Never in the right place at the right time

[M20F]

Could do KLAX to KSAV today in 8.5hrs with IFR reserves if I happened to be in LAX and if I finally get around to putting Jose's marvelous invention in during 2017.  

[TTaylor]

But usually it requires being in the wrong place at the wrong time for the other leg .  I had to buck a 20 knot headwind for a 2:30 flight on Wednesday from Northern Utah to Southern Utah.  That allowed me to be in the right place at the right time on Saturday for a 30 knot tailwind to cruise from Hurricane to Logan, Utah at 170 knots and a 1:53 return flight. At least Murphy's law of aviation, "There will be a headwind in both directions", did not apply.

[neilpilot]

My flight Wednesday from KSDL to KSLC took just over 3 hours, but the return yesterday took almost 5 plus a fuel stop.  At one point over the west end of the Grand Canyon GS was around 70kt, with the equivalent head wind.

I'll be parked at KSDL till next weekend, then back to KAWM. I'm not counting on a great tail wind but it sure would be nice.

[Hector]

My flight Wednesday from KSDL to KSLC took just over 3 hours, but the return yesterday took almost 5 plus a fuel stop.  At one point over the west end of the Grand Canyon GS was around 70kt, with the equivalent head wind.
I'll be parked at KSDL till next weekend, then back to KAWM. I'm not counting on a great tail wind but it sure would be nice.

Wow! And I was complaining the other day about a 30kts head wind.

[N201MKTurbo]

I have finally after 35 years and 5300 hours made a flight with a tail wind in both directions! 

On Thursday the wife and I flew to Yosemite (KMER). On the way out I had a 20 kt tail wind the whole way at 12500. On the way back today I had a 75 kt tailwind at 15500. 

Although there were tons of pilot reports of moderate and severe turbelance, my ride was glass smooth.

[Hank]

1 hour ago, neilpilot said:

My flight Wednesday from KSDL to KSLC took just over 3 hours, but the return yesterday took almost 5 plus a fuel stop.  At one point over the west end of the Grand Canyon GS was around 70kt, with the equivalent head wind.

I'll be parked at KSDL till next weekend, then back to KAWM. I'm not counting on a great tail wind but it sure would be nice.

I can sympathize . . . I had to divert around icing over the WV coalfields while heading home from central NC. Crossed the mountains between Greenville and Knoxville, and got tired of dodging cloud tops at 9000' just at dusk so I climbed to 10,000. t that point, indicated airspeed was about 135 mph.p; Groundspeed fell to 68 knots . . . My highest speed was 120 knots heading north out if Knoxville towards Lexington. The trip out was 2:20, home was 4:40 and 41 gals.

[carusoam]

Andrew,

See if this makes sense...

Vertical windsheer comes with mountains.  Strong winds crossing mountains can cause some strong downdrafts on the leeward side...  strong enough that a Mooney can't out climb...

Air is low viscosity and doesn't want to stay laminar naturally.  Turbulence comes with mountains...

To cross the vastness of the US in one tank of gas takes, as Mike pointed out, requires sewing together some good high pressure systems and riding the winds from West to East.   

High winds are an artifact of large pressure differentials.  Mountains make strong winds more dangerous.

Best regards,

-a-

[Hank]

5 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Are high winds a symptom of mountain flying?  The only time i have had silly headwinds was flying from San Sebastian to Vigo over the Mountains (only mountain flying i have ever done). 

Andrew

Not necessarily. The strongest winds I've had to land in was in South Dakota, out in the middle of the Great Plains [KRAP to be precise]. I've lived in or near the Appalachians most of my life, they are great fun to drive through when it's not snowing, and can be beautiful to fly over. In fact, I earned my PPL in West Virginia.

Mountains can, however, funnel winds when they are strong or a storm is coming through. Only hit Mountain Wave once, headed from Sun-n-Fun back to WV. Winds were strong in Florida and Georgia, so I stayed low, maybe 4500 msl. Approaching terrain in SC, I climbed to 9000 msl; as the high terrain in western NC got close, and winds remained high, we were beginning to bounce so I climbed to 11,000 [the highest peak east of the Mississippi is Mt. Mitchell outside AVL, ~6600 msl; we passed about 25 miles west of the peak]. We shook and rattled, and drifted up and down ± 300' from assigned, nice and slow vertical waves accompanying the turbulence.

Anytime the winds are 40 knots or more in the mountains, expect both turbulence and wave action. In the flatlands, it may only be turbulence.

[kmyfm20s]

21 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I have finally after 35 years and 5300 hours made a flight with a tail wind in both directions! 

On Thursday the wife and I flew to Yosemite (KMER). On the way out I had a 20 kt tail wind the whole way at 12500. On the way back today I had a 75 kt tailwind at 15500. 

Although there were tons of pilot reports of moderate and severe turbelance, my ride was glass smooth.

I looking for the best airport to go to Yosemite. Why do you use KMER and do you have any experience with the others in the area?

Funny I was flying to Montrose Co from San Diego and had the joy of the headwinds!

[N201MKTurbo]

54 minutes ago, kmyfm20s said:

I looking for the best airport to go to Yosemite. Why do you use KMER and do you have any experience with the others in the area?

Funny I was flying to Montrose Co from San Diego and had the joy of the headwinds!

I was originally going to Mariposa, but they wanted $75/day for a car plus a parking fee. I went to Castle, no parking fee, got a car from Enterprise for $35/day. Very nice people at Gemini FBO.