Memphis to Baton Rouge, LA

[moodychief]

Robert,

I am just south of Little Rock. If you would like to come over to SUZ on a VFR weekend I would be more than happy to sit down and share my weather knowledge and give you tips on how to get the best info to make your go/ no-go decisions.

[robert7467]

I need help with anything I can get, look forward to meeting you.

[mikesalman]

Robert,

 

You didn't give us much to go on, but if you live in Memphis, you have a terrific resource at your finger tips.

 

Dr. Morris Ray, a retired neurologist, heads up training at Dewitt Spain Airport.  There is simply none better or more open to help.  Go to Dr. Ray and let him get you up to speed.  I'm sure he would be happy to look over your shoulder during flight planning and weather evaluation.  You might ante up for a full scale oral review of private pilot topics.  The cost will be reasonable and the rewards priceless.

 

Jgreen

I agree with John, you can't go wrong with Dr. Ray. He loves teaching and helping fellow pilots . He is the only instructor I could find that the insurance company would allow to train me in my new to me Mooney. No other flight instructor had any Mooney experience in Memphis that I could find. You can book him by calling Downtown Aviation at 1-901-354-3001

[Mooneyjet]

Good day Robert, I first like to thank you for having the Courage to Share with us your experience, do not ever hesitate to turn around if your not confortable with the conditions at all, your doing this for pleasure. I been flying commercially now for 18 years my learning curve was steep and I did have a lot of luck in my side as I started flying floats in uncharted land of the Canadian north, I accumulated several thousand of hours yet I still learn something new everyday in aviation.I Own a m20c which is day and night from what I now fly for a living, however when ever I get on my mooneyjet I fly it for what it is and yet a few times I had to turn around due to weather mostly icing in my neck of the woods, I would suggest that you get your ifr and some exposure to real ifr and approaches to build your confidence and your own personal weather minimums, which only come with experience, if you can find yourself another pilot that is willing to go with you on xcountry trips and get a feel for weather, with a second set of eyes. Enjoy your mooney!

[Nathan Peterson]

Hey Robert... hope you have fun with your trip... the weather looks pretty good!  P.S.  it was good to see you out there at FYE.

 

Nate

[Bill_Carter]

I need additional training, and I know it. I will obtain additional training. And the post where it says but accuweather says it looks good, it wasn't to challenge the last post, it was after I typed it, he already commented, before I saw it and hit send.

For what it is worth my friend, I am really in the same boat as you, that is, needing more training. I don't feel I had the confidence I should've had even though the FAA examiner signed my ticket. Now, after not being able to fly for sometime, I have substantial "rust on my ticket." When able to fly again, I will look up a competent instructor and spend plenty of time with him/her, not only to get the rust off, but to get the confidence and training I didn't have leaving the flight school I attended.

That being said, I will keep fresh on the book knowledge portion, and probably even take the IRA knowledge test. Regardless, I will be with a CFII until I can get my skills at a proper level.

It sounds like folks are starting to offer help to you and that is what it is all about. Leave no pilot behind! If I sounded harsh, my apologies, but it is only because I care about people, even you, though we have never met.

All the best, have a superb weekend!

[N9453V]

Looks like you should have pretty good VFR weather between MEM and BTR this weekend, likely just some scattered clouds. If you do end up flying to BTR, Louisiana Aircraft on the South Ramp will take good care of you.

 

-Andrew

[robert7467]

Nate, it was nice meeting you as we'll. I didn't know you were a CFII. Maybe we can get together so I can pick your brain. Also, that oil leak that we were talking about that my mechanic has been trying to chase down, is now gone when I switched from mineral oil to detergent based oil. The only squak she has is a vor that's off 4 degrees which I will get fixed.

[Skywarrior]

...Also, that oil leak that we were talking about that my mechanic has been trying to chase down, is now gone when I switched from mineral oil to detergent based oil.

 

Yes, the type of lubricant you use in your engine is often the culprit. The metal senses the difference, and tightens up accordingly.

[Jeff_S]

Robert, I'm assuming here that you do want legitimate advice and help. I slogged through the last thread, and it got hairy for sure. I'll reserve judgment on that. But here is a weather site that I've found which makes it VERY EASY to gauge where the ceilings and precipitation will be out for three days. Of course, it's still just a forecast and these can change, but I've found it to be one of the most reliable sources I use for long range planning.

 

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/forecast/graphics/MAV/

 

According to this, if you look at both ceilings and precipitation out through Sunday, it seems to me the Memphis-Baton Rouge trip is a no-brainer for a VFR pilot. But you have to make whatever call you feel most comfortable with.

[robert7467]

Yeah I am in Grenada , MS now, and clear sky's. The way I have to look at it now, is that I am a local VFR pilot, and if I want to do a VFR XC I have to make absolutely sure I am clear. Keep in mind that the last trip I planned, was good VFR, but I got an illusion that it was worse ahead of me, when I was over that layer.

[robert7467]

As far as the return trips, I am very lucky that I can work remotely if needed. Thank you guys for your help. Even though driving in a car, with clear sky's sucks, I couldn't plan for the return trip for Sunday as of last night.

[robert7467]

Now looking up at the sky, I am under a layer, so it turned out to be a good call as far as my no go