East to West

[usmcs6]

Folks,
I'm looking to do a flight from mid Atlantic <VA> to the San Diego area. Has anyone done this trip and what route did you use. Im looking to overnight on the West run. My legs will be btween 4- 4:30 min.

Thanks,

Elliot

 

[N4843W]

Re: East to West

Elliot ... it depends entirely on the WX and icing situation -- and how big a hurry you are in. If you get a good break to cross the Appalachians and no big stuff is brewing for KY/TN, MO, OK, North Texas ... and you want to get there quick ... what the hell, take a straight shot. You'll also have to work around some 14-ers in Northern NM.

But if there is icing potential, head toward Atlanta then cut across, dropping even further south if North Texas looks ugly, and it can get ugly in the winter, even if Tippens and Williams are not visiting Armadillo. You can stop for cheap gas at Lonnie's place in MS , M43, Prentiss-Abe Lincoln County, and have lower mountains to cross headed into Albuquerque. That is really easy, but a longer drive, of course.

 

[Alex]

Re: East to West

Elliot, I started from Houston to San Diego. My route was as follows:

V306 JCT V198 FST then direct KPEQ for Fuel then continued on V66 TO ELP
V16 TO KTUS for my second stop for fuel. Then from KTUS V66 all the way to KSAN.

From KPEQ to ELP expect 10K feet. From ELP to TUS expect 12K if on IFR. It can be done
at 9K but will have to be avoiding some cumulus rocks.

I know Vince G. has done this coast to coast trip. He might chime in with his route.

 

[wab003]

Re: East to West

We easterners ran the basic route on our way to Sedona for the fly-in a few years back. Northern NM is pretty amazing visually. Tucumcari a convenient fuel stop between OK and AZ. (at least from location... don't know about current px's) The southern route over ABQ (proper symbol??) leaves a decent mountain crossing below 12K and dumps you out in CA in the LAX/SAN general vicinity . I'm not a westerner but I think the route kinda follows old Rt 66?? Multiple aerodromes along the path in case you need to overnight. Normally decent wx west of TX but the entire SW has been seeing a huge storm center recently. Lots of rn, sn, and ice.

 

[FS]

Re: East to West

I'm looking to do a flight from mid Atlantic <VA> to the San Diego area. Has anyone done this trip and what route did you use. Im looking to overnight on the West run.

I did something close to that trip, in the opposite direction. In the 114TC you have more options for heading over the mountains than I did.

My route resembled Alex'. I came out of KSNA, went through the Banning Pass to Palm Springs (PSP), then down towards Tucson. We stopped at Ryan (KRYN) for fuel and food (restaurant on the field). From there we went to Carlsbad (KCNM) and stayed overnight. Really nothing exciting at Carlsbad airport, but the local hotel had free shuttle service to/from the airport.

The next morning we flew up through Texas to Wiley Post (KPWA) for fuel and food, and from there to Cape Jerry (KCGI) for an overnight. The trip from there to NY didn't happen for a few months, but you probably know that route already.

 

[N4843W]

Re: East to West

If you go by way of Carlsbad, try to make a side trip to Carslbad Caverns if you have never seen it. One of the 4 or 5 most amazing place on earth I'd say.

 

[Commander91gm]

Re: East to West

Been doing this route (or something close to it) back and forth to the Bahamas every year. Nice southerly route which will help steer clear of most of the cold stuff.

MGM V56 MEI V18 MLU V94 GGG KRFI CQY V18 JEN V94 MAF PEQ SFL V94 TFD

 

[wab003]

Re: East to West

I did something close to that trip, in the opposite direction. In the 114TC you have more options for heading over the mountains than I did.

My route resembled Alex'. I came out of KSNA, went through the Banning Pass to Palm Springs (PSP), then down towards Tucson. We stopped at Ryan (KRYN) for fuel and food (restaurant on the field). From there we went to Carlsbad (KCNM) and stayed overnight. Really nothing exciting at Carlsbad airport, but the local hotel had free shuttle service to/from the airport.

The next morning we flew up through Texas to Wiley Post (KPWA) for fuel and food, and from there to Cape Jerry (KCGI) for an overnight. The trip from there to NY didn't happen for a few months, but you probably know that route already.

"Cape Jerry"... I LIKE that one.

 

[usmcs6]

Re: East to West

Thanks folks. Im going to work it out and see whats best depending on weather.