Len,
Since you sent your response to just me, I hope you don't mind if I send this to the original questioner and the forum. Thanks for the great response. Ed _____ From: len buchta [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:23 PM To: Ed Burkhead Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Flight over Smokey Mt Ed Have a lot of time flying over the Applalations from Maine to Ga and currently based in Tower city Pa which is about 30 miles NE of Harrisburg. Tower city is squeezed between two ridges in fact the downwind is over a ridge. A couple of common sense rules. First its always nice to have a cavu day and no winds but forgoing such, my rules are no VFR over the mts unless visability is 7 miles or better- 7/10 if your not familiar with the area- and the cloud bases are 2000+ over the ridges. Never fly if winds are over 15 kts including gusts. ALWAYS PUT AT LEAST A 1000 feett between you and the ridge When crossing a ridge cross at a 45 degree angle so you can turn away. The worst ride I ever had was SE of PennState over a 2000 foot ridge gust pitched the airplane up- a 180 piper commanche- and stalled. It almost went inverted. Top the airplane off with fuel winds are never as forcast. Coming east I usually fly as high as possible especially if the winds are out of the west. If you have an east wind, drop down to 3500-- have seen trucks on the Pa turnpike making better groundspeeds. Down low you get pounded but beats flying backwards. Actually did it once in a J3. This time of year watch the dew point. The valleys fog up and most airports are in the valleys so a landing site can go bye bye especially late in the day. Ground fog is common. If you can get above 5000 airtraffic centers- especially Cleveland- are pretty good at VFR flight following. Also I never cross the Mts without filing a VFR flight plan. Actually most of the ridges are not that high the highest pt in Pa is just over 3000 and in W North Carolina 5000 will get you over most of the granite. The Eastern Mts are essentially ridges with nice valleys between with the exception of the Carolinas and WVa. Hate to fly over WV. Ah, hell, not sure if some of WVA razorback ridges ever see sunshine. If your ferry pilot is not comfortable in Mt navigation activity suggest he might look at coming east into Pa follow the Mon river into W Md, proceed to Frostburg then SE and pick up I-81 at Front Royal then South to Roanoke then into NC. The flight in WMd essentially follows the old B&O railroad. The rail line is stilll used for coal haulage and the old time railroad builders looked for the lowest route over the rocks. The highest pt would probably be the ridge south of Roanoke. The Shanadoah Valley south of Front Royal is neat. Had an engine issue- stuck a valve in a tripacer- many years ago and limped into New Market Va. Mechanic unstuck the critter and was home that night. Hope this helps the key is pick the day(s) Most of my VFR flying has been seat of the pants pilotage but GPS makes it easier but less fun. You moving East??? Len ercoupe N99404 ,_._,___
