Flying weather in New York in March

M wrote:

Before you start planning your route for such a long flight, get a
software that can draw a great circle route between New York and
Houston. You might be surprised that the route isn't exactly what you
had in mind.

There're many times I read stories about people flying their plane
from NY to bay area, California. Their first leg almost always heads
somewhere southwest, because they think San Francisco southwest of NY
so they head southwest to start the trip. Well, the great circle
route from NY to SF starts heading somewhat *northwest* for the first
hundreds of miles, and that route takes almost directly over Cheyenne,
a great route through the Rockies.

When I flew from Seattle to upstate NY last summer, I was surprised
how north my route had to be in order to be close to the great circle
route. I was within 60 miles of Canadian border for the first 800
miles.

If you're an AOPA member, you can download their free flight planner
that can draw great circle routes.

Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.

Matt

"Matt Whiting" wrote

Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.

Or to get a real visual hands on feel for it...

A globe and a string! g

Morgans wrote:

"Matt Whiting" wrote


Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.


Or to get a real visual hands on feel for it...

A globe and a string! g



True, but it isn't as easy as you think trying to get a string to wrap
around a globe in a great circle route. Once the middle of the string
contacts the globe with the ends still in the air, it is hard to wrap it
straight down to your route end points without straying a little off of
the great circle route. I've actually done this before and if the end
points are very far apart, it is easy to be a 50 or more miles off of
great circle in the middle of the route. It is a fun exercise though
to, as you say, get a feel for what a great circle route is.

Matt

Or use the CSC DUATs automatic router.

Or to get a real visual hands on feel for it...

A globe and a string! g

Don't forget lubrication. Or use a virtual string on a net globe:
http://www.airspace-v.com/apt/kjfk glues one end to your departure.
And it also gives weather info!

virtuPIC

--
Airspace v - international hangar flying
http://www.airspaec-v.com

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:47:17 -0600, "Danny Deger"
wrote:

I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.

I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
the NE USA?

My co-owner flew a Sundowner from Connecticut to Dallas (and back a
week later) in March. He spent the night in the Nashville area. He
didn't have an instrument rating at the time, and your plane isn't an
IFR plane, so you're even. G

If you have some time, it can be done.

Danny, you wrote this question like someone from Texas! There's a lot
of real estate in NY. If you're going to Buffalo, I think chances are
not as good as if you're doing your pick up on say Long Island.

On Mar 1, 2:47 pm, "Danny Deger" wrote:
I just made a deal on a Taylorcraft in New York and I live in Houston.

I would like to pick it up and fly it back the 3rd week in March. Is this
two early to attempt such a long flight in a little putt-putt airplane in
the NE USA?

Danny Deger