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Extended x-country - CO to TX

Codeeno

Codeeno

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Denver, CO
Aircraft Year
1976
Aircraft Type
114
Reg Number
N4742W
Serial Number
14072
My mom has some friends in the Houston area who are having heath problems and she probably won't get to see again, so I said - let's make this trip happen. As long as the weather is good, I will get 42w ready and we can do this. That was the reason for the post about Houston for info. I called around the FBO's that were near-ish where my mom's friend lived and made a decision after speaking to them.

Thursday afternoon, I left KCFO (Denver, CO) for a stop in Norman OK (KOUN) to spend the night and pick up my mom. The next morning after a leisurely breakfast and lazy start, we head from Norman to Houston-ish - Huffman is about 12 miles east of Bush (KIAH). The destination - T78 - Liberty Municipal Airport. It was a great easy flight 3.0 hour flight down to really cheap fuel ($3.39).

Spent two days and then a hurried departure around 6:15 AM - still dark - and back. Easy flight back to Norman, then a super quick turn (unload baggage, reload baggage, top off the tanks, add some oil) and head home to KCFO. Easy flight back with a headwind that made me double and triple check my fuel and distance. I landed with an hour of fuel and my engine monitor was spot on for fuel burned. Once I landed, topped off my tanks and put her back in the hangar, the weather rolled in as forecast. I had a spare hour or I would have had to divert.

Four days - 13 hours of flying and a tad over 1,500 miles covered. These things are amazing time machines.

The pics are mom and I on our way down. Plus that amazing ladder from Little Giant - great height - and it fits through the baggage door and in the forward space of the baggage compartment. It's a tight fit but it works. It made a huge difference for my mom to be able to get up onto the wing.

Mom and I to T78.jpg Ladder.jpg
 
That's a great use for a Commander and it's really nice you were able to do that for your mom. Thanks for sharing.
 
Glad the trip went well. I like that step ladder. My dad is 81 and my inlaws are 85. Can you share the model number for that thing? It looks like it was made for entry into a Commander!

Also - good job with your mom!
 
Smiling faces. Important mission. One question. Wouldn’t it be easier access with flaps up?
 
Stephen - here is a link to Amazon with the ladder info: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KH4RFG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B071KH4RFG&pd_rd_w=Pn5nB&pf_rd_p=cbc856ed-1371-4f23-b89d-d3fb30edf66d&pd_rd_wg=3TlH0&pf_rd_r=ED9YQHNRN6YHEQX2CC17&pd_rd_r=8dff0aec-af6f-40b6-93c2-4fa2126a8785&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQ0Y3OTNISDZHWUE4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPU EwNjE0OTY1MkZWQVpCTzlWSlc1TiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzQxMzkxMjNWVkhKNldYMElMNiZ3aW RnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaW NrPXRydWU&th=1

I actually bought the 2 and 3 step versions - but - after setting them up and looking at them - used the 3 step one.

Craig - yes - easier with flaps up. This picture was taken during after the pre-flight and before the loading - I retracted the flaps - and it mad it where she just had to step past the flap space - though - when 42w came into my life, the wing walk went down the wing and over the flap. I had that removed when I repainted.

We didn't play around with it much - so I can't offer advice on what works "best" - but - it works and fits.

I can't lay claim to finding this by myself completely. Jamie Kirk found one and posted on here in 2018. When I didn't get an answer on how it fit, I found a used one on Craigslist and purchased it (it was about $50) so I couldn't really go too wrong.

Dean
 
Get you a stencil and put a white “no step” on there.
 
A few more years and I might need that thing to get in. Maybe tie a rope onto it to retrieve it up into the cabin.

Reminds me to remind everyone to check their steps for cracks. My 1995 114B had cracks in BOTH steps. Talk about a bad day if one of those lets go as you are stepping down. That might make it where you HAVE to use the little three step ladder!
 
This is what GA is all about. Great picture with your Mom.

FYI - we use a single step stool, makes life easier for my bride, and my bad sticks. ;)
 
Dean ... great photos and I'm sure wonderful memories. Well done.
 
Follow-up: I bought the exact ladder Dean identified for my mother's visit. It's definitely the right ladder! Hand-rail folds down, which is how I used it (flaps down, ladder facing the aircraft, slid over the normal step. Height is right for going from ladder to wing. Fits in the baggage compartment with no issue; it may live there from now in, it's super convenient.
 
Thanks Dean, I ordered the same ladder today.
 
Ken, just because you and I are similar in our penny pinching….. I found my ladder on Craigslist for $25. Lol. I also bough a smaller 2 step version for $10 from Craigslist. Lol
 
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