Peter Gibbons wrote:
So I'm considering making a flight from my home base in Ft. Worth
(KFTW) out to San Diego. I've got a friend that lives out there so it
would be a good excuse to go - plus the fact I think the change of
scenery and the experience itself would definitely be worth it.

Sounds like fun!

I'd be flying a 1978 C-172 that cruises at about 110 KIAS. So I'm
figuring about 10-11 hours travel time each way.

With one pilot, you need to plan at least 2 days + a weather day to do
each way. It's a long trip, and while you can probably do it in less time,
the whole point is to have fun, and flying the 11th hour in one day is
never fun.

I'm looking to hear from others who have made trips like this and what
advice you might have and/or pitfalls to watch for. Any
recommendations on some cool places to stop or ideas on the best way
to break up the flight segments?

I've done lots of long trips, mostly with a second pilot, but at least
2 solo that were more then 2000 miles.

My advice:

1) Don't flight plan the whole thing. Lay the sectionals out on the biggest
floor you have, get a general idea of where you want to stop for fuel,
see if there are an airports you really want to hit, and leave it at that.
Weather, winds, fatigue level, and lots of other stuff need to play into
where you're really going to end up landing, so don't waste too much
time up front planning a route you'll never fly anyway. Every morning,
you can get up and do more detailed planning for the day or for the first
leg.

2) Before you leave, buy every sectional you think you'll need, plus
an extra one on each side. Sometimes they're hard to find enroute, and
when the thunderstorm plops directly in front of you, you don't want to
find out that going around it means flying off your map.

3) Water and food. Carry not only emergency water, but water you plan
to drink in flight - and drink it. If you don't have the greatest
bladder capacity, either plan shorter legs (you're here to have fun,
right? stopping at airports is fun), or carry some device to deal with
the problem. I always carry some sort of fresh fruit (grapes or apples,
never oranges!), some sort of cracker/cookies, and some sort of cheese.
That can turn into a meal if you land somewhere where the FBO is closed.
Most big FBOs have ice machines to refill a cooler (watch W&B - ice
is heavy, and water is sloshy).

4) AFDs are your friend. Buy them for the entire trip, plus one on
each side.

5) I'm assuming you're not IFR rated, but the same thing goes for IFR
charts.

6) Don't rush. Plan to fly a few hours, then spend an hour hanging
out chatting and relaxing at each stop. Add another hour if you're
going to get food. This is not a cross-country race, it's a vacation.
Don't plan to get home the day before The Very Career-Critical Office
Meeting. Plan to be home a day or two early, or plan extra time
enroute.

7) Don't be afraid to ask for weather help. Weather where you're going
won't work like weather where you are. If you don't understand what
the weather is doing, grab a local pilot who looks like he's flown
more then you have, and ask him. He'll probably talk your ear off,
and any advice you're given should be backed up with a call to
Flight Service, but local pilots are an invaluable resource.

8) Even if you don't plan to camp, throw a lightweight tent and sleeping
bag in the back. Sometimes, no matter how well you check the AFD,
the cows got sick and the airport manager had to go home, leaving the
airport locked up, and the pay phone won't work. Having a tent and
a sleeping bag turns this into merely another bit of adventure.

9) If you have a cell phone, carry it. I keep a car charger in the plane,
and keep my phone battery full all the time.

10) Have fun!

I second the routing through El Paso, by the way. T27 is a great little
airport, with lots of character.

In AZ, Eloy (E60) is an interesting stop. It's got a lot of skydivers,
but it's also got a $7.50 a night bunkhouse and a restraunt, bar, laundry
room, and internet cafe.

Sedona (SEZ) is a bit north of your route (I'm not sure exactly where
San Diego CA is), but it's beautiful.

When I went in that direction from Houston, these are the stops I planned:
http://www.tripacerdriver.com/AZTripRt.gif

Enjoy! It'll be a great adventure.

Tina Marie
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