Earlier this year I planned and flew a trip around the country in my 6A.
I departed Petaluma, CA (o69) on 5/20/25 and returned 6/2/25. My route is on the attached map with the exceptions of going south around the Chicago bravo enroute to Holland, MI and then south of the Canadian airspace enroute to 4G1 (fuel stop) and Kinston, NY 20N.
I had great tailwinds most of the first 4 legs, then mixed winds until I got to Baltimore KMTN. My flying buddy Jerry and I flew 6 legs mostly into 15 - 40 kt headwinds from KMTN to KIWA. Jerry got a SW ride home and I headed out on the last 2 legs home on Monday, 6/1. Taxiing out for departure at KIWA I got a flat nose wheel. Drat - I was ready to get home! The FBO gave me the contact info for a mobile mechanic called "Sergeant AOG". He, AJ, showed up in his work van (air conditioned - he is in Phoenix) 90 minutes after I talked to him. I had gone to the Spruce outlet in Chandler and got a new tube and tire - I didn't want to make a second trip if the tire was not serviceable. I was back in the air around 12:30.
I made one last fuel stop at KWJF where the wind was 220@24G34 for runway 24. I shut down at the fuel pump, gassed up, added a qt of oil and got a drink. When I got in the plane I could barely turn out of the wind to taxi to the runway so I requested an intersection departure (I always use all available runway) but I could barely turn out of the wind to get to the intersection the tower cleared me to. I asked for the next one upwind, got it and used about 300' of the runway before breaking ground.
I always clear the "Air Trip" timer on the Dynon before shut down and was sure I had, but I noticed that that timer was at 43 minutes - nowhere near the 2h30 minutes of my flight into KWJF. I must have left the HDX on after shutting down and the winds on the ground triggered an air trip as it comes on somewhere around 30 knots.
I've flown across the US a number of times in my Mooneys. This was a fun trip but I'm not sure I'll do it again at this point. I dodged more weather on this trip than any other, some a bit sphincter tightening. But to go to the east coast I'll probably take, as my buddy Jerry calls it "The Kerosene Queen".
Here's my FlightAware history:
Here's the info on the mechanic in Phoenix if any one needs one:
Sergeant AOG (AJ is the guy)
cell (520) 450-9874
SergeantAOG.com
Dave
I departed Petaluma, CA (o69) on 5/20/25 and returned 6/2/25. My route is on the attached map with the exceptions of going south around the Chicago bravo enroute to Holland, MI and then south of the Canadian airspace enroute to 4G1 (fuel stop) and Kinston, NY 20N.
I had great tailwinds most of the first 4 legs, then mixed winds until I got to Baltimore KMTN. My flying buddy Jerry and I flew 6 legs mostly into 15 - 40 kt headwinds from KMTN to KIWA. Jerry got a SW ride home and I headed out on the last 2 legs home on Monday, 6/1. Taxiing out for departure at KIWA I got a flat nose wheel. Drat - I was ready to get home! The FBO gave me the contact info for a mobile mechanic called "Sergeant AOG". He, AJ, showed up in his work van (air conditioned - he is in Phoenix) 90 minutes after I talked to him. I had gone to the Spruce outlet in Chandler and got a new tube and tire - I didn't want to make a second trip if the tire was not serviceable. I was back in the air around 12:30.
I made one last fuel stop at KWJF where the wind was 220@24G34 for runway 24. I shut down at the fuel pump, gassed up, added a qt of oil and got a drink. When I got in the plane I could barely turn out of the wind to taxi to the runway so I requested an intersection departure (I always use all available runway) but I could barely turn out of the wind to get to the intersection the tower cleared me to. I asked for the next one upwind, got it and used about 300' of the runway before breaking ground.
I always clear the "Air Trip" timer on the Dynon before shut down and was sure I had, but I noticed that that timer was at 43 minutes - nowhere near the 2h30 minutes of my flight into KWJF. I must have left the HDX on after shutting down and the winds on the ground triggered an air trip as it comes on somewhere around 30 knots.
I've flown across the US a number of times in my Mooneys. This was a fun trip but I'm not sure I'll do it again at this point. I dodged more weather on this trip than any other, some a bit sphincter tightening. But to go to the east coast I'll probably take, as my buddy Jerry calls it "The Kerosene Queen".
Here's my FlightAware history:
Here's the info on the mechanic in Phoenix if any one needs one:
Sergeant AOG (AJ is the guy)
cell (520) 450-9874
SergeantAOG.com
Dave
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