Memphis to Reno

[Ironflight]

FYI - Reno/Stead just went to an AQI of 310-424. Anything over 100 is considered unhealthy. I’m sitting here in Dayton (19 miles east of Carson City) with an AQI of 400 right now, and can see about half a mile…..

So….no idea what the rest of the week is going to be like, but was just told all planes are grounded at Stead at this time due to the smoke.

Paul

[Tankerpilot75]

For your OKC route I highly recommend going a little farther west to Weatherford (KOJA) and visit the Tom Stafford Air and Space Museum. Allow yourself at least three hours for the visit - there’s a lot to see! I believe with your EAA or AOPA card you can get free admission to the museum. This hidden jewel is one of the best air and space museums I’ve seen and I’ve visited quite a few.

100LL is also $5.75/gal. Call ahead and you can get an airport car for driving to one of the excellent local restaurants. You won’t regret this stop!

[pjc]

Originally Posted by YellerDaisy

Standard warning: The rocks are very high out here and density altitude is a real thing (even in the fall). Be sure to understand what that means and how to operate in it (for example - possibly leaning for takeoff, expecting half your normal takeoff/climb performance, etc.). Watch the winds aloft forecast when over the mountains. If over 50kts @18,000, expect it to be turbulent - depending on your location, this may be a no-fly day.

If you're going to fly super high and in the middle of the day, routing doesn't matter too much as can't see anything anyway. If you are going to be airborne early when the light is good and get down where you can see the sights… Nothing wrong with taking the northern (I-80) or southern (I-40) routes but the sightseeing is really great between the two.

This is excellent advice. Both routes can be done without O2, but if you can find a portable system to borrow I strongly recommend it. Even if not at required altitudes, having good O2 saturation for a long day of flying greatly reduces fatigue.


To avoid turbulence, and avoid the need to go high to avoid it, plan on early morning departures when the wind forecast (at FL180) is reasonable.



Be safe ... and hope the smoke gets out of there for the rest of the week!

Peter

[MikeinPhoenix]

Hey Paul, any update on the smoke conditions at Reno? Seeing some of the forecasts, I'm getting a bit concerned about flying to Reno today?

Thanks!

[catmandu]

I'm not at home right now, but my daughter and her pup in Reno planned on sleeping next to the portable air purifier last night. The worst of the smoke is reportedly from Truckee to north Reno.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by catmandu

I'm not at home right now, but my daughter and her pup in Reno planned on sleeping next to the portable air purifier last night. The worst of the smoke is reportedly from Truckee to north Reno.

The sun just came up here in Dayton, and the sky is not pretty. It would be stretching it to say we’ve got three miles visibility here, maybe 2.5. Our AQI is showing 270, and Stead right now is 290. AQI isn’t directly associated with visibility, but its a good approximation.

The place to check is PurpleAir:

https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10...4323/-119.6333

I don’t know if they’re flying up there this morning or not - have feelers out on text but haven’t heard yet.

It’s a “pick-em” predicting what its going to do on an hourly basis, but big picture, I’d guess this will be with us for several more days…..

Paul

[MikeinPhoenix]

Mike and Paul, many thanks for the smoke update. I’m looking at the live YouTube feed at the airport right now and it looks like really bad haze. Can’t see any of the hills, etc. CXP is also forecast to be IFR all day (where we were planning to fly into.

Really disappointed….was really looking forward to flying up. Always enjoy Reno. Take care and stay safe…

[Ironflight]

Update from my spies on the field is that heat races are on hold as of 0800….

[Ironflight]

Here’s the link to the live WebCam (at least for today):

https://youtu.be/FLV1SRqRXbk

Pretty ugly looking at 0918 Local time….

Paul

[jrs14855]

RARA is requiring six miles vis for racing. Stead is currently 4 miles. Reno Intl forecast for a four hour window of six miles starting at noon then below six again.