My first (really) long cross country
I'm playing bachelor right now, the Chief Photographer having left me to my own devices for a few days to visit family back east. Friday was a holiday. Hmm, what shall I do with my time?
Well, I decided that it was finally time to stretch my legs a bit. Since I got my ticket, I haven't flown farther than 80 miles from my home airport. Lack of time, nervousness, whatever, it just hasn't happened. So, I figured it was finally time to actually use an airplane to cover a long distance, so I planned a flight to North Las Vegas Airport, KVGT. The planning phase was actually pretty simple, since I had planned this flight as the cross country portion of my private pilot exam, but now I had to actually go fly it.
I had booked a Warrior for the whole day, so I got to the airport at 7am to preflight and file. I walked straight to the airplane door, checked the squawk sheet, and ran a W&B. Since we normally only fill the Pipers to the tabs (34 gal) and I would be flying over the desert, I wanted full fuel (48 gal), so had to make sure the W&B would take it. After confirming, I started preflighting the airplane. As I did the initial walk around, I noticed a MAJOR problem: the left main was sitting on the rim, flat as a pancake. This plane wasn't going anywhere, and none of the maintenance places were open yet. Not good.
I secured the airplane, then went into the club building. Lucky for me, there was another Warrior that was open for the whole day, so I quickly changed my reservation. New W&B, call for fuel, preflight, weather brief and file on DUATS, and I was able to take off only 15 minutes later than I had planned.
I departed SOCAL to the east over JULIAN VOR and picked up flight following right after I activated my flight plan. LA Center had me climb to 11500 to get over the Palm Springs TRSA, which was a beehive of activity due to the AOPA convention. KPSP was closed due to lack of parking, Thermal and Bermuda Dunes were nearing capacity, planes coming in from all over, so I stayed well above the fray. As I approached TNP VOR, Center advised me to remain clear of a few restricted areas and MOAs, but I told them my route was the Victor Airway (V514) which remains clear of all, so they were happy with me.
I had planned to take the Showboat arrival into VGT (from the east over Lake Meade), but when Center handed me off to Las Vegas Approach, they were unable due to the arrival pattern for McCarran. Instead, they vectored me overhead Henderson Airport, direct the numbers of 25 at McCarran, then direct VGT. This gave me a great view of the strip. When Approach handed me off to VGT tower, they cleared me to land on 31L, but I was too high from my previous clearance, so I called a go around and circled to land.
After landing, I went to the terminal building, ordered my fuel, then went upstairs to the restaurant. It's a decent little burger place where they let you sign the walls. After signing "Big Country Flying" and my tail number, I sat out on the patio to watch the traffic and ordered a patty melt. It was actually pretty good for an airport cafe.
After a tasty lunch, I got another weather brief and filed the return (nice planning room, free WiFi), then launched. Smooth ride home, over the top of the TRSA nightmare, then a long glide back to MYF.
I would have said a lot more, but it was an uneventful flight. For my first really long cross country, it couldn't have gone better. I think this will help my confidence in stretching my legs a bit more and flying to a few further away places.
A few lessons learned for a long cross country:
1. Preflight the night before. Save yourself some heartache.
2. Book a plane with an autopilot. Just having the heading hold function made the flight much more enjoyable.
3. Don't drink a large coffee shortly before takeoff. 'Nuf said.
If anyone is looking to fly into Las Vegas, VGT is the way to go. Cheap fuel, plenty of parking, cheap overnights, and a free shuttle to the strip. McCarran is very overpriced and (from what I hear) they treat piston single guys slightly worse than they do the vagrants.
I might make it up today to bag a few more XC hours, then it will be time to work on my Instrument.
Cheers,
BC
PS-For those of you interested in my MBA quest, last week I received an invitation to interview with Wharton. YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!! The interview is Thursday, so I'll let you know.
Well, I decided that it was finally time to stretch my legs a bit. Since I got my ticket, I haven't flown farther than 80 miles from my home airport. Lack of time, nervousness, whatever, it just hasn't happened. So, I figured it was finally time to actually use an airplane to cover a long distance, so I planned a flight to North Las Vegas Airport, KVGT. The planning phase was actually pretty simple, since I had planned this flight as the cross country portion of my private pilot exam, but now I had to actually go fly it.
I had booked a Warrior for the whole day, so I got to the airport at 7am to preflight and file. I walked straight to the airplane door, checked the squawk sheet, and ran a W&B. Since we normally only fill the Pipers to the tabs (34 gal) and I would be flying over the desert, I wanted full fuel (48 gal), so had to make sure the W&B would take it. After confirming, I started preflighting the airplane. As I did the initial walk around, I noticed a MAJOR problem: the left main was sitting on the rim, flat as a pancake. This plane wasn't going anywhere, and none of the maintenance places were open yet. Not good.
I secured the airplane, then went into the club building. Lucky for me, there was another Warrior that was open for the whole day, so I quickly changed my reservation. New W&B, call for fuel, preflight, weather brief and file on DUATS, and I was able to take off only 15 minutes later than I had planned.
I departed SOCAL to the east over JULIAN VOR and picked up flight following right after I activated my flight plan. LA Center had me climb to 11500 to get over the Palm Springs TRSA, which was a beehive of activity due to the AOPA convention. KPSP was closed due to lack of parking, Thermal and Bermuda Dunes were nearing capacity, planes coming in from all over, so I stayed well above the fray. As I approached TNP VOR, Center advised me to remain clear of a few restricted areas and MOAs, but I told them my route was the Victor Airway (V514) which remains clear of all, so they were happy with me.
I had planned to take the Showboat arrival into VGT (from the east over Lake Meade), but when Center handed me off to Las Vegas Approach, they were unable due to the arrival pattern for McCarran. Instead, they vectored me overhead Henderson Airport, direct the numbers of 25 at McCarran, then direct VGT. This gave me a great view of the strip. When Approach handed me off to VGT tower, they cleared me to land on 31L, but I was too high from my previous clearance, so I called a go around and circled to land.
After landing, I went to the terminal building, ordered my fuel, then went upstairs to the restaurant. It's a decent little burger place where they let you sign the walls. After signing "Big Country Flying" and my tail number, I sat out on the patio to watch the traffic and ordered a patty melt. It was actually pretty good for an airport cafe.
After a tasty lunch, I got another weather brief and filed the return (nice planning room, free WiFi), then launched. Smooth ride home, over the top of the TRSA nightmare, then a long glide back to MYF.
I would have said a lot more, but it was an uneventful flight. For my first really long cross country, it couldn't have gone better. I think this will help my confidence in stretching my legs a bit more and flying to a few further away places.
A few lessons learned for a long cross country:
1. Preflight the night before. Save yourself some heartache.
2. Book a plane with an autopilot. Just having the heading hold function made the flight much more enjoyable.
3. Don't drink a large coffee shortly before takeoff. 'Nuf said.
If anyone is looking to fly into Las Vegas, VGT is the way to go. Cheap fuel, plenty of parking, cheap overnights, and a free shuttle to the strip. McCarran is very overpriced and (from what I hear) they treat piston single guys slightly worse than they do the vagrants.
I might make it up today to bag a few more XC hours, then it will be time to work on my Instrument.
Cheers,
BC
PS-For those of you interested in my MBA quest, last week I received an invitation to interview with Wharton. YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!! The interview is Thursday, so I'll let you know.
posted by Big Country at 8:07 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home