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  • ferry flight from AZ to WA

    Looks like I am going to play ferry pilot and move a friends Taylorcraft BC12D from Chandler AZ up here to Seattle next week. I have never flown in that part of the country. Was thinking about heading out towards LA (Banning Ca) then up to Bakersfield CA - Columbia CA- Redding CA - Medford OR- McMinville OR - Seattle WA.

    I sure could use any words of wisdom or recommendations from some of the California pilots about flying that route. Nothing better than local knowledge!! No electrical system only a handheld com & GPS. The only maps I have right now ( will be getting new sectionals ) are a couple of old WAC charts. Not a lot of info regarding the LA basin airspace. I bet its quite nuts down there. The rest of the route seems fine as long as I can avoid all the darn restricted areas and stay out of the desert as much as possible. Just not sure about which side of the mountains would be better to fly on between Banning and Bakersfield. LA airspace or the desert and all those Air-force basses and restricted areas?

    Thanks for the help
    Jason
    N43643
    Jason

    Former BC12D & F19 owner
    TF#689
    TOC

  • #2
    Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

    Jason,
    I know it sounds like a long way around but you might consider heading up the east side of the mountains across Glen Canyon(lake powell) and Flaming Gorge Res. From there to Rock Springs,Wy(nice people there)and on up to Riverton,Wy.(Less haze(smog),almost no airspace to worry about,and the controllers are much nicer).From Riverton just head threw the Togwotee Pass which takes you just to the north of Jackson Hole,Wy.and straight across the Jackson Lake.It is best to go across the lake around the north side of the mountains.Rexton,Idaho makes a great fuel stop just before heading across the desert.Rexton has Bob Hoovers yellow P-51 based there along with a couple of Staggerwings,an F4U Coursair,and no telling what type of new projects they will have but it's always something worth looking at....plus the people there are some of the best.From Rexton head west for Boise then you can cut across the little mountains and over the Baker City area or my personal favorite is straight up the Snake River for a breath-taking view of Hells Canyon.I think you will know the way home from there.It is a little longer,but not much,and a more enjoyable trip.Flying the west coast south of Redding,California in an airplane without electrics and mode c is not normally very fun....at least in my opinion.
    I almost forgot to add.....Make sure you watch the winds....especially between Glen Canyon to Jackson Lake.Best time to travel this area is early morning and plan to be on the ground by noon.With where your from though I'm sure you know how to fly the mountains better than me.Have a safe fun trip and take lots of pictures for us.I've seen it several times and have hundreds of pictures but you can never see it enough.
    Last edited by crispy critter; 08-30-2005, 20:49.
    Kevin Mays
    West Liberty,Ky

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    • #3
      Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

      Jason, e-mail me offline at [email protected] and I will give you some good information about that route. I have done most of it more than once. Also contact Bob O, because if I recall he has a little strip somewhere out in Arizona.

      If you come through Los Angeles I will be glad to meet you, buy you a beer and an airport hamburger, and offer my workshop/tools/assistance if you need it.

      There is a bed here at our home for you, as long as you don't mind being accosted by a very spoiled dog (see my little graphic at the top left of my post).

      Bill Berle
      Taylorcraft : Making Better Aviators for 75 Years... and Counting

      Bill Berle
      TF#693

      http://www.ezflaphandle.com
      http://www.grantstar.net
      N26451 (1940 BL(C)-65) 1988-90
      N47DN (Auster Autocrat) 1992-93
      N96121 (1946 BC-12D-85) 1998-99
      N29544 (1940 BL(C)-85) 2005-08

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

        I'm from Visalia CA. (North of Bakersfield) I'm not sure why you would want to go into the LA basin since you would need to come out. (I do understand
        if you want that airport hamburger and beer and resting spot) Avoiding the
        restricted airspace is no big deal if you stay near the north side of the mountains. You'll see plenty of airports to let you know your south of the restricted airspace. Palmdale, which is a good reference point is where you would turn to head to Bakersfield. Also, if you can talk to approach in that area you might get to pass thru the restricted airspace. Contollers out there can be pretty friendly. Had friends who were going to Bull Head City be advised by the controller to pay attention to what was happening on their left. (The 747 and space shuttle were taking off from Edwards). He even told them they could get better pictures as it would come near them. If you can get past Bakersfield, Tulare which is about 50 north has the cheapest fuel around. Last check it was $3.15. No electrics is no problem. I'm without them and Bakersfield has never given me a problem with my handheld. Fresno has Class C which is easily avoided at the altitudes we normally fly. Sacramento too but from Columbia you'll probably be east of them. Flying west of them might be more enjoyable as you will get to see the Delta region.
        L Fries
        N96718
        TF#110

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        • #5
          Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

          Flight plans; sounds like lots of air time under the cheeks,wish you well and talk w/ you upon return. Keep yer ass out of the strato cummuli, and don't forget to tie the tail.......
          Brad

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          • #6
            Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

            Jason,

            Having flown several no-radio Tcrafts from various points in the lower 48 states to Alaska I would recommend that you simply sit down with your GPS and find the direct course from Arizona to Seattle. Look at that line on a map and head out in that direction, staying clear of restricted airspace, trying to cross mountains over areas with lower elevations which generally means along routes shared by major highways and railroads, both of which are routed the easiest way over the passes. Keep it siimple, stop when you need for fuel, and have fun. It's an airplane and the good thing about airplanes is that they can basically fly a straight line between two points. Obviously if you need to zig and zag for fuel, terrain, or weather then a zig or zag should be considered but I'd try to keep it as close to the great circle route as you can if you're at all concerned about time and fuel considerations. I recently flew a Piper Pacer from Baltimore to Alaska and the GPS made it pretty simple to figure out where the shortest route was. I did fly an 85hp Tcraft from Albuquerque to Anchorage with a planned stop in Portland, OR. On that trip I crossed the Sierras near Lake Tahoe over Highway 50 if my memory serves me correctly. On that trip I took the Tcraft to over 15,000' for a short time. Your odds for good weather also are greater if you stay to the east as long as possible. The farther north you go along the coast the greater the liklihood there is for poor weather. Have a great flight!

            Regards, Roger

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            • #7
              Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

              I fly the country you are interested in. I would fly north to Cedar City , Utah, Then north over Delta,utah and on up to Salt Lake City. Flying the west edge of the mountains usually gives a ridge lift. Airports with gas are evenly spaced. Stay over the mountains east of Salt Lake City and you will miss the controlled air space. From there it is easy to the Twin Falls area of southern Idaho and west to the Blue Mountains and Pendleton , Oregon. Then accross Washington and home.
              You can miss the high country over the Grand Canyon by going a little west to Lake Mead then over St. George, Utah. This route keeps you away from high mountain passes and their sometimes strong winds. Enjoy the scenics.

              Rich Anderson

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              • #8
                Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

                P19 Stellar Air Park (Chandler AZ) KBLH (Blyth CA) KCCB (Cable CA) KPTV (Porterville CA) KRBL (Red Bluff CA end day one) S03 (Ashland OR) KSPB (Scapoose OR) S43 (Snohomish WA) 1447 statute miles, 16 hrs 25 min, 75 gallons of fuel and 2 great days of flying!! Thanks everyone for the input. LA basin was a piece of cake to get through. Glad I stayed out of the desert, this plane had a hard enough time at 8500K near MT Shasta with the temps in the low 60's at alt. Thanks to Mr. Don Eddie, the new owner of N321LD for letting me be the one to bring it home for him.

                Jason
                N43643
                Jason

                Former BC12D & F19 owner
                TF#689
                TOC

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

                  Glad you had a good flight. I hope some of my info was of use. I trust you felt welcome at Cable airport. How did the Banning PAss treat you... was my description accurate?

                  Bill
                  Taylorcraft : Making Better Aviators for 75 Years... and Counting

                  Bill Berle
                  TF#693

                  http://www.ezflaphandle.com
                  http://www.grantstar.net
                  N26451 (1940 BL(C)-65) 1988-90
                  N47DN (Auster Autocrat) 1992-93
                  N96121 (1946 BC-12D-85) 1998-99
                  N29544 (1940 BL(C)-85) 2005-08

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: ferry flight from AZ to WA

                    Cable airport was the perfect place to stop. One of the locals even bought me lunch and propped the plane for me. Coming from the Palm Springs side of Banning pass right over the windmill farms was where I had the highest headwinds of the trip, about 20 mph. Once past the Banning airport things smoothed right out.

                    Jason
                    N43643
                    Jason

                    Former BC12D & F19 owner
                    TF#689
                    TOC

                    Comment

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