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Planning a RV-9A trip to the west coast

tc1234c

tc1234c

Well Known Member
We are planning a long trip to the west coast in a week. So far I have gathered information from AirNav and other online sources. Any local knowledge will be appreciated. Since such a trip is very weather dependent I am trying to keep everything flexible. Following is a list of places we would like to visit, either stop by for a photo shoot or spend a day or two.

New Orleans - KNEW (over night)
Dumas, Texas - KDUX (over night)
Leadsville - KLXV (stop by, highest airport)
Las Vegas - KHND (over night)
Death Valley - L06 (an early morning stop by, lowest airport)
Catalina Island - KAVX (lunch)
Yosemite - KMCE/KMPI (overnight, with day trip to Yosemite)
Napa Valley - KAPC (over night and self guided wine tour )
Golden Gate Bridge (over fly)
Redwood National Park - KACV (over night)
Crater Lake (air tour)
Mt. Hood (fly-by)
Spruce Goose - KMMV (short visit)
Van's Aircraft - KUAO (short visit)
Kelso - KKLS (over night)
Mount Rainirer - (fly-by)
Boeing Field - KBFI (stop by)
Orcas Island - KORS (stop by)
Friday Horbor - KFHR (stop by)
Quillayute - KUIL (stop by, West most paved airport of lower 48)
Arlington Flyin (???)
Port Angeles - KCLM (take boat over to Victoria???)
Glacier National Park - S27 (stop by)
Billings - KBIL (over night)
Devil's Tower - (fly-by)
Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse (fly-by)
KVTN - (over night)
 
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Sounds like a fun trip------take lots of photos, and keep us updated please.

Have fun, fly safe.
 
The track on RunwayFinder is:

kpmh;knew;kdux;ktex;khnd;l06;0o2;cno;sli;kavx;kvny;l45;kmce;kmpi;kapc;kacv;2s2;KCZK;kmmv;kuao;21w;kbfi;kfhr;kclm;kcoe;s27;bil;kbpp;w43;kcut;kvtn;ikv;eye;pmh
Click to expand...

Due to my vanity I also want to finish up landing on all lower 48, highest and lowest airports.

RunwayFinder%252520-%252520Aeronautical%252520Charts%252520-%252520Flight%252520Planning%252520-%252520Google%252520Chrome%2525206252011%252520113710%252520AM.bmp.jpg


Already visited:

Airports%252520Visited%252520by%252520N103LF%252520-%252520Google%252520Chrome%2525206252011%252520114130%252520AM.bmp.jpg
 
KNEW

Just stayed there a few weeks ago. Friendly FBO - FlightLineFirst - with reasonable SS fuel prices. Don't bother with a car, it's a flat rate $22 taxi ride into town. Stay near Canal Street and the trolley will get you most places. I enjoyed the river ride on the Natchez stern wheeler.

The New Orleans Class B was the easiest I have ever dealt with - they cleared me into their airspace from the East at 40 miles out - and you don't even need to enter class B to get to KNEW...:)

Ask for a photo pass along the river when you depart -

New-Orleans-ferry-2.jpg
 
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Unless you plan to go to the museum, skip BFI. Incredibly expensive (ramp fees, $7.00/Gal fuel).

Also, in addition to FHR check out ORS. Great path leading into town, wonderful airport. You can even book a ride in a 1920s biplane.
 
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you are coming pretty close to bend, if you want to spend the night i have an empty rental house downtown next week. no charge for VAF person
 
2 things at Paine Field KPAE

I second the Flying Heritage Collection, Paul Allen's (Miscrosoft co-counder) collection of rare and flying aircraft. I recommend Luftwaffe day on Aug 6th where they will fly a one of a kind 100% original FW 190 complete with BMW radial engine, a Bf 109 and a Storch. Very rare to see these flying together.

http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane.aspx?contentId=81

The website offers directions for those flying in.

Then taxi to the other side of the field to the Future of Flight. http://www.futureofflight.org/ There is aircraft parking next to the center and is the starting point for the Boeing. They will take you into the factory, up to a mezzanine that overlooks the 777 assembly line on one side, and the new 787 assembly lone of the other side. Well worth the $18.

On display is an early developmental section of 787 fuselage showing the composite structure. http://www.futureofflight.org/fof_Exhibits_Materials.html
 
Thanks for your input

Thanks for suggestions and offers. There are too many great places and limited time to do it all in one trip.

charger81: Dumas, ...visiting Palo Duro Canyon?
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Dumas, it is. No visit of the area, just passing through.

az_gila: ..Friendly FBO - FlightLineFirst...Don't bother with a car..
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FlightLineFirst was the one I planned to use. I was planning to rent a car, now I will take the taxi instead. Great photo on departure.

DakotaHawk: Paine Field ... Arlington Flyin ...
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We will consider both if time and weather allows. We will be in the area during part of the flyin.

erich weaver: Lake Tahoe area
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We considered it and decided to skip. A few years ago we stayed at Lake Tahoe then drove to Yosemite through Tioga Pass Rd in June (road just open). It was the most beautiful drive I have experienced.

mculver: BFI and ORS
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I have a few old friends working for Boeing. I thought it would be cool to stop by (I know they do not necessary work near BFI). ORS sounds great.

az_gila: O22
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Probably won't fit our schedule.

Danny7: free rental home
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Thank you for your generous offer. We already taken another offer.

BJohnson:Flying Heritage Collection and Future of Flight
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A few year back we saw Paul Allen's newly restored P51 arriving with Space Ship One and White Knight at Oshkosh. I was very close to the front line and got a few nice shot.
 
A trip like this has so many options but let me throw out a few.

You are this close to the highest paved runway in the US. Leadville.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLXV

So you get the highest and lowest on one trip.

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=68643

Then even without a stop at the Grand Canyon airport/park, a flight through one of the VFR corridors is scenic. Actually I see a past report where you may have already done this.

In Washington state, you have the westernmost paved runway here:

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KUIL

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=46470
 
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Ron,

You are right. Why don't I do just that.
We have already done Page to Grand Canyon through Zuni Point Corridor.

Ted

Ron Lee said:
A trip like this has so many options but let me throw out a few.

You are this close to the highest paved runway in the US. Leadville.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLXV

So you get the highest and lowest on one trip.

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=68643

Then even without a stop at the Grand Canyon airport/park, a flight through one of the VFR corridors is scenic.

In Washington state, you have the westernmost paved runway here:

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KUIL
Click to expand...
 
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Good point on the certificate. I am planning on going to TEX via the eastern arrival someday. It should be incredible scenery but not for the faint of heart.

My opinion is that the western USA offers the best range of scenery in the US.
 
Warning: it will be HOT in Death Valley no matter when you go there in July. But, you may be the only one there! Be sure to cover the plane if you are away from it for more than a few minutes.

Have fun.

Greg
 
I am planning to get there early (around 8 - 8:30 am) and take a picture then leave. We drove there before in early March and this time not going to stay.

Greg Arehart said:
Warning: it will be HOT in Death Valley no matter when you go there in July. But, you may be the only one there! Be sure to cover the plane if you are away from it for more than a few minutes.

Have fun.

Greg
Click to expand...
 
Greg Arehart said:
Warning: it will be HOT in Death Valley no matter when you go there in July. But, you may be the only one there! Be sure to cover the plane if you are away from it for more than a few minutes.

Have fun.

Greg
Click to expand...

This week it's only 3 to 4 degrees F hotter than Phoenix....:D
 
Ted,
Since you'll be at Van's and flying to Mt. Rainier, you may as well fly around Mt. Hood and over the crater of Mt. St. Helens as well. Not really out of your way at all.
Have a great trip.
 
Density Altitude

Your trip sounds incredible. I see you are wisely avoiding central AZ. Good move. 112 in Phx right now.

Since you are loaded for a long trip be sure to do DA calculations. I realize with RVs we don't have too much of an issue.

We see it in AZ quite often where people are lost to DA. Last year a family of four from Florida died in a Cherokee six when they were at a high DA location and topped off their tanks. Sadly the planes will get in the air long enough to let you know they won't fly.

Good luck on your trip and take lots of photos!!
 
We do plan to fly by Crater Lake, Mt. St Helens, and Mt. Hood. I drove to Mt. St. Helens after my transition training with Mike.

No more Bakersfield since we would already had lunch before reaching there. This is the kind of local knowledge I am looking for.

Thank you for the DA reminder. It is not something we lower lander with mild climate think much about.
 
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