Cross country to California

[kevinw]

Lots of good advice, and I very much agree with Don that even at lower altitudes (9-10,000'), using oxygen on a long trip will leave you less fatigued, and sharper in mind. There is an excellent way into Southern California that will allow you to stay under 10,000' From either the Phoenix or Tucson areas you can fly the airways to stay out of the MOAs and Restricted areas For example:

BKX, BLH, PSP, SOGGI intersection, PMD, and then on to any of the So Cal areas. This route is usually clear most of the year, and if you fly it VFR, with flight following, ATC will probably suggest that you don't fly directly over PSP, but "cut the corner" just a bit to SOGGI intersection. I use this route when flying to and from Scottsdale from San Carlos.

My J "likes" 8-10,000' and this route keeps you away from the Big Bear area with its high MEAs.

Thanks for the info. Staying under 10K would be ideal. Although I've never used it I would have no problem with O2 but I fear my wife wouldn't like it. The idea of simply "needing" it would probably scare her off and then we'd be flying Southwest Airlines. I'll plug this route into foreflight tonight. As some of the other guys have posted, getting through the mountains east of Albuquerque will be the biggest challenge.

[Bob_Belville]

Your wife would not need O2 at the altitudes you're considering but the pilot will make better decisions and arrive fresher.

 

If you do not have a pulse oximeter  http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/13010get one. Your local pharmacy sells for under $50. I found it a real eye opener and I now use O2 at even 7-8000'. And Nancy loves it. For some reason she likes to keep up with the pilot's blood oxygen level.

[wishboneash]

My trip from Longview, TX (set off in the afternoon around 2pm) to California was KGGG - KDAL - KSVC (Silver City, NM). Overnight there. Then to KCGZ (Casa Grande, AZ) - lunch, overfly Blythe, Twenty-nine Palms, Bakersfield and straight to Livermore. Skirted Restricted areas easily and no O2. This was done within 24 hrs.

[N201MKTurbo]

Weather you file for it or not you will usually get:

 

BXK BLH SHADI JLI KCRQ

 

This is the easiest way with the most benign hills to fly over. The hills have very gradual slopes so they don't stir up the air very much. Also you will only be in the marine layer for about 10 min.

[N201MKTurbo]

OK, I got to tell this story...

 

About 20 years ago my flying buddy had this Citation 500 (got my multi so I could play co-pilot).

 

We were at the airport preparing for a flight to KCRQ. While we were all standing around we watched a Mooney take off. We finally got around to flying and fired the kerosene burner up and took off. We zoomed up to about  FL 280 cruised on over to SoCal did the approach and taxied up to the FBO. Just after we got out we saw the same Mooney land.

 

So...     If you don't screw around a Mooney is as fast as a Citation!

[Danb]

Kevin the pulse oximeter Don and others suggest is near essential ..eg at 7000 ft my saturation is near 90-92 therefore I use 02...on the other hand my wife at 12000 ft is around 93-94...that being said it would be great info for you, I used to think my headsets were giving me headaches flying 6-8000 ft, once I started using 02 the headaches are gone......

[kevinw]

Kevin the pulse oximeter Don and others suggest is near essential ..eg at 7000 ft my saturation is near 90-92 therefore I use 02...on the other hand my wife at 12000 ft is around 93-94...that being said it would be great info for you, I used to think my headsets were giving me headaches flying 6-8000 ft, once I started using 02 the headaches are gone......

Bought one today. I'm interested in the rate at my normal altitude of 7-9K and even more interested at 10-11K although I'm not up there very often at all. I already own the O2 tank and cannulas so I think I'll buy the sky-ox regulator and a couple of new cannulas and use O2 more often. I know the fatigue of long days in the cockpit. Thanks for the advice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rhumbline]

OK, I got to tell this story...

 

About 20 years ago my flying buddy had this Citation 500 (got my multi so I could play co-pilot).

 

We were at the airport preparing for a flight to KCRQ. While we were all standing around we watched a Mooney take off. We finally got around to flying and fired the kerosene burner up and took off. We zoomed up to about  FL 280 cruised on over to SoCal did the approach and taxied up to the FBO. Just after we got out we saw the same Mooney land.

 

So...     If you don't screw around a Mooney is as fast as a Citation!

Also, there's a reason they're nicknamed "Slowtations".

[DaveAnderson]

I'm thinking of making a cross country trip with my wife from west central Iowa to Southern California in May of 2015. Here's the deal; I'm a 500 hour pilot with an IR flying an 82 J. I'm planning a SW leg to an airport in the Albuquerque area for the first leg. Next head west to my final destination of Carlsbad, CA (CRQ). Might have to break it up into three legs. Flying in the flat Midwest I rarely use airways as we simply fly direct everywhere. I have zero mountain flying experience so I'm trying to figure out away across the lower mountains in NM, AZ and CA that is safe with my limited NA aircraft. Ive been messing around with the maps in Foreflight and the lowest MEAs are in 9k range and that makes me a little nervous. I've read some posts from some of you guys that have experience flying the area of the second leg route and would appreciate any advice. Thanks -Kevin

 

Hey Kevin, when you do end up coming, lemme know. I'm based here at Carlsbad and would love to come out and meet a fellow mooney pilot!

 

-David

[kevinw]

Hey Kevin, when you do end up coming, lemme know. I'm based here at Carlsbad and would love to come out and meet a fellow mooney pilot!

 

-David

Will do!

[Jim Peace]

I'm planning a SW leg to an airport in the Albuquerque area for the first leg. Next head west to my final destination of Carlsbad, CA (CRQ). 

Is Albuquerque a required stop for you?

 

If not then for the stress free flight head further south to the ELP area and then more or less follow I-10 westbound.......lots of places to put it down and the terrain is lower then cutting across the way you are planning....

[StinkBug]

Hey Kevin, when you do end up coming, lemme know. I'm based here at Carlsbad and would love to come out and meet a fellow mooney pilot!

 

-David

 

We're gonna have quite the collection of Mooneys at CRQ soon! 201DD at Pinnacle, there are a couple on the north side, and I'll be bringing home my "new" C in the next couple weeks! We could have our own fly in, and not even fly!

[Hank]

We could have our own fly in, and not even fly!

Where's the fun in that? I've been trying to meet Gus for lunch since spring, but we can't both be free to fly somewhere at the same time. May breakdown and drive 90 minutes to his place . . .

Congrats, though, on all of your nice neighbors!

[kmyfm20s]

Well we need to start having some fly ins for the San Diego Mooney's. The New Jersy guys are putting us west coasters to shame:) Plus they have Stinky pants and we have StinkBug it's meant to be!

[Marauder]

Well we need to start having some fly ins for the San Diego Mooney's. The New Jersy guys are putting us west coasters to shame:) Plus they have Stinky pants and we have StinkBug it's meant to be!

We prefer to call ourselves the Mid-Atlanticers.... Stinky Pants rules!

[Marauder]

Betcha Stinky Bug is smaller than a Bed Bug!

[bonal]

Well we need to start having some fly ins for the San Diego Mooney's. The New Jersy guys are putting us west coasters to shame:) Plus they have Stinky pants and we have StinkBug it's meant to be!

I think there should be a west coast forum or perhaps a west of the Rocky's forum. And it would be great to have some flyins out west.

Been to Pallomar a couple times flew through LAX bravo makes for an interesting trip from northern CA. Got some family near there.

[kmyfm20s]

vs

Bring it on!

[kevinw]

Is Albuquerque a required stop for you?

If not then for the stress free flight head further south to the ELP area and then more or less follow I-10 westbound.......lots of places to put it down and the terrain is lower then cutting across the way you are planning....

Not required at all. Just looking for the safest and easiest route possible. I'll look into your route; it sounds better. Thanks.

[FloridaMan]

If the wind is blowing, you may be in for a wild ride. I had 15 seconds of terror of severe turbulence at 11,000ft at around noon in New Mexico. I was completely out of control. I've never experienced anything like it before or since. If I had to do it over again, I would have left right at sunrise and crossed then before the winds picked up. 

[FloridaMan]

Also, if you do decide to stop at ABQ and are on an instrument plan, they had me cross the mountain at 11,000 ft and then dive for the airport. I had to do a 360 to get down because my rate of descent was inadequate. It was at night and I passed the airport before starting that 360 because I could see lights under me and I assumed the dark area behind me was a mountain. I was coming from Lubbock area at the time so I likely would have come in from a different heading. Every time I'd see the mountains in Breaking Bad, I'd think about that trip. 

[rainman]

When I go into Albuquerque, I stop at Double Eagle KAEG. Good service not too busy. Not close to town however so good for a short stop but an overnighter May may require a car rental.

[yvesg]

Open the image and you will see how I did it a year ago. The highest I needed to go was 10000 if I recall right.

Yves

[kmyfm20s]

The only thing I can add is the southern route is boring! That is a lot of desert you would be covering and I have done it many times. In May the desert is starting to warm up and the turbulence is created by the thermals in the afternoon, while it shouldn't be bad at that time of year you would still want to fly early regardless. I would fly over the Rockies if the winds aloft are favorable. Much more beautiful and a lot more scenery on that route. You can do it with out going over 12.5K for more that 45 minutes. I would bring O2 and these days use it. I have done it in my J and it wasn't a problem, they perform. If you leave Iowa at 7 or 8 am you would be going over the Rockies by noon. I would stop at KMTJ for fuel, long runway and Black Canyon Jet Center is great. I would either fly to KGCN stay the night and enjoy the view of the Grand Canyon or finish off the trip and be at KCRQ by 4:30pm. This is the basic VFR route I have used.

[Jim Peace]

The only thing I can add is the southern route is boring!

 

Sometimes boring is good in a single engine airplane on a ferry flight ..........it means you did your homework and have many places to put her down........