Delivered The RV-12 To New Owner

[Geico266]

I delivered a RV-12 to the new owner today. KLNK - KSTS in one day. 1300 miles, 14 hours, ( 12 flying) diverted for weather over the Rockies several times, scattered snow showers. Was very challenging and exciting. Straight shot over and around the rocks.

Long day, I need beer, steak, and a bed.

Crew car is a Mini Cooper.

Now that is what I call a great day of flying.

 

[Clark1961]

I delivered a RV-12 to the new owner today. KLNK - KSTS in one day. 1300 miles, 14 hours, ( 12 flying) diverted for weather over the Rockies several times, scattered snow showers. Was very challenging and exciting. Straight shot over and around the rocks.

I bet you diverted! I drove from WY to CO this afternoon and was glad I didn't fly. It was definitely flyable this morning but would not have been pleasant this afternoon.

 

[ajstoner21]

Sounds like fun! I'm jealous!

 

[Jim Logajan]

Did it have an AP or did you hand fly it?

 

[bbchien]

I love the long trips. Just finished 3MY-RAP-COE-S49-BFI-RDM-OAK-WVI-LVS-SLN-3MY.

This is the sort of trip that you can ONLY do in a GA aircraft.

 

[Sam D]

Thanks for doing your part to keep Sonoma county aviation thriving!

 

[valittu]

You flew an experimental light sport aircraft 1300 miles in 14 hours and it didn't disintegrate?

Seriously, if it didn't have an autopilot, your new nickname is "iron man".

 

[Florida Cracker]

I delivered a RV-12 to the new owner today. KLNK - KSTS in one day. 1300 miles, 14 hours, ( 12 flying) diverted for weather over the Rockies several times, scattered snow showers. Was very challenging and exciting. Straight shot over and around the rocks.

Long day, I need beer, steak, and a bed.

Crew car is a Mini Cooper.

Now that is what I call a great day of flying.

Sounds like a grand day.

What'd you do with all that time you saved???

 

[poadeleted21]

You flew an experimental light sport aircraft 1300 miles in 14 hours and it didn't disintegrate?

Seriously, if it didn't have an autopilot, your new nickname is "iron man".

"Iron ass" is what I was thinking

 

[Geico266]

Did it have an AP or did you hand fly it?

No AP for this aviator! Hand flew the whole way.

 

[Geico266]

You flew an experimental light sport aircraft 1300 miles in 14 hours and it didn't disintegrate?

Seriously, if it didn't have an autopilot, your new nickname is "iron man".

Or "Stupid".

Seriously, it was a rush!

Low clouds over the mountains, but not low enough to obscure mountains. Utah & Nevada got interesting as it started to snow. I could fly around the heavy snows and through the light stuff. Only once did it start to stick, and only on the windscreen, for just a few seconds.

 

[Geico266]

"Iron ass" is what I was thinking

I stopped every 2.5 to 3 hours.

My lunch break in Ely, NV took longer than expected. I picked up a couple of young people weathered in at the airport. She locked the crew car, and we could not get it unlocked.

Interesting couple. They were from Germany. They can fly here, live in hotels, rent a 172 & fly all over the SW including Sedona, cheaper than renting a plane in Germany for the same number of hours. Very interesting to talk to them. They love the USA.

 

[marcoseddi]

You build rv?

 

[JOhnH]

I must be missing something.
1300 miles in 12 hours is 108 mph. or 94 kts.
didja have a head wind?

I delivered a RV-12 to the new owner today. KLNK - KSTS in one day. 1300 miles, 14 hours, ( 12 flying) diverted for weather over the Rockies several times, scattered snow showers. Was very challenging and exciting. Straight shot over and around the rocks.

Long day, I need beer, steak, and a bed.

Crew car is a Mini Cooper.

Now that is what I call a great day of flying.

 

[timwinters]

I must be missing something.
1300 miles in 12 hours is 108 mph. or 94 kts.
didja have a head wind?

Umm...Which way was he going? West?

Plus the 12 is light sport IIRC.

And he didn't say 1300 statute miles.

I second the iron butt nomination!

 

[N801BH]

I delivered a RV-12 to the new owner today. KLNK - KSTS in one day. 1300 miles, 14 hours, ( 12 flying) diverted for weather over the Rockies several times, scattered snow showers. Was very challenging and exciting. Straight shot over and around the rocks.

Long day, I need beer, steak, and a bed.

Crew car is a Mini Cooper.

Now that is what I call a great day of flying.

Congrats on a safe and fun flight.............. That is what great memories are made of..

 

[kyleb]

Umm...Which way was he going? West?

Plus the 12 is light sport IIRC.

And he didn't say 1300 statute miles.

I second the iron butt nomination!

I've done 7+ hours hand flying X/C in a day. That's a mental and physical workout. No way I'd do >10.

 

[Jim Logajan]

I must be missing something.
1300 miles in 12 hours is 108 mph. or 94 kts.
didja have a head wind?

For KLNK to KSTS I get a minimum surface distance of 1207 nm, or closer to 1388 sm.

So his average flying speed was a tad over 100 kts - but that uses the incorrect assumption that he flew a minimum distance arc. Factor in landing for fuel at airports off the shortest path route, time needed to climb to altitude after each landing, time needed to enter patterns for landings, and that he was headed west, then the 100 kt average speed is actually pretty good.