Jay Honeck wrote:
Night flying is pretty, and -- if the weather cooperates -- smooth as
glass. However, if your engine craps (which single engine planes are
occasionally prone to do) you're toast.
Not necessarily. I can think of several night crashes in rural eastern North
Carolina where the pilot walked away. Unlike my part of the state, there are a
lot of huge open fields in that area. Combined with some moonlight, I'd say you
have a pretty good shot at making it. In my part of the state, you're not
likely to be so lucky.
That being said, I thought of one cross country trip I used to make frequently,
and always at night by design: between Charlotte, NC and Lake City, FL.
Although getting a cab in Lake City after hours was always a PITA, arriving late
meant you got to arrive. If I waited until the early AM, ground fog ruined any
chance at all of getting in. And it's foggy there A LOT!
--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
VE