Fast Eddie & Kool Karen's Excellent (planned) Page Adventure

[FastEddieB]

What a nice offer.

I'll try to call later or tonight as the route shapes up.

THANKS!

[FastEddieB]

Safe and sound in Amarillo.

Woo Hoo!

[FastEddieB]

We're staying put in Amarillo.

I'll post images later, but Airmet for turbulence and 40k to 55k headwinds at 9,000' along our route make holing up here the Most Conservative Action. Gusty surface winds up to 30k for later today are also a factor.

Tomorrow promises to be a bit better, so the plan is to try for Page tomorrow.

[FastEddieB]

Here are those 9,000' winds:



And the Airmet:

[FastEddieB]

Sunrise in North Little Rock:



Living in a holler, we don't often get to see the sunrise like that!

Typical (if slightly crooked) cockpit view:



I'm thinking the new "Mini-iPad" might scale better here.

[zaitcev]

I'm thinking the new "Mini-iPad" might scale better here.

Exactly why I bought Kindle Fire (although it has no GPS and requires a Bad Elf or equivalent with connection over WiFi).

[zaitcev]

Here are those 9,000' winds:

I would definitely not let the airmet deter me. These are typical afternoon winds that we get. They are vicious, but if you're on the ground by noon, you aren't going to see much of it. Of course it's too late for today, but if you launch just ahead of daybreak tomorrow you're going to be at ABQ by noon. Just hug the ground on the way and perhaps loop south of ABQ to avoid the eddies that shear off the ridges in the pass. Even with wife in back seat it should be fine.

P.S. Absolutely not a good idea to ignode airmets and sigments in general, I'm just saying that I bet I know what this one is.

[FastEddieB]

Thanks for the input!

Most of my flying was in S FL, and most of my recent time in in the SE "mountains". Only been out west twice before.

My TAS has been around 97k at 5400 rpm. A 50k headwind would make for a bumpy 47k groundspeed.

When I went to the winds aloft forecast for tomorrow, it just seemed better and the original plan and hotel reservation is for Thurs anyway.

This is early tomorrow at 9,000':



But knowing he weather vagaries of any particular area certainly helps!

[FastEddieB]

Tentative plan for tomorrow:



The fuel stop at Tucumcari is optional, depending on headwinds.

Thoughts?

[zaitcev]

My TAS has been around 97k at 5400 rpm. A 50k headwind would make for a bumpy 47k groundspeed.

Well, I would not climb to 9k then. Note that the ground only gets high just east of the mountains. Most fields between here and Texas are at about 3500 ft. Tucumcari is 4000, Santa Rosa 4600. So, I would fly 5k until ground starts pushing me up. Just putz along the freeway and see if trucks overtake you.

The fuel stop at Tucumcari is optional, depending on headwinds.

Sounds good. Just be ready to fly without VFR following. The radar coverage is nil that low. Contact ABQ Approach before you see the cement plant, actually just west of Moriarty should be good.

[FastEddieB]

Good advice.

I guess I was thinking of the eventual altitude we'd need.

Most of the trip so far has been at 4,500' or 6,500' - maybe it IS time to do a low-level leg along I40 for a while.

This remind me of pilots not used to FL weather not wanting to fly if thunderstorms are in the forecast. Ummm, thunderstorms are virtually always in the forecast for about half the year down there.

I think pilots naturally learn the intricacies of their local wx patterns, and strangers to those patterns are naturally more cautious.

No harm in our delay. Got caught up on paperwork, then went out to see "Looper". I think the last movie we went out to see was Avatar!

[FastEddieB]

Safely in Page, via Moriarty and then Gallup.

More to follow...

[drseti]

Got caught up on paperwork, then went out to see "Looper".

I just watched the trailer, Eddie. I love the concept. What a cool take on the grandfather paradox! I gotta go see that.

[FastEddieB]

From today's flight to Monument Valley:

My beautiful wife:



Some Navajo children on a field trip, enamored with the Sky Arrow:



Each got to sit in the pilot's seat!


And just one of many spectacular views:

[FastEddieB]

Hooked up with Brian and his son Evan from the group for a trip to Bryce Canyon.

Their Allegro:



We generously let the speedier CT's go ahead.

Spectacular scenery:



Again!