The best strategy to to fly south of the Sierras heading west around Kernville. This route avoids serious issues of altitude. I have flown down the I5 and over to the Colorado and also back that route. There are no serious altitude concerns. At this time of year density altitude is a much bigger concern, I would plan carefully looking at the altitude of all the airports on the route. Try to avoid airports over 3500 ft and if you must land there plan to take off in the morning when it is cool. I have fond that in Spring in Arizona the coupe climbs poorly in the noon heat. Lighten the plane as much as possible. If you can make the trip without a passenger consider that. As for mountain flying, in Washington state we routinely fly at 8-10 thousand feet over the mountains, In Utah we crossed a pass at 11,000 ft . It takes a coupe a while to get to that altitude but there is no substitute for altitude. Get or borrow a GPS with terrain highlighting/ I use a Lowrance 2000c - This will tell you how that altitude is changing in the valley you are in. Know in advance how much altitude you need to cross a pass and if there is any doubts about your ability to turn around, climb first and then proceed. Density altitude in this season and that part of the world can be a killer. If you do not know the performance of the plane at the altitudes and temperatures at which you are flying err on the side of caution. I would choose the route around the mountains mentioned above. If there are choices, choose a cooler day - the southern route clouds or even light rain might be a good thing - the terrain is pretty flat. Have a safe trip
r80gseric wrote: > Hello, > > I am moving from Las Vegas, KVGT, to San Jose, California, and will > probably base at Watsonville, California, KWVI. > > Thinking about crossing the Sierras is causing me to sharpen pencils in > my you-know-where. > > Any advice about routes to fly my 415E, c85, cruise prop, while not > purchasing high elevation real estate would really be great. I am a > new pilot and a new 'coupe flyer. > > Has anyone flown the Sierras in Coupes? Any thoughts on mountain > flying? Any know routes? > > Thanks in advance to all on this excellent group. If this is not a > tech related article, sorry in advance. > > Eric Tarbox > mobile email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > -- Steven M. Lewis PhD 4221 105th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98033 425-889-2694 206-384-1340 (cell) Skype lordjoe_com AIM LordJoe2000 ICQ 127138272 email [EMAIL PROTECTED] (permanent)
