Flying in the USA vs. Europe

Well for a start, it would require considerably more planning but bank on
avgas costing in the region of $9 a gallon.

That alone would eliminate any possibility of making this trip. After
paying $2.30 per gallon at home (car gas), I have found paying $4+ per
gallon to be ghastly.

Too bad -- I would love to do a similar "barnstorming tour" of Europe,
someday...
--
Jay Honeck
Currently Memphis, TN
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Actually, it's a basic mindset. US Americans often expect the whole
world to be the same as it is at home, more or less. If something is
different, then it's a hassle.

Actually, this is a basic stereotype of America.

On this little trip alone we have shown our kids so many different
cultures, it's astounding that they are all contained within one
country. From the West Virginians (who spoke little, but when they
did speak we couldn't understand a single word) to the island folks on
Ocracoke (now THERE is a different lifestyle, living on a spit of land
in the Atlantic) to the warm and friendly southerners in South
Carolina, to the black people who volunteered to watch our car for us
on Beale Street (in exchange for beer money), to the incredibly funny
Elvis look-alikes from the Ukraine (yes, there were several of them --
and they were on the Sun Records tour with us), to the somber black
folks at the National Civil Rights Museum (the motel where Martin
Luther King, Jr. was killed), we have seen and interacted with so many
cultures, from so many places.

And, although we see many cultures routinely at the hotel, it's always
more fun to be on THEIR turf, eating THEIR food, and soaking up THEIR
history. Traveling around America, especially in a light plane, where
you can change venues so quickly, is truly a marvelous education.

As to the financial question: Yes, flying in Europe is a lot more
expensive. Take a factor of 2 as a rough estimate.

That is so frustrating. We want to show our kids our European roots,
but the thought of riding a train -- even a very nice train -- just
isn't as appealing as flying a light plane. I just don't see any way
to ever be able to afford it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay, there are counties in Texas bigger than countries in Europe...

Yeah, I wish we could've seen some of them! Now that we're flying
home, later this morning, Texas is FINALLY coming out of the heavy
storms that have plagued them all week.

Next time they are in a drought, I should sell them my services. All
I need to do is plan a flight to Texas, and the heavens open up!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Denny wrote:
Jay, there are counties in Texas bigger than countries in Europe...

denny

Funny that you say that. I was having dinner with a British friend who is
over here working for a time at the HQ of the company he works for in
London.

He had finally gotten out of our the 20K population metro area and explored
the surrounding area. He in a very British way made a comment that some of
our very small towns call themselves things like Junction CITY yet they were
mere villages by European standards.

I took this opportunity to remind him that some of the things they call
countries in Europe would barely qualify as states in the US and many of
them are the size our counties.

On 16 Mar 2007 06:44:45 -0700, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in .com:

but the thought of riding a train -- even a very nice train -- just
isn't as appealing as flying a light plane.

Agreed. But Europe's high-speed trains are a far superior experience
to airline travel; no standing in line, fast, room to walk about,
roomy seats, a club car, no waiting for baggage...

Jay Honeck schrieb:

Actually, this is a basic stereotype of America.

I know, that's why I stated that I'm aware of my simplification (on both
sides!).

Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
Denny wrote:

Jay, there are counties in Texas bigger than countries in Europe...

denny


Funny that you say that. I was having dinner with a British friend who is
over here working for a time at the HQ of the company he works for in
London.

He had finally gotten out of our the 20K population metro area and explored
the surrounding area. He in a very British way made a comment that some of
our very small towns call themselves things like Junction CITY yet they were
mere villages by European standards.

I took this opportunity to remind him that some of the things they call
countries in Europe would barely qualify as states in the US and many of
them are the size our counties.



I spent some time in the UK in the '80s & '90s on business. I took the
opportunity for rent a Warrior and fly the southern English coats. What,
at that time, I would have paid around $ 50.00/hour was $180.00 an hour
with the exchange rate. I had a blast though and a beautiful day.

I also drove and took trains to different parts of the country. Do not
discount trains. You see and meet lots of people that way. It is also
fun. You do not necessarily have to fly.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

We'll be flying home tomorrow, completing a relatively
simple VFR flight of 1977 miles.
....
It would be an interesting (if frightening) exercise to see what
this flight in Europe would entail

Heh, at least Europe and America have the option of such flights,
imagine living here in New Zealand, our country is only about 1000
miles tip to toe and about 250 at it's widest.

There was a news item here a few days ago about a pilot who had just
completed a landing at every listed airfield in the country. I bet
anybody in the US simply couldn't imagine that being possible.

Of course, if we want to actually cross a border we have to overfly
hundreds of miles of open cold and mostly empty ocean just to get to
Norfolk Island (and for the brave, some more hundreds of miles to get
to Lord Howe, and some more hundreds of miles after that to get to
Australia).

In short, we are a bloody long way away from everywhere.

There was a news item here a few days ago about a pilot who had just
completed a landing at every listed airfield in the country. I bet
anybody in the US simply couldn't imagine that being possible.

That IS amazing.

Mary and I have been actively trying to land at every airport in IOWA
-- a relatively small state, by US standards -- for 10 years. I think
we've hit a little more than half of them.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Mar 16, 5:41 am, Stefan wrote:
Jay Honeck schrieb:

It would be an interesting (if frightening) exercise to see what this
flight in Europe would entail, from a financial as well as technical
standpoint. Can any or our European brethren take a whack at it?

I would refuse to be called your brother, but to answer your question:

If you fly IFR, it's no deal at all. Just file your flight plan and go.


Just curious. What is involved in getting an IFR clearance in Europe?
Are "GPS direct" as common as they are here? Over here, if I file from
the FBO lounge, by the time I start the airplane my clearance is
usually available.