Still in Fantasy Land

[Kenny Gene]

Jesse,

Yes it's true.

I live in the Wichita Kansas area and own a business here. I also own a business in Morris MN, right at 500 nm. Before my Rv7a (690 hrs sold) and my Rv10 (312 hrs) it would take me 12 to 15 hours to drive one way! Now I can fly up, have business meeting with management before lunch, then go to lunch with sales, meet back with management and sales then fly back home before 6:00 pm!! It's a long day, but really? Autopilot vs driving 12-15 hours?? No comparison.

My building buddy told me that these are Magic Carpets, and man, that is sooo true. Keep at it, it's all worth it!

Kenny Gene
Rv7a AWC 9-07 690 hrs sold 11-11
Rv10 AWC 10-10 312 hrs

[mattasmith12]

My most recent billet (before coming down to Florida to learn how to fly the military way) was on the USCGC MACKINAW in the Lakes. I remember many a time sailing across the center route in any of the Lakes and thinking how unforgiving it would be to splash a plane down in them. Lake Superior was certainly the most unfriendly...currents, really amazing depths, vast expanses of nothing, water temps that would change 20 degrees in half a mile.

I flew an X-Air that I built from Cheboygan, MI to Mackinaw Island and it gave me the willies. But it got easier to do.

All that said, some have flown their single engine planes across the North Atlantic or from HI to the mainland. I guess we all have a different level of comfort and take risks that we find acceptable.

Like you, I'm looking forward to the day when I can go see family in Texas and be back home for dinner.

[apkp777]

These are amazing "time-machines" Jesse. It won't be "an hour out and an hour back", but it'll be about 5 hours less than driving!.

[Rupester]

Originally Posted by Paul K

My rules for flying over the lake:

-Clear on both sides
-Life vest, on
-Lake crossing flight plan or IFR or flight following at the very minimum.
-Late in the season when the weather bouy in Lk Michigna shows +70 water temp.
-Absolutely no known issues with the RV.
-My self assesment is A+
-Risk management in every aspect is satisified.

.... excellent rules for flying over any of the Great Lakes.

[Steve Melton]

Originally Posted by walkman

Closer to 45 minutes if you just go straight across

there is a way point in the middle of Lake Michigan named BRAVE. I did that, ONCE.

[smokyray]

Originally Posted by Veetail88

I know it’s true, but I still cannot wrap my mind around the idea that when I’m finished with my -8, I’ll be able to do things I’ve never been able to do before. I’ve been building for 5+ years and fantasizing about the end result all along, but even though I can see the light at the end of the tunnel it still doesn’t seem real.

Apart from the recreational aspect, as a sales/project manager in the fire sprinkler industry, I have many projects that are a pretty good distance from home, many of which require an overnight trip just to get my eyes on a site for maybe an hour. So I’ve been running these little scenarios for years now and even though I should be flying by summer, it still feels like fantasy…..

I’ve done this little trip or others just like it many many times in a car. While it certainly CAN be done out and back in a day (a really long one), it just isn’t any fun, so I tend to overnight it. Man, what a waste of time.
So tell me, is it true? An hour out and an hour back? Is it really really true?

Signed,
Trapped in fantasy land



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Gotta straighten that line out brudda, it's only 90 miles "feet wet"


Lindberg's great circle route map, circa 1927, retraced by Don Taylor in his T-18

Don Taylor set the bar high for the rest of us Experimenters...
http://www.airventuremuseum.org/virt...vations/thorp/


Jon Johansen's 3 time Earth Rounder RV4

Pond crossings, big and small are all about preparation...
V/R
Smokey
32 blessed big pond crossings in a single engine fighter...

[RickWoodall]

The plane doesn't know its over water. I have crossed lake Michigan about 10 times now. It is big.. but get up high and enjoy the flight if all things are top notch.

I have a few buds that were nervous the first time or two...once you do it a few times it is kind of fun and now they enjoy it too. Of course a life vest, spot or plb, radio working etc. Be smart about it and stack the deck in your favour but don't be afraid of it.

Rvs are amazing.

[jpowell13]

Jesse,

I finished and flew the 6A last March and have 115 hrs on it. I'm in Baton Rouge. Mom, in Jackson, TN, started to decline in health about six months ago. Being able to convert an 8 hour drive to a 2.5 hour flight was remarkable. Not only were the wife and I able to be there as needed, but I was able to take Mom's 89 sister on several trips. Mother died in October. I can tell you, having your own time machine is worth all the hours/years building... especially when you use it build those bonds with friends and family.

John

[KleensRV6]

Yes Jesse it's true. Four trips through the Carribean Islands, several times across the Rockies (at various points), across the Cascades a bunch. Nothing cooler than after a long flight and just before you button up the hangar you take a long look at the plane you built and how far you have just traveled in it. Now back away from the computer and finish that RV8. As Rosie always says, "Keep pounding those rivets, because it is worth it!"

[pierre smith]

Jesse, a good and true rule of thumb is 1:4 ratio...4 hours driving = 1 hour of RV'ing. So far, it's been true of both my -6A and now my -10....and sometimes even better.

Best,