Flatlander adventures (solo) Chicago to the Southwest

ArrowFlyer86

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Display name:
The Little Arrow That Could
TLDR; great trip. Photos at bottom.

Just got back from a trip to the Southwest and thought I'd share some trip details in case there is anyone else who has it on their radar to go down there. Broken out into sections for Route, Notes and Safety Notes. Disclaimer: I'm sure the PoA members from the southwest can also provide substantially more thoughts on flying down there, but I wrote this as sort of a layman making their first foray down there.

Route:
To get to PHX I used this route (airports have a leading K, the rest are VORs):
KDPA -> BDF -> IRK -> ANX -> KOWI (SW of Kansas City)
KOWI -> EMP -> ICT -> MMB -> KAMA (Amarillo, TX)
KAMA -> TXO -> CME -> PIO -> V280 -> WHOLE -> EWM -> V94 -> KDMN (Deming, NM)

Map below. Red check mark is a refueling stop.
upload_2022-11-1_12-23-10.png

Total distance: ~1450nm
Time enroute (KDPA-KSDL): 12h (with no help from the wind and a little turbulence)
Time enroute (KSDL-KDPA): 11h (with virtually no turbulence so full throttle ahead)
Aircraft: Piper Arrow II (200hp, non-turbo)
GPH: 9gph
TAS: Originally planned for 135kts but ended up at 130kts
Cruise altitude: 6500 from Chicago to Amarillo TX, 8500 from Amarillo TX to Scottsdale AZ. On the way back 5500 from Scottsdale AZ to Tuscon AZ then climbed to 7500 over Tuscon to Las Cruces NM (KLRU), then 9500 from KLRU to Amarillo (night flying, wanted plenty of clearance).
Flight following: I used FF the whole trip and it was available except for a couple short stretches between KROW and KELP, and KDMN to KTUS (never more than 20 miles). During those periods they instructed me to try again every 10 miles until reaching someone.

Notes:
- Somewhere, deep in the recesses of my mind I knew that AZ didn't observe daylight savings. Since I failed to recall that fact at the needed time -- my ignorance cost me a $75 call-out fee as I landed in New Mexico expecting them to be on the same time as AZ but the FBOs were all closed. Note to self: pay better attention to time zones :eek:
- Since I usually fly in the Midwest I'd never really had to lean-out before on take-off/landing, but some of the DAs in NM/AZ were pretty high (5-7k.. super high for a midwesterner!). This makes landing/departure leaning a must. I can only imagine if you land at a 5k+ airfield during the summer time. You also need to not advance mixture to full on start-up.

Safety notes / that I wish I'd known going into it:
...* rating indicates how much of a surprise it was for me, but YMMV!...
- (****) Night flying down there is extraordinarily dark. It feels more like instrument flying than VFR because of a lack of horizon. Luckily I only had a 2hr stretch that I ended up doing at night.
- (***) Absolutely must takeoff/land while paying strict attention to your airspeed. I knew to expect a higher groundspeed, but had I ignored my airspeed and flown only by experience/feel I would have stalled and crashed on final. The difference in groundspeed at elevation makes it feel like you're going far too fast on final (to me). It's not some small effect.
- (**) I am based below the Chicago bravo airspace and have flown into several others bravos. Admittedly I did zero prep work for flying into PHX except a quick glance at the VFR sectional. My arrogance resulted in me unknowingly accepting a transition that I wasn't familiar with, causing me to be rightfully chided by ATC who then begrudgingly gave me vectors. Could have been prevented doing even a little homework on it.
- (**) I didn't expect PHX Bravo to be that busy, esp with trainers. There are SO many little trainers flying around in their myriad delta airfields. Eyes open and stay on flight follow if able.
- (*) Don't underestimate how stiff the southwest winds can be...
- (*) Critters were walking around like they own the place in New Mexico. Luckily no runway obstructions or incidents. But I saw a number of animals: notably deer and skunks. Especially around KSRR in the mountains.

Filter-less Photos:
Sunsets are unreal. Camera can't do it justice.
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West of El Paso
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New Mexico
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Heading out of AZ, near Tuscon.
upload_2022-11-1_12-54-51.jpeg

Cool land features
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We don't have these in the midwest... :(
upload_2022-11-1_12-55-22.jpeg

Great expanse of AZ
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Near TUS I think
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If you're looking for a weekend getaway this casino hotel/resort outside of Roswell has some truly incredible views. Here's one from their lobby. It's called "Inn of The Mountain Gods" about 25 mins south by car of Sierra Blanca Regional (KSRR).
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Driving around NM
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Wispy clouds over Kansas on the return trip
upload_2022-11-1_12-56-7.jpeg

And when you're done flying for the day, why not get a cold beer in Roswell NM at a place like this?
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@Tom Wells Did you fly in to KSSR or drive up from Roswell? PIREP for either route (fly or drive)? There is a shooting match a couple of times a year near Capitan that I will be flying to next year and would likely fly to Roswell and rent a vehicle unless I can get some instruction flying in that area and into KSSR first.
 
Great write up. Thanks for sharing. We've been talking about a similar trip in the 206 at some point in the future.
 
@Tom Wells Did you fly in to KSSR or drive up from Roswell? PIREP for either route (fly or drive)? There is a shooting match a couple of times a year near Capitan that I will be flying to next year and would likely fly to Roswell and rent a vehicle unless I can get some instruction flying in that area and into KSSR first.

Gotcha. I took a car from Roswell and drove on 380 out to Captain and then south on 48 to Ruisodo. I really wanted to see that area (and the airport).

The drive is really scenic starting about 20-30 minutes west of Roswell. I do not think you'll be disappointed with the drive (and it's not even that long). There's little areas to pull off all over the place, and I highly recommend taking advantage of them for picture taking. Bigly amount of wildlife out there. Not sure if that's seasonal or what, but I saw a ton of deer crossing the streets and even walking through the north end of the town.

I did see the "Captain high powered shooting range club" off of 380 on my way into town, curious is that where your match is? I ended up taking pictures right by it without knowing there was a big range next door.

As for flying there, I think it'd be a blast minus the animals I saw out there! (Hopefully they stay off the runway).
 
Thanks. Yes, I would be shooting NRA 1000yd high power rifle matches at Capitan. Up until now I have not attended due to the drive from south Louisiana. In the 182 it would be at/under 5 1/2hrs so much more palatable, and fun, now. KSRR is intriguing but as a low time pilot with no mountain time I would likely fly in to KROW.
 
Thanks. Yes, I would be shooting NRA 1000yd high power rifle matches at Capitan. Up until now I have not attended due to the drive from south Louisiana. In the 182 it would be at/under 5 1/2hrs so much more palatable, and fun, now. KSRR is intriguing but as a low time pilot with no mountain time I would likely fly in to KROW.

As someone in a similar situation (low time, 350ish hours TT, no mtn time, and a plane that I think is slightly less capable than a 182), I think you will have zero issue with flying into Roswell. I would feel comfortable flying into KSSR now that I know it's not like deep in a valley or anything, it's pretty flat around that particular area. But you're kind of out in the middle of no where if you don't have ground transport. That's a benefit of Roswell is that the rental car situation is pretty good. Got a super cheap rental from AVIS that was easy to pickup at their main terminal not far from the FBO.
 
Nice write up! I’m super jealous!


my alma mater!


As someone in a similar situation (low time, 350ish hours TT, no mtn time, and a plane that I think is slightly less capable than a 182), I think you will have zero issue with flying into Roswell. I would feel comfortable flying into KSSR now that I know it's not like deep in a valley or anything, it's pretty flat around that particular area. But you're kind of out in the middle of no where if you don't have ground transport. That's a benefit of Roswell is that the rental car situation is pretty good. Got a super cheap rental from AVIS that was easy to pickup at their main terminal not far from the FBO.
If the mountains have now lured you in, the Colorado Pilots Association runs a fantastic Mountain VFR primer as a ground + flight seminar, a couple times a year out of KBJC. They compact it into a weekend and it’s packed full of really good info. For the flight you can BYO or rent a local plane. I did it this past summer in a 182.
 
Nice write up! I’m super jealous!


my alma mater!



If the mountains have now lured you in, the Colorado Pilots Association runs a fantastic Mountain VFR primer as a ground + flight seminar, a couple times a year out of KBJC. They compact it into a weekend and it’s packed full of really good info. For the flight you can BYO or rent a local plane. I did it this past summer in a 182.
New Mexico Pilots Assoc does same. NM concentrates on North NM and southern Colorado. CPA is more northern and middle Co areas. CPA is June and Aug. Schedule should be out in January. Counts as a BFR, too.
 
Great write up and beautiful photos! Love seeing airplanes being used for their intended purpose.

I took my first mountain trip this summer and echo your observations. I was surprised though that in spite of the ground roll being longer, and things going by the window a bit faster, if you fly your normal indicated airspeeds, it's not a big deal. The real work in mountain flying is done on the ground with the POH it seems to me.
 
Great writeup. I used to fly a lot in that area. I can almost tell from glancing at the landscape which is NM and which is AZ. Weird!
 
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