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05-15-2012, 11:47 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 347
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Flight from Austin to San Jose
Hey fellow aviators.
I have to fly to San Jose from Austin TX on Friday for work on Saturday and I thought I would take the 9A rather than fly commercial. (VFR only)
I'm a little nervous as this would be the looongest XC flight I will ever have taken with some high altitude obstacles along the way to boot (I do have oxy).
I'm starting to plan but wanted to post here if anyone had any advice for places to land en route, best route to take, best airport near SJC for little planes and any other tidbits of info that ya'all would feel free to impart.
Thanks in advance!
Gil
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05-15-2012, 12:11 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 1,207
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Been there, done that
I've ferried lots of smaller planes across the "southern route". It'll be a piece of cake in the 9A. From Austin, I'd recommend AUS-ALM-IFP-RHV. That's three 4-hour legs. (adjust legs as necessary). Reid Hillview (RHV) is the airport you'll want for San Jose, unless you need to be right in downtown.
Bullhead/Laughlin (IFP) is a fun place to stop. Have the FBO call the Riverside shuttle for you (free) and they'll take you to the Riverside Casino/Hotel. Weekday rooms are $29 or $39 on weekends, last I checked. Make sure you fly north a few miles and check out Hoover Dam.
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05-15-2012, 12:27 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 211
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Austin to San Jose
I flew from Georgetown (GTU) to Madera (MAE) a couple weeks ago. Best VFR route would be from Austin to Newman VOR (EWM), north of ElPaso, to Lordsburg (LSB) to Casa Grande (CGZ) to Blythe (BLH) to Twenty Nine Palms (TNP) to Palmdale (PMD) to Bakersfield (BFL) to San Jose (SJC). That's 1314 nm. This route keeps you out of restricted areas and in the lower elevations. There are presently wildfires north of Phoenix, so visibility may be of concern crossing south of Phoenix. Turbulence will always be a factor in the hot and mountainous areas.
Use AirNav for fuel stop planning, but Deming, Lordsburg, Casa Grande, Tehachapie typically have lower fuel prices.
Some one from San Jose area can chime in for best RV friendly stop in San Jose
__________________
Stu McCurdy (Falcon)
RV-8, 78TX, Flying
Formation Flying, Inc (FFI)
Falcon Flight
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05-15-2012, 12:35 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
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I would either go over El Paso or Albuquerque
Those routes are longer I'm sure but every time I have made the trip one of those routes has been open. I have gone into Alamogordo but the restricted areas on the west side and the mountains on the east side are something to consider. I'm just going on memory here - things may have changed. The mountains and restricted areas in Arizona and California are something to consider as well. Which ever way you go it will be a significant trip with all of the associated risks and rewards. Good luck. Do you have the sectionals that you can sit down with and study? If you can get your hands on the two old little brown Flight Guides (Central and Western) or an AOPA airport guide that will help you plan as well.
Bob Axsom
Last edited by Bob Axsom : 05-15-2012 at 12:39 PM.
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05-15-2012, 12:52 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,867
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If you take the "southern" route, PMD makes a good turnpoint, but don't plan on landing there unless you're on official Air Force business. If it's a weekend, and you find your route takes you through R-2515 (Edwards AFB), many times you can ask Joshua Approach on 124.55 and they'll clear you through above 6 or 7K.
KTSP is between PMD and BFL, and has the cheapest fuel within at least 50 mi. Also, it doesn't hurt that we're at 4000 ft, so you save almost that much climbing out. Also, if the timing is right, I know a good place for a bed and a bean. 
__________________
Miles (VAF# 1238, Paid up as of 2018)
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'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' -Unk.
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05-15-2012, 12:59 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 347
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Awesome information everyone! very helpful indeed.
I dont have the actual paper sectionals but have a 696 and xoom with avilution for sectionals and a garmin 60csx for backup.
I usually use navmonster but now im using aopa and fltplan.com for planning and map searching.
thanks everyone for the info. I know it doesn't substitute for experience but im all about risk mitigation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by longranger
If you take the "southern" route, PMD makes a good turnpoint, but don't plan on landing there unless you're on official Air Force business. If it's a weekend, and you find your route takes you through R-2515 (Edwards AFB), many times you can ask Joshua Approach on 124.55 and they'll clear you through above 6 or 7K.
KTSP is between PMD and BFL, and has the cheapest fuel within at least 50 mi. Also, it doesn't hurt that we're at 4000 ft, so you save almost that much climbing out. Also, if the timing is right, I know a good place for a bed and a bean. 
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05-15-2012, 02:59 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
Posts: 2,393
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route
The Abq route is pretty benign this time of year. A deviation well to the north of ABQ and smaller deviations from the interstate west of ABQ, it is possible to do this entire flight at 8500'. Not recommended but it caan be done. The highest point west of ABQ on the interstate is the AZ divide about 10 west of Flagstaff. 7300' and change. A few years ago I was driving in the area and saw a flight of RV's right at the divide, probably less than 1000' agl. You are ahead of the thunderstorm season but the day/night temperatures change drastically and produce turbulence very early in the day. The goal should be to launch at first light and quit for the dy by noon if the turbulence is too bad. The El Paso route has no real advantage except for airplanes with very limited altitude capabilities.
Temperatures along the river-CA/AZ state line are alreacy bumping 100 by 10 am.
So direct Las Vagas NM, just before Las Vegas thru the gap in the mountains and back to the south to pick up the interstate. Then to at least the Ca line. The options are direct to the bay area, Follow the highway to Barstow and then Mohave, Tehachapi pass, and other options but lots of restricted areas.
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05-15-2012, 03:49 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,275
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Flying Friday for work the next day.
That is a red flag to me. I suggest accepting the reality of not being there on Saturday if conditions become marginal.
"That's three 4-hour legs." Maybe your tolerance is better than mine but I would look at TBD legs of three hours duration.....possibly a bit less as you get into California.
Last edited by Ron Lee : 05-15-2012 at 03:52 PM.
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05-15-2012, 03:55 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 347
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I thought of that as well and I'm looking into doing one of the legs on Thursday and two on Friday.
Im seeing also a TON of restricted areas and MOA's. crazy out there!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Lee
Flying Friday for work the next day.
That is a red flag to me. I suggest accepting the reality of not being there on Saturday if conditions become marginal.
"That's three 4-hour legs." Maybe your tolerance is better than mine but I would look at TBD legs of three hours duration.....possibly a bit less as you get into California.
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05-15-2012, 03:56 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 693
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Best fuel prices are in St. John SJN about an hour west of ABQ!
__________________
Marc Ausman
RV-7 980 hours, IO-390, VP-X (sold)
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