Planning a Trip Over The Rockies

vincent p. norris wrote in message . ..
Hello, everyone I am wanting to take a flight from "COE" Coeur D'Alene, ID
to "GTF" Great Falls, MT I was wanting to do this in my Cessna 150......

The advice that I've heard most often is, get some classes in mountain
flying. They should be able to teach you about things ranging from what
gear to carry to the types of planes & equipment to fly, to safely fit
your mission.

I think mountain flying classes are a great thing, but I think there's
a difference between "mountain flying" and "flying from point A to
point B near mountains".

That's good advice, but you can follow I-90 almost all the way, if I
recall correctly. And that's the prudent way to do it. You won't
have to get very high, you'll have the world's longest runway under
you if you have to land, and there will be civilization nearby if you
need help.

It's I-90 through Missoula to Helena I think, then I-15N, but that's
a nit. Yes, basically if one does this, you're "flying from point A
to point B along a valley near mountains" and the things one needs
to know decrease a bit. Get out the POH and do some careful study
of the rate of climb vs. altitude tables and takeoff/landing
distances.

As for the C150, the real question is what can THIS C150 do, and the
way to find out is take it out and see how high it will climb with
proper leaning
and attention to how Vy changes with altitude. Pay attention to the
roc you get at various altitudes and compare with book, compare the
service ceiling, and get a "feel" fo how it handles at higher
altitudes.

Avoid flying with winds aloft above 25-30 kts or so unless you're a
glider pilot or get mountain flying training, and try to fly
early in the am or late in the afternoon. Don't expect to get flight
following, file a VFR flight plan, and if you land to fuel somewhere
surrounded by mountains don't count on being able to open it in the
air.

If you plan to make side trips to this and that point of interest
or smaller airports tucked back in the mountains, then the "get
mountain
flying training" advice comes back to the fore, but we and other flat
land pilots who paid attention to DA and performance have managed to
do the "fly from A to B surrounded by mountains" thing without being
bitten.

Good luck and have fun,
Sydney

It's I-90 through Missoula to Helena I think, then I-15N, but that's
a nit.

Thanks for the nit!

What are the high altitudes on this route, and how narrow are the
passes? If I ever bring a Top Cub home, this will be my route.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
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Cub Driver wrote:

It's I-90 through Missoula to Helena I think, then I-15N, but that's
a nit.

Thanks for the nit!

What are the high altitudes on this route, and how narrow are the
passes? If I ever bring a Top Cub home, this will be my route.

all the best -- Dan Ford

Do you have sectionals for your route? The interstates are clearly
marked (altho at times you may need a magnifying glass to find the
"I-90" lettering) as are many (but not all) the passes.

Another source of info are the specific states' Dept. Of Transportation
Aviation Divisions. Many states offer "not-for-navigation" aviation-type
maps identifying best routes.

Cub Driver wrote in message . ..
It's I-90 through Missoula to Helena I think, then I-15N, but that's
a nit.

Thanks for the nit!

What are the high altitudes on this route, and how narrow are the
passes? If I ever bring a Top Cub home, this will be my route.

IIRC the highest pass is less than 6k, and if you can fly at
8 or 9k you'll be above most of the terrain flanking the valleys
so it's comfy for a flatlander.

I'm not the right person to ask about "narrow" because, being a
flatlander, I think it's "narrow" any time I'm flying along
with terrain on either side *g*. People who do mountain flying
tell me there's plenty of room.

At the recent AYA convention there was a chap who had flown a
Tripacer all over South America, including through a 12,000 ft
pass in the Andes. Service ceiling on his plane was 10k, they
circled for an hour and a half in a thermal until they got
the altitude they needed. Amazing story, wish I'd gotten to
hear more of it.

Cheers,
Sydney

"Snowbird" wrote in message
om...

I'm not the right person to ask about "narrow" because, being a
flatlander, I think it's "narrow" any time I'm flying along
with terrain on either side *g*. People who do mountain flying
tell me there's plenty of room.

Montana does not have narrow valleys. Idaho is the king of narrow, deep
valleys. Here in Montana the valleys can be 10-15 miles wide at the bottom.
Real mountain flying is when you are below the tops just puttin' along
looking at the scenery.



At the recent AYA convention there was a chap who had flown a
Tripacer all over South America, including through a 12,000 ft
pass in the Andes. Service ceiling on his plane was 10k, they
circled for an hour and a half in a thermal until they got
the altitude they needed. Amazing story, wish I'd gotten to
hear more of it.


Service ceiling is a gross weight number. Get under gross and many things
are possible.

"Newps" wrote in message ...

At the recent AYA convention there was a chap who had flown a
Tripacer all over South America, including through a 12,000 ft
pass in the Andes. Service ceiling on his plane was 10k, they
circled for an hour and a half in a thermal until they got
the altitude they needed. Amazing story, wish I'd gotten to
hear more of it.

Service ceiling is a gross weight number. Get under gross and many things
are possible.

Apparently they were at or close to max gross weight (what I assume you mean).
It was all lift.

I believe it -- two people, full fuel, sensible emergency supplies, tools,
some parts, etc for a several months trip sounds like max gross weight
in a Tripacer to me.

Cheers,
Sydney

What are the high altitudes on this route,....

The terrain across southern Wyoming is about 7000 msl, but it is
relatively flat.

and how narrow are the passes?

Miles wide.

If I ever bring a Top Cub home, this will be my route.

Follow the Interstates in the high country and you'll have no problem,
Dan.







all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
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Viva Bush! weblog www.vivabush.org