Last of the Lower 48 - Done!

[PeteMc]

@rturbett   Take another look at my Lower 48 map!  I finally got around to checking off UT on our way down to the PPP in Ft Worth (KAFW). 

Great overnight in Moab, UT just because it was someplace we wanted to stay. 

[Pinecone]

Two more to go.

I have flown in HI several times.  Years ago go checked out in a Tiger and flew a few times.

Also flew gliders on the North Shore.  Did my duration flight there, 6+02 (I forgot what time I took off and didn't want to land early ).

A few years did a checkout in a DA-40.  Wanted XC, so we did a flight to Lanai and back.  My GF went along in the back, so it was a nice sight seeing flight also.

[Max Clark]

Nice meeting you! Congrats!

[hubcap]

Congratulations! I’m jealous.
It was very nice to meet you. Safe Travels!

[Skates97]

Congratulations! 

[rturbett]

On 10/17/2024 at 6:31 PM, PeteMc said:

@rturbett   Take another look at my Lower 48 map!  I finally got around to checking off UT on our way down to the PPP in Ft Worth (KAFW). 

Great overnight in Moab, UT just because it was someplace we wanted to stay. 

Congrats!

[PeteMc]

Thanks all !!   I hadn't really thought about it until I came here and saw the maps and then saw how many stated I had been to on my various XCs.

Just got back today from the PPP in FT Worth at KAFW and our XC that continued from there back to CT and NYC.  With a quick look at the ForeFlight stats it looks like we did:  5,920.9nm, 17 Airports, 14 States (some 2 times) over 15 days.

Only Wx issue was when we got to JAC, WY to visit a friend and the TAFs were now showing a lot more potential icing and moisture up in the PNW (gee, wasn't someone talking about the Mooney wing and ice just last week! )  So we ended up heading to Elko, NV (EKO) Sunday to see what really materialized.  Sat out Monday due to the icing and rain in Elko and then did our final leg today.  Broke out on top around 15K so our final at 16K had us in CAVU until the descent.  Luckily no ice at either end and the only real pain was the 37kt headwind and the -15c temps.  Oh yeah... and the controller changed my As Filed to go around a MOA that didn't show as active, so that added another 20+ minutes or so.

 

[Ryan ORL]

Moab (CNY) is one of my all-time favorite airports for nearby scenery!

My wife and I completed our Lower 48 in May.  Next you need to go to Alaska!  Very doable in the Mooney.

[Skyland]

I just completed my lower 48 last year as well.  Looking at Alaska next.  Appears Canada doesn't like our Basic Med.  Anyone have any hopeful info.  Suppose I could go get a third class before the trip.

[Hank]

2 hours ago, Skyland said:

I just completed my lower 48 last year as well.  Looking at Alaska next.  Appears Canada doesn't like our Basic Med.  Anyone have any hopeful info.  Suppose I could go get a third class before the trip.

Do like m, go to Alaska then fly around. Juneau was a great stop on the ship, and the city bus to the airport was an inexpensive and interesting ride. Flew a square tail 172 with Continental six and a manifold pressure gage. Beautiful scenery, avoided the crowds on the Mendenhall Glacier and flew 50' or so back and forth over another one; circled a grizzly; and took photos going over the ship. 

Now I need to update my stinking map to include Texas, the two biggest states. If only I could remember the website . . . .

[PeteMc]

5 hours ago, Ryan ORL said:

Next you need to go to Alaska!  Very doable in the Mooney.

We'll likely go next summer.  I thought we might have done it this year, but it just didn't work out. 

And i think our next trip back east may be through Canada so I can knock off the lower Provinces like you have.  And then there's Hawaii... It would be fun to say I did all the states in my plane, but don't think that's going to happen.  

[PeteMc]

4 hours ago, Skyland said:

Appears Canada doesn't like our Basic Med.  Anyone have any hopeful info. 

AOPA is (was?) working on it.  Last I heard, because of bureaucracy, Canada was not going to change it on their own.  So AOPA is trying to work through ICAO to subtly force Canada to accept Basic Meds because of their membership in ICAO. You might reach out to them to find out if there's been any movement.

  

[Ryan ORL]

Yep still no BasicMed for Canada.

Another lesser-known requirement is that Canada requires your N-registered airplane to equip a 406 MHz ELT.  (It isn't fully mandatory for their own airplanes yet but technically any foreign aircraft needs it)

[PeteMc]

4 hours ago, Ryan ORL said:

Canada requires your N-registered airplane to equip a 406 MHz ELT.

And don't forget that in some Airspace now you must have Diversity ADS-B.  Sure, you can get around it, but it will make it a lot easier if you have Diversity.

 

[Ryan ORL]

8 hours ago, PeteMc said:

And don't forget that in some Airspace now you must have Diversity ADS-B.  Sure, you can get around it, but it will make it a lot easier if you have Diversity.

 

Yes, afaik it is required currently only in Class B which in Canada is basically everywhere above 12,500 MSL.  The Class C mandate is a few years off I think.

[PeteMc]

4 hours ago, Ryan ORL said:

Yes, afaik it is required currently only in Class B which in Canada is basically everywhere above 12,500 MSL.

And since I usually cruise in the mid teens, I'm glad I had Diversity installed when I did the panel upgrade.