>> airplane in the NE USA?
>>>
>>> How much time do you have available to make the flight?
>>>
>>
>> I am retired, so time is OK. I am thinking of a week which will give me
>> about 4 weather days. It should take 3 days of flying.
>
> Should be doable.
>
> Be sure to take something to read while you're sitting around in FBOs.
> Trade-a-
> Plane gets old real quick, and you don't need it anymore!
>
> Where are you based in Houston?
>

I am based in Pearland Region. a.k.a Clover Field.

Danny Deger
> --
> Dan
> C172RG at BFM
>

[Peter R.]

On 3/1/2007 10:44:49 PM, "Morgans" wrote:

> The weather patterns have moved rather slowly this spring,

Spring? Stated like a true southerner. :) Spring (as in weather, not
calendar) is still almost two months away for those of us flying out of a
northeastern US airport.

--
Peter

[Marco Leon[_3_]]

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" <mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com> wrote in message
...
> "Don't have a phone", the man said, "the closest phone is at the
> airport... about a mile down the road."
>
> He took off again and landed at Dublin. And I thought I'd had an
> interesting flight...

I wonder how low the ceiling was. Taxiing to the airport may have been
safer!

Marco

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Peter R." > wrote in message
...
> On 3/1/2007 10:44:49 PM, "Morgans" wrote:
>
>> The weather patterns have moved rather slowly this spring,
>
> Spring? Stated like a true southerner. :) Spring (as in weather, not
> calendar) is still almost two months away for those of us flying out of a
> northeastern US airport.

<chuckle> True.

OK, second half of the winter, then. I guess I am just looking forward to
spring!

When you have massive outbreaks of tornadoes, it sure does sound more like
spring, than winter, down south.
--
Jim in NC

[M[_1_]]

Before you start planning your route for such a long flight, get a
software that can draw a great circle route between New York and
Houston. You might be surprised that the route isn't exactly what you
had in mind.

There're many times I read stories about people flying their plane
from NY to bay area, California. Their first leg almost always heads
somewhere southwest, because they think San Francisco southwest of NY
so they head southwest to start the trip. Well, the great circle
route from NY to SF starts heading somewhat *northwest* for the first
hundreds of miles, and that route takes almost directly over Cheyenne,
a great route through the Rockies.

When I flew from Seattle to upstate NY last summer, I was surprised
how north my route had to be in order to be close to the great circle
route. I was within 60 miles of Canadian border for the first 800
miles.

If you're an AOPA member, you can download their free flight planner
that can draw great circle routes.


On Mar 1, 11:47 am, "Danny Deger" > wrote:
> I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>
> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
> two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
> the NE USA?
>
> Danny Deger

[Dan Luke]

"M" wrote:

> Before you start planning your route for such a long flight, get a
> software that can draw a great circle route between New York and
> Houston. You might be surprised that the route isn't exactly what you
> had in mind.
>
> There're many times I read stories about people flying their plane
> from NY to bay area, California. Their first leg almost always heads
> somewhere southwest, because they think San Francisco southwest of NY
> so they head southwest to start the trip. Well, the great circle
> route from NY to SF starts heading somewhat *northwest* for the first
> hundreds of miles,

Wow: initial on-course heading from JFK to SFO is 296.

[Matt Whiting]

M wrote:

> Before you start planning your route for such a long flight, get a
> software that can draw a great circle route between New York and
> Houston. You might be surprised that the route isn't exactly what you
> had in mind.
>
> There're many times I read stories about people flying their plane
> from NY to bay area, California. Their first leg almost always heads
> somewhere southwest, because they think San Francisco southwest of NY
> so they head southwest to start the trip. Well, the great circle
> route from NY to SF starts heading somewhat *northwest* for the first
> hundreds of miles, and that route takes almost directly over Cheyenne,
> a great route through the Rockies.
>
> When I flew from Seattle to upstate NY last summer, I was surprised
> how north my route had to be in order to be close to the great circle
> route. I was within 60 miles of Canadian border for the first 800
> miles.
>
> If you're an AOPA member, you can download their free flight planner
> that can draw great circle routes.

Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.

Matt

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Matt Whiting" > wrote

> Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.

Or to get a real visual hands on feel for it...

A globe and a string! <g>

[Matt Whiting]

Morgans wrote:

> "Matt Whiting" > wrote
>
>
>>Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.
>
>
> Or to get a real visual hands on feel for it...
>
> A globe and a string! <g>
>
>

True, but it isn't as easy as you think trying to get a string to wrap
around a globe in a great circle route. Once the middle of the string
contacts the globe with the ends still in the air, it is hard to wrap it
straight down to your route end points without straying a little off of
the great circle route. I've actually done this before and if the end
points are very far apart, it is easy to be a 50 or more miles off of
great circle in the middle of the route. It is a fun exercise though
to, as you say, get a feel for what a great circle route is.

Matt

[virtuPIC]

> > Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.
>
> Or to get a real visual hands on feel for it...
>
> A globe and a string! <g>

Don't forget lubrication. Or use a virtual string on a net globe:
http://www.airspace-v.com/apt/kjfk glues one end to your departure.
And it also gives weather info!

virtuPIC

--
Airspace v - international hangar flying
http://www.airspaec-v.com

[Jon Woellhaf]

Dan Luke wrote
> Wow: initial on-course heading from JFK to SFO is 296.

What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
wind correction)?

[M[_1_]]

On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:
>
> What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
> wind correction)?

Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.

Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
simulation using the brute force method.

[Tony Cox]

"M" > wrote in message news:
. com...
> On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:
> >
> > What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
> > wind correction)?
>
> Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
> route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.
>
> Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
> east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
> formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
> simulation using the brute force method.

This is a very complex mathematical problem, but it could be
solved analytically if a precise description of the earth's magnetic
field were available. To see how involved it gets, look up "affine
connections" in Wikipedia, but that's just the theory!

A numeric solution by successive approximation would yield
an approximate answer. One would calculate an approximation
to the magnetic field using the dashed magnetic variation lines
on the various sectionals & then extrapolate using (say) one-mile
path lengths. Vary the initial magnetic heading from JFK using
Newton's method until you hit SFO with the desired accuracy.

Well, that's what I'd do were I at all interested..!

[Christopher Brian Colohan]

"Peter R." > writes:
> On 3/1/2007 10:44:49 PM, "Morgans" wrote:
>
> > The weather patterns have moved rather slowly this spring,
>
> Spring? Stated like a true southerner. :) Spring (as in weather, not
> calendar) is still almost two months away for those of us flying out of a
> northeastern US airport.

We got a nice taste yesterday. 60 degrees, perfectly smooth air and
high ceilings up here in Boston yesterday...

Chris

[Jon Woellhaf]

It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.

"M" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:
>>
>> What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
>> wind correction)?
>
> Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
> route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.
>
> Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
> east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
> formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
> simulation using the brute force method.
>

[B A R R Y]

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:47:17 -0600, "Danny Deger"
> wrote:

>I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>
>I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
>two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
>the NE USA?

My co-owner flew a Sundowner from Connecticut to Dallas (and back a
week later) in March. He spent the night in the Nashville area. He
didn't have an instrument rating at the time, and your plane isn't an
IFR plane, so you're even. <G>

If you have some time, it can be done.

[Judah]

"Jon Woellhaf" > wrote in
:

> It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.
>
> "M" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:
>>>
>>> What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
>>> wind correction)?

Actually, I believe there are many right answers, but it largely depends on
how many laps one is willing to make around the globe before finally reaching
SFO...

[Tony]

Danny, you wrote this question like someone from Texas! There's a lot
of real estate in NY. If you're going to Buffalo, I think chances are
not as good as if you're doing your pick up on say Long Island.

On Mar 1, 2:47 pm, "Danny Deger" > wrote:
> I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.
>
> I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
> two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
> the NE USA?
>
> Danny Deger

[Tony]

If you wanted an approximation, start with a guess. look 50 miles
along that course line, note the deviation and variation at that point
and use it to calculate where you'd be for a 100 mile flight. Repeat
from that point about 30 times until you are abeam SFO. Now, since
that's about a 3000 mile trip, adjust your initial guess by 1 degree
for every 50 miles you're off, then try again. We used to call that
approach a numerical solution, or brute strength calculation, it
probably has a sexier name now.

There's a neat implication here. If you want to arrive within say 10
miles of your target after holding constant heading for 3000, your
heading has to really really be constant -- like to the tune of arc
tan (10/3000) or 0.2 degrees. That's a really tight tolerance to hold
on average.

Remember Linburgh arriving over Ireland within a few miles of where he
intended, after crossing the ocean? Lucky Lindy indeed!



going On Mar 4, 1:00 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" >
wrote:
> It's not really a trick question, but I think it's a difficult one.
>
> "M" > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Mar 3, 3:18 pm, "Jon Woellhaf" > wrote:
>
> >> What fixed compass heading would hold to fly from JFK to SFO (assuming no
> >> wind correction)?
>
> > Is it a trick math question? It's certain won't be the great circle
> > route, which has a continuous changing magnetic heading to hold.
>
> > Given the difference of magnetic variation between west coast and the
> > east coast, I'm not certain this can be calculated using a math
> > formula. Such a magnetic heading can be deduced by a computer
> > simulation using the brute force method.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Peter R.]

On 3/4/2007 10:16:36 AM, Christopher Brian Colohan wrote:

> We got a nice taste yesterday. 60 degrees, perfectly smooth air and
> high ceilings up here in Boston yesterday...

Not sure if you are going to be receiving it this week in Boston, but
forecasts for central NY are calling for 4 degrees F for a high Tuesday,
followed the next day by 19 F, and then 12 F. We are not out of the woods
just yet.. :)

--
Peter