Flying round-trip x the USA?

bnt83

bnt83

Final Approach
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I'm thinking of possibilities and ways to generate enthusiasm for flying and hope for those going through difficult times.

My co-author and I will be relessing a book this year that details my own life battles with health, desire to fly etc and I'm thinking after release, doing a round-trip across the USA in a high wing cessna (172, 177, 205) and offering of rides to disabled folks and book signings (and other??) at each stop.

There gets to be so many details swimming through my head its overwhelming. Like building a website, looking for a few corporate sponsors for fuel, scheduling for each stop, food, shelter etc.

I could take my dad's airplane 1968 C177, not pretty but safe and would get the job done, or borrow a friend's airplane 1977 C177 (much nicer) or a friend's 205 possibly (nice, hauls a load and faster). Maybe other possibilities. Getting Cessna to sponsor me a plane seems like it would kill the grass roots feel in my opinion but could be a possibilty also.

What do you guys think about doing something like this?

Please stay on topic :lol:

PS, I'm gonna need some beta readers.
 
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First I think the book is a great idea. There is never an over abundance of inspiration. It sounds like a book I'd like to read. As for the flight, well becareful of sponsorships and other paying for your fuel as you might run afoul of the FAA's flying for compensation rules that are always a hot topic on any aviation board. Of course you may have thought of that already and may have it covered with your ratings and certificates but it could be an issue
That said I don't really think it matters what plane you fly. Just go do it and inspire others!
 
AdamZ said:
First I think the book is a great idea. There is never an over abundance of inspiration. It sounds like a book I'd like to read. As for the flight, well becareful of sponsorships and other paying for your fuel as you might run afoul of the FAA's flying for compensation rules that are always a hot topic on any aviation board. Of course you may have thought of that already and may have it covered with your ratings and certificates but it could be an issue
That said I don't really think it matters what plane you fly. Just go do it and inspire others!
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Right. I would be flying myself maybe a friend. Any rides given would be free. ;)
 
bnt83 said:
I'm thinking of possibilities and ways to generate enthusiasm for flying and hope for those going through difficult times.

My co-author and I will be relessing a book this year that details my own life battles with health, desire to fly etc and I'm thinking after release, doing a round-trip across the USA in a high wing cessna (172, 177, 205) and offering of rides to disabled folks and book signings (and other??) at each stop.

There gets to be so many details swimming through my head its overwhelming. Like building a website, looking for a few corporate sponsors for fuel, scheduling for each stop, food, shelter etc.

I could take my dad's airplane 1968 C177, not pretty but safe and would get the job done, or borrow a friend's airplane 1977 C177 (much nicer) or a friend's 205 possibly (nice, hauls a load and faster). Maybe other possibilities. Getting Cessna to sponsor me a plane seems like it would kill the grass roots feel in my opinion but could be a possibilty also.

What do you guys think about doing something like this?

Please stay on topic :lol:

PS, I'm gonna need some beta readers.
Click to expand...

I think it's a great idea, and would be a lot of fun, too. I'll be a beta reader. Just PM me the details when you get closer to release.
 
I think your best bet would be a 206 if you can get ahold of one, the back door would be useful. Same for a Cherokee 6/lance/Saratoga as the back door is big, close to the ground and behind the wing.
 
Skylane81E said:
I think your best bet would be a 206 if you can get ahold of one, the back door would be useful. Same for a Cherokee 6/lance/Saratoga as the back door is big, close to the ground and behind the wing.
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:mad3: Absolutely nothing with a low wing. I use a wheelchair and hate accessing those airplanes.

The C177 is fine, 205 has much more performance and there is a pilot door along with the baggage door on the left. Burn more gas than necessary if I don't take someone and a pile of baggage.
 
Just start saying yes. Contact Cessna for sponsorship or Doug, Hill Aero or Duncan to see if they would rehab the 172. Plan on all 50 states with stops at OSH and SnF.

Really, nothing is stopping you. Any obstacles can be overcome, and usually only exist in out minds.
 
bnt83 said:
:mad3: Absolutely nothing with a low wing. I use a wheelchair and hate accessing those airplanes.

The C177 is fine, 205 has much more performance and there is a pilot door along with the baggage door on the left. Burn more gas than necessary if I don't take someone and a pile of baggage.
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Roger, was unaware of that detail.

Still say if someone will provide a 206 use it!

A former co worker flew to the 48 lower states in an LSA to raise money for Ronald McDonald house a few years ago. The original plan was to do it in 30 days but a cooked Jabiru cylinder and some bad weather stretched it to about 40. Not bad in a LSA
 
Skylane81E said:
Roger, was unaware of that detail.

Still say if someone will provide a 206 use it!

A former co worker flew to the 48 lower states in an LSA to raise money for Ronald McDonald house a few years ago. The original plan was to do it in 30 days but a cooked Jabiru cylinder and some bad weather stretched it to about 40. Not bad in a LSA
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30 DAYS? HOLY COW.

I still work FULL TIME unless they would grant me a LOA to do this :dunno:

I'm thinking a max two or three weeks vacation from work...
 
That was in a 95kt plane, IIRC it took 16inhg for me to keep up with him in my 182
 
Skylane81E said:
That was in a 95kt plane, IIRC it took 16inhg for me to keep up with him in my 182
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177 (150 hp) and the 177B aren't all that much faster... The 205 is depending on how much g$s it's burning.
 
Ron Levy said:
The huge doors and no struts of the 177 Cardinal are why it is the #1 choice of wheelchair pilots.
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My dad has a 68 C177 and a good friend of mine has a 77 C177B . I've got probably 50ish hours flying them. Probably 40ish hours in a 205. 40ish hrs in 172.

I'm not a stereotypical wheelchair user. My legs work fine and I have partial feet and can walk but the skin grafts on my feet only take so much abuse before they break.

They get sore too. I probably only have 1/3 the weight bearing contact area of my pre-op self.

I find that the wheel pants on the 177's kinda get in the way.
 
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