42W Adventure Feb 2022

[Codeeno]

So a quick note about last month.

I logged about 37 hours of flight time in 20-ish days and while I know I will hate seeing the credit card bills come in - it was an amazing collection of experiences.

Day 1 - KCFO to KSPS - with a fuel stop in Page AZ - Over the Rockies is always fun. This time, I had o2 onboard so it was a lot easier. I even got cleared into the Bravo so I could start a climb over Denver instead of at Rollins Pass - it was a nice 7 hours of flight time. I even got to fly over the Grand Canyon on this route - was so amazing.



Day 6 - KSPS to KAPC - A pretty flight over the desert and mundane approach into Napa. It was only about 3.5 hours.


Day 12-ish - Low Level VFR Flight over the Bay area - Alcatraz, Golden Gate bridge, then circled up over Oakland and went to Healdsburg (another post) - So pretty and nice to see from the air.



Day 13-ish - Flights for my sisters friends - sight seeing flights over the delta and also up over wine country. The best was a granddad of a friend who used to turn wrenches on F4's back in the day. I also had a nice night flight to KSTS.




Day 20-ish - Flight from KAPC over the CA mountains to Delta UT for cheap fuel and then over to the home drome. - 8.25 hours of flight time. A fun filled full day that was really great. I had 183 lbs of cargo/baggage on my way back, plus my o2 rig in the back seat - while we had plenty of room and could carry more, she sat way too low.



This was a great trip. Expensive but, such a great adventure.

GA is special and such an amazing freedom. Now to get back to work so I can pay those bills!

​​​​​​​Dean

 

[gmascelli]

What a trip! Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[gmores]

That's great Dean. Thanks for taking the time to upload all the pics.

 

[wiguy]

Very nice.

 

[boardin]

Thanks for sharing! Beautiful pics!

Could you share a bit more about your route from KAPC to KCFO? I'm looking to make that trip in a few months and starting to plan out options...

 

[Codeeno]

Ed,

It was a great trip. I spent a bunch of time planning and making sure I took routes that I was comfortable with and met my personal parameters. I fly around the Rockies and I know them and the weather behavior. I did enough research to learn about the CA mountains and respect them as well. I also utilized Flight Following. There seems to be more MOA's and Restricted areas etc along that route than anywhere. I looked at each of the areas along my route to note and see what they were about. I also called Flight Service for a weather briefing to make sure I did all I could do to prepare for the routing.

I left KAPC (Napa) and headed east. I filed for KFOM (Fillmore) but - based on winds and climb performance, I switched and went to Delta UT (KDTA). I was close-ish to being able to make it to Grand Junction. I know Grand Junction, it's more expensive, but, it was a known and familiar. However, based on winds aloft, me departing 1.5 hours later than expected I headed to Delta - was a simple easy stop. Had I had more time, I would have take the crew car into town for food.

I planned my route so I could make it over the rockies during the late morning or early afternoon before the winds/weather usually show up in Rocky Mountains. I wanted to be able to cross them directly-ish and get home. However, weather and mountain conditions I knew don't always follow a forecast. So I planned two alternates after my fuel stop.

Alternate 1 - head northwest-ish towards SLC and angle over towards Rollins/ Medicine Bow then Laramie then angle into Denver from the north side. This will add an hour to my trip and maybe another fuel stop - but - there are plenty of options.

Alternate 2 - if the weather was bad for the Rockies and Alternate 1 or if I was tired - stop in Grand Junction. There are plenty of motels close to the airport - catch a good nights rest and head out early the next morning.

As it played out - the weather held well for me. I passed north of Grand Junction then flew VOR-ish routes the Rockies and ended up climbing up to 15,000 to cross the pass west of KBJC. I had plenty of altitude, but, it was a bit rough and I didn't want to have to worry about a severe down draft. I am very thankful I had my O2 setup working well.

I crossed Rollins Pass and was hoping for clearance into and through the Bravo of Denver - however, it was early afternoon and they using N&S run ways at KDEN, so they told me to stay clear of the Bravo - which peeved me a bit. I turned south and started unwinding altitude so I could get under a few shelves and get to KCFO on the east side. Finally they took pity on me and cleared me into the Bravo at about 9500 and vectored me around the south area heading East then to KCFO.

I hope this helps and if you want to talk - just let me know and we can have a phone conversation.

Dean

 

[boardin]

Dean! Thank you tons for the details. I can tell your mountain flying experience from how you describe that trip.

How'd it go up there at 15,000? Plenty of space below, and the 114 still felt solid?

Thanks again!

 

[Codeeno]

Ed at 15K you don't get much in terms of horsepower or manifold pressure - very very sad. This is where I would have loved a TC or Hot Shot. That altitude was also not required either, it was my choice.

I had the time to creep up to 15K and decided to do so because A) with the lighting (snow and sun glare) the pass wasn't that clear, B) there was a lot of traffic and C) the winds were gusting. Rollins pass is 11.6k. On my way out it was early morning but it was bumpy. I started across the pass at about 13k and found a few down drafts/waves that gave me a 500 fpm descent until I could get through/past it. That descent was all winds as I was configured for climb and was pitched up - not the best of feelings. I wanted a larger margin on my return.

At 15K - the plane was solid - but engine power was weak. Ground speed was good because of a tail wind. I typically don't like to get higher than 10K for normal cruise because of a lack of HP.. The plane felt the best - in CA - when I was flying at sea level - WOW what an amazing difference - LOVED it.

Dean

 

[boardin]

Yea ok thanks, that's what I figured. I haven't done much mountain flying so 15k+ sounds like where I'd want to be for safety.

My area is sea level... didn't realize I had it so good!


My good friend just moved out near KCFO so I plan to visit often... thanks again for the tips

 

[Codeeno]

Ed,

Hopefully we can meet up sometime you're out here!

Dean

 

[boardin]

Agreed! Looking forward to it