Planning HPN to SAF

In article , Journeyman
wrote:

In article m, Tom
Fleischman wrote:

snip

I will be single-pilot IFR, will be flying a Beech Debonair and am
planning to file for a TAS of 165kts at 10,000'. I've broken the route
up into three legs of approximately 3.5 to 4 hours each.

If you already know your route to that extent, you're already
overplanning things. The catchphase for my flight was, "Okay,
we need another plan". Fortunately, most of the time (but not
always), I was saying it on the ground. You need to check the
weather at each leg, and if the thunderstorms are to the North,
plan the route further South (and vice versa).

Make sure you have a full set of charts beyond what you think
you might need. We had one chart that covered the entire U.S.
which helped with our strategic planning every day.

Most of our trip there was IFR with a couple of VFR legs; the
return trip was mostly VFR with a couple of IFR legs.

Of the two inflight diversions, one was due to arriving at
the destination airport at the same time the thunderstorm
did. Rather than circle, we went to another nearby airport
that was clear. The other diversion was due to a failed
alternator (broken wire, fixed within the hour and we were
on our way).

4-hour legs will be taxing unless you have a cast-iron bladder.


snip

I could fly lower for the first two legs, but the MEA after DHT on leg
3 requires 10,000'. I would like not to have to carry oxygen if I can
avoid it. Assuming decent weather is it ridiculous to think that this
trip can be made in one long day? I'm not at all adverse to stopping
for an overnight at OJC, but would like to try and do it in one day if
possible.

It sounds like a pretty long day, even if the weather is totally
cooperative. My trip averaged two legs totalling about 5 flight
hours per day. Even IFR capable, we spent quite a bit of time on
the ground waiting to see what the weather would do. Next time,
I'll try to average 3-leg days, which would mean less dawdling in
the morning and shorter lunch stops.

I have already decided to break this trip into 2 days and plan shorter
legs on Day 1. Of course in planning any trip one has to understand
that it is only a plan and that things are undoubtedly going to change
enroute. But you have to start somewhere. The longest trip I've managed
before this was a 4:20 min non-stop trip to Milwaukee in my club's very
fast Bonanza, and you're right, a long leg like that is very taxing. So
I've got some different fuel stops in mind, going both a southerly
route and an northerly route, with no leg longer than 3 hours. This
should also allow me to arrive at the high terrain east of Santa Fe
fairly early in the day.

I don't consider this overplanning, I'll be flying out IFR and I've got
to file something, right? Besides, it's fun, it's interesting, and I'm
enjoying it. I've found airports with both cheap fuel and good food
reports that fit the bill and allow for diversion and flexibility.

I can't wait.