Colorado to NJ and Back! Wowzers.

[Brian Scranton]

What an experience. ~25 hours total time. So many amazing FBOs. So many different WX conditions. So much learning. 

Eastbound: MTJ>SLN>SPI>CDI>MJX

In NJ: MJX>MMU>MJXK

Westbound: MJX>LWB>MQY>JLN>LAA>MTJ

Highlights: 

The Hudson Corridor--by far, the coolest thing. We began our trip back with this, departed KMJX, picked up flight following and went from the lady to the GWB and back before we kicked off our first leg home. 

Amazing to do 187kts eastbound and 112kts westbound (neither of these were for very long--but still, wow...)

So very glad to have gotten my IR before this trip. I got lots of IMC time and it was transformative. This trip would have sucked to do VFR and would have taken forever.

Learning my plane and learning my engine from a long haul perspective.  I wrote after our eastbound trip that I was burning in the range of 13.5gph and many of you suggested I was too rich. So, I leaned more aggressively and was able to get 11.5 at lower altitudes (6000-10,000) and 12.5gph at higher (12,000-16,000) with CHTs below 380. I was at 26/2500 for most of the flights so somewhere in the vanity of 75% - 80% power, and 100-150 rich of peak EGT and TIT. Tried to run LOP but she wouldn't let me. Also, we were loaded with me, the wifey, kiddo, dog, and bags...under max gross but still, a full airplane takes off a bit differently. NOSE. DOWN. GET AIRSPEED. 

Blown away by how much power she makes at sea level! Holy crap! 

You can go ANYWHERE. This is the best aspect of what we do, right? "Honey, instead of just flying a straight line home, how about we go to Nashville and see some music tonight?" Damn that town has music EVERYWHERE. And everyone is a pro. 

FBOs and our GA culture make me happy. On airport burgers, FBOs that insist on watching your dog while you grab a bite, FBOs that give you their crew car for the night after getting you a great rate at a hotel, lots of smiles and friendly folks all there to help; it was just freaking awesome to experience day in and day out.

Thunderstorms win every time and I am ok with that. Day #2 on our way home. Nashville to Pueblo. Huge band of convection so we bailed in the tiny town of Lamar where the lineman asks, "Those storms look nasty. Want me to put her in the hanger? It's $20." Umm, yes please. 

Got my Century III fixed while I was in NJ. Autopilots are bad ass. Period. 

Got a call from the valet at the hotel, "Um, sir--we crashed your rental car." Greaaaaat.

Amazing trip. Here are a few photos! 

 

 

 

[gsengle]

Great report!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[helitim]

Nothing like a very long cross country to enjoy and learn from.  Completed similar trips a few times in the past and every time was a somewhat "new" adventure.  Those are the ones you remember when talking about flying years from now.

Tim

[Joe Zuffoletto]

What a great trip and excellent piloting experience for you! Long XC trips are definitely excellent vehicles for learning and sharpening skills.

Hoping to make a similar trip in the fall, but we're heading to the South. Nashville will be our first stop. Can't wait!

[gsxrpilot]

I love long XC trips.  We're launching on Friday for a quick warm-up lap before Oshkosh.

KHYI  KFLG  L45  KMPI  KAPC  0Q5  MAIDN GALLO  KRBG  S27  KWYS  KDIJ  COTDA  LAR KAPA  KHYI in 13 days.

[Ron McBride]

gsxrpilot  When are you going to be at KMPI.   I may be able to come out.  There are 3 Mooney's on the field now.

Ron

[N201MKTurbo]

5 hours ago, Brian Scranton said:

Got a call from the valet at the hotel, "Um, sir--we crashed your rental car." Greaaaaat.

I had a hotel in Canada drop an air conditioner on my rental car once. Took me two years to get that straightened out. My insurance company said the hotel had to pay for it, the hotel said the construction company had to pay for it, the construction company was flakey, the rental car company said I had to pay for it. I finally gave it to the legal department at work who said "you should have given this to us right away" Anyway they fixed it.

[gsxrpilot]

1 hour ago, N803RM said:

gsxrpilot  When are you going to be at KMPI.   I may be able to come out.  There are 3 Mooney's on the field now.

Ron

We were hoping to arrive on Saturday and leave Monday. But we haven't been able to find suitable (cheap) lodging for Saturday night. So we will likely arrive Sunday morning and leave sometime on Monday.

Would love to meet you if it works out.

[bonal]

We might be up for that too,  FYI there is an active TFR (fire suppression) over George town that is not too far north but should not be a factor

[Danb]

1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I had a hotel in Canada drop an air conditioner on my rental car once. Took me two years to get that straightened out. My insurance company said the hotel had to pay for it, the hotel said the construction company had to pay for it, the construction company was flakey, the rental car company said I had to pay for it. I finally gave it to the legal department at work who said "you should have given this to us right away" Anyway they fixed it.

Gotta love the valet drivers, I was at the Tampa hard rock hotel waiting for 30 minutes for my rental and the valet crashed it, it took the hotel 90 days to pay Hertz, they had started billing me that's what lawyers are good for.