I hope this trip has two pilots...

jrh

jrh

Well-Known Member
I was clicking around on FlightAware late last night and noticed an interesting aircraft cruising across Louisiana. I happened to leave the site open on my laptop when I went to bed, then looked when I woke up this morning to find this:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N954AC

I've done some long distance, nonstop flying in small planes before (Conneticut to Nebraska, Nebraska to Arizona, etc.) but this is impressive even by my standards. Hopefully there were two pilots alternating sleeping and flying.
 
Just assuming, but it probably has autopilot. That can make a big difference on fatigue.
 
bLizZuE said:
Just assuming, but it probably has autopilot. That can make a big difference on fatigue.
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Oh, yeah, definitely. But look at the flight times. It's showing 18+ hours of time, wheels up to wheels down, in the past day.

If I were doing that flight, even with an autopilot I'd be absolutely exhausted.
 
Oh I totally agree. The longest time between arrival/departure appeared to be less than 4 hours. I don't think I would be functioning properly, let alone fit for flight.
 
Wow, impressive. I'd go batty being in an airplane that long. I once ferried a 402 from Hyannis, MA to San Juan, Puerto Rico over 4 legs (KHYA-KMYR-KFLL-MYEF-TJSJ), and my butt was sore after 2.5 hours each time. Not to mention, the constant drone of a piston engine is fatiguing itself.
 
Hope they had good sunglasses for a morning flight from KVGT to KABQ at 11,000'.


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dasleben said:
and my butt was sore after 2.5 hours each time.
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That

Not to mention, the constant drone of a piston engine is fatiguing itself.
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and that agree 100%. I did 7 hours the other day in the skyhawk surveying the area here, landed twice for fuel but damn did my butt hurt. I find the drone of the engine to also be very fatiguing, the Bose helps out a lot but after 7 hours I was ready for a break.
 
I did something like that in a Piper Tri-Pacer. Deland, FL to Houston, TX and back the next week. We found out that it would have taken less time if we drove. We were averaging about 70 knots GS the whole flight. Had to stop 3 times for fuel. What a LONG flight at 2000 AGL lol
 
Back in 97 I delivered a Seneca from Indiana to Los Angeles, was quite an interesting flight. Mid winter by my self. Took three days of dodging storms to get there but at the end of the day it was indeed worth it.

Also delivered a Mooney 231 from Alabama to Wyoming that same year, springtime though.
 
7 hours in a glider is my record. But those things are designed to be incredibly comfortable, so I was doing ok.

This does look like a fun trip, I would love to do some ferry flying.
 
If we're comparing whose is bigger when it comes to trips, I've got a few.

Did Meridan, CT to York, NE in a Cherokee Six in 10.3 hobbs hours, 8.6 of which were at night, and 1.5 in IMC with no autopilot...including a blown tire on landing at York. I was more than happy for that trip to be over.

Did El Paso, TX to Lincoln, NE in 8 hours in my C-140.

Did Las Vegas, NV to Lincoln, NE in 5.1 hours, nonstop, in an SR-22...the hardest part of which was wearing a full face O2 mask for 3 of those hours.

Did Reading, PA to Walla Walla, WA in six days and 31 flight hours using my C-140.

Did Leesburg, VA to Alamogordo, NM in 11.5 hobbs hours in a T206H.
 
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