Copperstate & Grand Canyon Flight

N402RH · #1 10-24-2011, 07:15 PM

This was my first long trip with the new AF-5000 panel in the RV-10. When I was finally ready to leave for Copperstate on Wednesday there were low clouds and it was raining in Oregon. I ended up departing IFR in the rain and as soon as I reached 6000ft I was back in the sun and headed for Arizona. The new panel worked great, the simplified user interface and large high-resolution screens are awesome. As I passed Las Vegas the sun was setting and I decided to continue on to Casa Grande. It gets really dark, really fast in Northern Arizona when the sun goes down. I was really glad I had synthetic vision, ADS-B traffic, and the new HITS boxes for the airport runways. I managed to work my way into the dark and busy (three other planes) KCGZ traffic pattern using the traffic display on the SV screen and had a perfect landing. I left Canby at 1 PM and touched down in Casa Grande at 6:50 PM with only one fuel stop. That has to be faster than the airlines.

Over Southern Oregon

Van's Booth at Copperstate

New Aerosport Products RV-10 Panel

For the trip home, Sterling (in Van's RV-9) and I decided we needed to fly over the Grand Canyon. We purchased the chart for the Grand Canyon at the show and after reviewing the somewhat complicated airspace we decided to fly North and cross the canyon rim in the Dragon Corridor using the minimum northbound crossing altitude of 11,500 feet. The chart gives you the two end point coordinates for the Dragon Corridor. I programmed the route into the GPS so that the AP would fly the required route and I could take pictures (while looking for traffic).

Flying out of Phoenix

Grand Canyon Airport

Approaching the Grand Canyon on the EFIS

.... to be continued

N402RH · #2 10-24-2011, 07:17 PM

... continued

Almost over the rim

Map view zoomed out

We took off from Casa Grande at 8:00am, stopped for fuel in Battle Mountain, NV and landed at home in Oregon before 3PM. It is amazing how fast and comfortable the RV-10 is. The built-in Oxygen System is very convenient and makes for comfortable flights above 10,000 feet. This had to be one of the nicest flights I have had in the RV-10. I don’t think I felt any turbulence on the entire trip and it was the temperature was perfect. I had a great time at the Copperstate fly-in, it is very low key and with no airshow the attendees are all real airplane people. This fly-in deserves to grow and get more attention.

Rob Hickman
N402RH RV-10

RV7Guy · #3 10-24-2011, 07:33 PM

Hey Rob,

Great seeing you at Copperstate. The pictures are very nice. Those who haven't flown over the Grand Canyon, it is really something. I recommend spending a couple of days. Best to do a Sunrise and a Sunset flight. Awe inspiring!!!

The screens look fabulous. Can't wait to get the 5500's installed!!!

Keep up the good work.

panhandler1956 · #4 10-24-2011, 08:09 PM

Really nice!! Thanks for sharing! Love your equipment!

az_gila · #5 10-24-2011, 10:32 PM

That Grand Canyon route is neat at 11,500.

If you work it out I believe the canyon is deeper than you are high above the rim...

flion · #6 10-24-2011, 11:32 PM

Yes, but the way to get the thrill everyone really wants out of a Canyon flight is to depart Flagstaff at about 8000' and head for Sedona, starting your descent the moment you see the airport so you skim over the rim. The return flight isn't bad either. I don't know why skimming the rim is so awesome but if they allowed flights that low over the Grand Canyon, it would be a busy place.

BSwayze · #7 10-24-2011, 11:37 PM

Rob,

BEAUTIFUL pictures, and a very inspiring write-up! Can't wait to learn more about the new 5500 systems.

TruTrakAndrew · #8 10-25-2011, 07:30 AM

Hey those pictures look familiar! OH yeah...we took the same ones the night before!

It was a GREAT show. I agree with Rob, this one deserves all the attention it can get!

rv7boy · #9 10-25-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az_gila

...If you work it out I believe the canyon is deeper than you are high above the rim...

Which makes me wonder...what does the "AGL" on the 5600 indicate when over the Grand Canyon?

Jim F · #10 10-25-2011, 02:01 PM

Rob
Your stuff is amazing... I surely enjoy my AFS panel.
A trip to Sedona is in our future... was going to make it this fall
but work got in the way.
You have inspired me to make sure I include a Grand Canyon fly-over..
Jim