First Long Cross-Country as a Pilot -- Any tips?

[JDK]

Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a pilot.
Traveling up to see family for Memorial Day weekend (and hoping the
weather holds out on Friday).

Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
injected C172 after getting my license.

Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?

Thanks!

JDK

[Gig 601XL Builder]

JDK wrote:
> Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a pilot.
> Traveling up to see family for Memorial Day weekend (and hoping the
> weather holds out on Friday).
>
> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
> injected C172 after getting my license.
>
> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?
>
> Thanks!
>
> JDK

Cough medicine is a parents best friend. :)

[Mxsmanic]

Gig 601XL Builder writes:

> Cough medicine is a parents best friend.

Cough medicine and aviation are a dangerous mix.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Bob Fry]

>>>>> "JDK" == JDK > writes:

JDK> Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a
JDK> pilot.

What's "long"?

1. Bring a credit card with a high limit.
2. Bring a large bag of patience to wait out poor weather, mechanical
problems, etc.
3. Bring a GPS.

That's really all you need.

--
"Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere!"
--President Bush, joking about his administration's failure to find
WMDs in Iraq as he narrated a comic slideshow during the Radio & TV
Correspondents' Association dinner, March 25, 2004

[Peter R.]

On 5/23/2007 11:57:07 AM, JDK wrote:

> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?

How about one of those portable DVD players for your two year-old? Target and
WalMart sell them for US$100 or less. If you are flying a newer model C172
the audio panel should have an auxiliary input that will take the audio cable
from the unit.

Airnav for fuel price planning, if you haven't already.

A Tropicana 96 ounce orange juice container works very well as a porta-potty
while in the air, assuming you are carrying only family. Wife adaptor
required, however, and a plastic funnel works well at that.

Be alert for the symptoms of get-there-itis.

--
Peter

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, JDK > said:
>Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
>Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?

Fly high. Nothing ruins the flight for non-pilots more than bouncing
around in the bumps at 2,000 AGL. I like 8-10K because there are so few
other planes up there.

Also, plan your descent so you aren't dropping in like a stone.

--
Paul Tomblin > http://blog.xcski.com/
Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of
tapes hurtling down the highway.
-- Andrew Tannenbaum possibly quoting Warren Jackson

[Maxwell]

"Mxsmanic" > wrote in message
...
> Gig 601XL Builder writes:
>
>> Cough medicine is a parents best friend.
>
> Cough medicine and aviation are a dangerous mix.
>

Pricelessly clueless!!!!!!

[Chris G.]

If you can, take your 2 y/o flying now and get them used to it. I got
my son flying at 18 mos. and he loves it now (2-1/2). Another thing I
would recommend is getting him/her a set of headphones. I got the ones
with one cup red and one cup blue (forget the brand), but they work nice.

Give you kid sudafed before you fly. Also, try to schedule the flight
close to a naptime. My kid sleeps very soundly in the back seat. On
our last flight, when I had him sitting up front with me, he fell asleep
there, too. Again, did I mention a headset for him?

When flying with my son, I do have to occasionally unplug his mic (but
not the headphones!) so I can do my flying and talk to ATC.

I disagree with the DVD player, but do suggest some books, small toys,
and a cup/bottle with his/her favorite drink. Your child will get
thirsty. I strapped in the carseat into the back seat of a Cherokee and
the back and front seats of a 172. It takes some creativity sometimes,
but can be done.

I can also email you off-ng if you want. Send me an email
flying
&at&
k7sle -dot- com

Good luck!!!!!!

Chris G., PP-ASEL
Father of 2 cute kids who like planes
Salem, Oregon

JDK wrote:
> Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a pilot.
> Traveling up to see family for Memorial Day weekend (and hoping the
> weather holds out on Friday).
>
> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
> injected C172 after getting my license.
>
> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?
>
> Thanks!
>
> JDK
>

[Erik]

Mxsmanic wrote:
> Gig 601XL Builder writes:
>
>
>>Cough medicine is a parents best friend.
>
>
> Cough medicine and aviation are a dangerous mix.
>

haha, I try to give you slack, but then something like this.

Cough medicine for the kid.

Mom used to mix a little sloe gin with our milk when I was
a kid. Worked like a charm.

[Mxsmanic]

Erik writes:

> haha, I try to give you slack, but then something like this.
>
> Cough medicine for the kid.
>
> Mom used to mix a little sloe gin with our milk when I was
> a kid. Worked like a charm.

Were you in an airplane?

Cough medicines generally suppress respiration and mask the symptoms of
hypoxia, as well as increasing susceptibility to hypoxia a great deal.
Combine that with alcochol and the risks are even greater.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Erik]

Mxsmanic wrote:

> Erik writes:
>
>
>>haha, I try to give you slack, but then something like this.
>>
>>Cough medicine for the kid.
>>
>>Mom used to mix a little sloe gin with our milk when I was
>>a kid. Worked like a charm.
>
>
> Were you in an airplane?
>
> Cough medicines generally suppress respiration and mask the symptoms of
> hypoxia, as well as increasing susceptibility to hypoxia a great deal.
> Combine that with alcochol and the risks are even greater.
>

Don't make me sorry that I called Bertie a troll.

[Matt Whiting]

JDK wrote:
> Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a pilot.
> Traveling up to see family for Memorial Day weekend (and hoping the
> weather holds out on Friday).
>
> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
> injected C172 after getting my license.
>
> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?

Just plan the flight as normal. A long cross-county is no harder than a
short one. Just keep an eye on the weather.

As for the 2 year-old, mine were always asleep before I reached pattern
altitude. :-)

Matt

[Morgans[_2_]]

"JDK" > wrote in message

> Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a pilot.
> Traveling up to see family for Memorial Day weekend (and hoping the
> weather holds out on Friday).
>
> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
> injected C172 after getting my license.
>
> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?

If you can not deal with the problems with distractions, like games,
entertainment (DVDs and music) and such, then Dramamine in the correct dose
for the body weight of your child is a perfectly safe and moral way to go.
Not only will the possibility of motion sickness be reduced, but the
tendency of getting sleepy while on the medication will most likely mean the
child will sleep most of the trip away.

Another medication that will cause drowsiness and sleep is benadryl. (the
anti itch and allergy medicine)

My brother always planned travel in the wee hours of the late night and
early morning when his kids were small, so they would naturally sleep the
time away. The funny part is, now that they are grown, he finds he still
prefers that time to travel. <g>

That is with ground transportation, so you would need to consider your
equipment, experience level and terrain you would be overflying, to decide
if that is an option even worth considering.
--
Jim in NC

[Steve Foley[_2_]]

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net> wrote in message
...

>
> Cough medicine is a parents best friend. :)
>

Dimetap Elixer works great too :)

[john smith[_2_]]

In article om>,
JDK > wrote:

> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
> injected C172 after getting my license.
> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?

How many hours do you have in the injected 172?
Go to AvWeb and read John Deakin's Pelican's Perch columns on leaning
for the best information on proper engine operation.

[Newps]

Erik wrote:


>
> Don't make me sorry that I called Bertie a troll.
>




You have got to be kidding. Did you just fall off the turnip truck?

[buttman]

On May 23, 8:39 pm, Newps > wrote:
> Erik wrote:
>
> > Don't make me sorry that I called Bertie a troll.
>
> You have got to be kidding. Did you just fall off the turnip truck?

you know what they say, "an enemy of my enemy is my friend"

[Bertie the Bunyip[_2_]]

Mxsmanic > wrote in
:

> Gig 601XL Builder writes:
>
>> Cough medicine is a parents best friend.
>
> Cough medicine and aviation are a dangerous mix.
>

You're an idiot.


Bertie

[Bertie the Bunyip[_2_]]

Mxsmanic > wrote in
:

> Erik writes:
>
>> haha, I try to give you slack, but then something like this.
>>
>> Cough medicine for the kid.
>>
>> Mom used to mix a little sloe gin with our milk when I was
>> a kid. Worked like a charm.
>
> Were you in an airplane?

Have you ever been in an airplane dikhed?


bertie

[Bertie the Bunyip[_2_]]

Erik > wrote in news:13595t1qgv7nt00
@corp.supernews.com:

> Mxsmanic wrote:
>
>> Erik writes:
>>
>>
>>>haha, I try to give you slack, but then something like this.
>>>
>>>Cough medicine for the kid.
>>>
>>>Mom used to mix a little sloe gin with our milk when I was
>>>a kid. Worked like a charm.
>>
>>
>> Were you in an airplane?
>>
>> Cough medicines generally suppress respiration and mask the symptoms
of
>> hypoxia, as well as increasing susceptibility to hypoxia a great
deal.
>> Combine that with alcochol and the risks are even greater.
>>
>
> Don't make me sorry that I called Bertie a troll.

Why would you be sorry? I'm a trol and proud of it.
As far as I know, the only troll to make it into two parliaments and a
Wikepedia.


Bertie

[Bertie the Bunyip[_2_]]

buttman > wrote in news:1179982879.342242.204240
@b40g2000prd.googlegroups.com:

> On May 23, 8:39 pm, Newps > wrote:
>> Erik wrote:
>>
>> > Don't make me sorry that I called Bertie a troll.
>>
>> You have got to be kidding. Did you just fall off the turnip truck?
>
> you know what they say, "an enemy of my enemy is my friend"
>

Yep, you would think that.


Bertie

[Bertie the Bunyip[_2_]]

Newps > wrote in news:Y-
:

>
>
> Erik wrote:
>
>
>>
>> Don't make me sorry that I called Bertie a troll.
>>
>
>
>
>
> You have got to be kidding. Did you just fall off the turnip truck?

Apparently.



Bertie

[Bertie the Bunyip[_2_]]

Nomen Nescio > wrote in
:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
> From: Mxsmanic >
>
>>> Cough medicine is a parents best friend.
>>
>>Cough medicine and aviation are a dangerous mix.
>
> Well, it's a good try at topping your previous "Most stupid
> MX quote". But I still think that "Flying has nothing to do with
> being in the air" is in first place.

Oh wow, I missed that one.

I think he should use that as his sig..

Bertie

[gatt]

"JDK" > wrote in message
ups.com...

> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
> injected C172 after getting my license.
>
> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?

Fly high and read up on the best mixture-leaning practice for that
powerplant. As for easing the flight, a handheld GPS is a great secondary
tool for double-checking your progress and calculations. Plus, it gives
your passenger something to play with.

> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?

Oh, man. Can't help you there! Too young for "Do you want to get out
and walk?!" to be effective.

-c

[Aluckyguess]

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net> wrote in message
...
> JDK wrote:
>> Alright, first long cross-country coming up for me as a pilot.
>> Traveling up to see family for Memorial Day weekend (and hoping the
>> weather holds out on Friday).
>>
>> Of note, I did my training in a (slow) C152, but moved up to a fuel-
>> injected C172 after getting my license.
>>
>> Any tips to ease the flight? Good tips for fuel consumption savings?
>> Tips for taming my 2-year old for the flight?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> JDK
>
> Cough medicine is a parents best friend. :)
I would never do this.
Your daughter will fall asleep from the hum of the engine. If its a little
bumby that the just seems to put them a sleep faster.
Plan the trip well and have fun.
>

>

[Mark T. Dame]

Chris G. wrote:
> If you can, take your 2 y/o flying now and get them used to it. I got
> my son flying at 18 mos. and he loves it now (2-1/2). Another thing I
> would recommend is getting him/her a set of headphones. I got the ones
> with one cup red and one cup blue (forget the brand), but they work nice.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/p51c_youth.php

I got my son the same set. They aren't super high performance, but they
work for a kid. If I recall correctly, the once I got had a 1/8" input
jack which let me connect the portable DVD player to his headset.


> Give you kid sudafed before you fly.

We did that once when my son was younger. It was a good thing too
because that flight had us bouncing around inside the clouds for the
first half hour. Since then, the bumps don't bother him and he
generally falls asleep without medication.


> When flying with my son, I do have to occasionally unplug his mic (but
> not the headphones!) so I can do my flying and talk to ATC.

Heh. BTDT.


> I disagree with the DVD player,

My son has gotten spoiled with the DVD player in the wife's minivan, so
it makes long trips easier for him. For short trips (< an hour) he's
fine, but beyond that he gets antsy.


-m
--
## Mark T. Dame >
## CP-ASEL, AGI
## <insert tail number here>
## KHAO, KISZ
"If you have to ask, you won't understand."

[Peter R.]

On 5/30/2007 3:50:58 PM, "Mark T. Dame" wrote:

> My son has gotten spoiled with the DVD player in the wife's minivan, so
> it makes long trips easier for him. For short trips (< an hour) he's
> fine, but beyond that he gets antsy.

Your son would not have liked our 1978 drive across the US vacation my
parents, brother, and I made in a cramped Mazda RX-3 wagon with nothing to do
but read books and play "Beetle" (a car spotting game that assigns points
based on various Voltswagon models) on long stretches of route 80 in the
Midwest and again across the state of Texas. :)

--
Peter

[Mark T. Dame]

Peter R. wrote:
> On 5/30/2007 3:50:58 PM, "Mark T. Dame" wrote:
>
>> My son has gotten spoiled with the DVD player in the wife's minivan, so
>> it makes long trips easier for him. For short trips (< an hour) he's
>> fine, but beyond that he gets antsy.
>
> Your son would not have liked our 1978 drive across the US vacation my
> parents, brother, and I made in a cramped Mazda RX-3 wagon with nothing to do
> but read books and play "Beetle" (a car spotting game that assigns points
> based on various Voltswagon models) on long stretches of route 80 in the
> Midwest and again across the state of Texas. :)

I often wonder how kids today can complain about being bored. I
remember many a family vacation in the old station wagon: no air
conditioning, nothing to do but stare out the window and make up silly
games (like "Beetle"). Once I was old enough to read, things got much
better.

Spoiled brats. (-:


-m
--
## Mark T. Dame >
## CP-ASEL, AGI
## <insert tail number here>
## KHAO, KISZ
"An important, but often overlooked, feature of running a computer
system is maintaining its security from outside intrusion, internal
sabotage, and just plain user stupidity."
-- Unix System Administration, Fiedler and Hunter

[Bob Fry]

>>>>> "MD" == Mark T Dame > writes:
MD> I often wonder how kids today can complain about being bored.

I think their minds are generally overstimulated (relative to what
they evolved for), so when they are in a car or other venue without
access to their usual external stimuli, they get "bored".
--
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing..if you can fake that,
you've got it made.
Groucho Marx

[Chris G.]

My mom, dad, and I traveled from Oregon to Michigan (and back) in the
mid 80's in a 1982 Mazda RX-7 with the optional back seat installed. I
was around 12 or so at the time and had to lean to the right most of the
time so I could fit!

Chris G.


Peter R. wrote:
> On 5/30/2007 3:50:58 PM, "Mark T. Dame" wrote:
>
>> My son has gotten spoiled with the DVD player in the wife's minivan, so
>> it makes long trips easier for him. For short trips (< an hour) he's
>> fine, but beyond that he gets antsy.
>
> Your son would not have liked our 1978 drive across the US vacation my
> parents, brother, and I made in a cramped Mazda RX-3 wagon with nothing to do
> but read books and play "Beetle" (a car spotting game that assigns points
> based on various Voltswagon models) on long stretches of route 80 in the
> Midwest and again across the state of Texas. :)
>