LSA X-country over the desert

[idahoflier]

I'm taking a trip from KMAN to KRTS next week and trying to screw up the courage to fly my RV-12. I think I have enough confidence in the aircraft to give it a shot, but I'm concerned about the turbulence I'm going to encounter over the Nevada, Oregon and Idaho deserts. Anyone have any feedback on the expected ride in an RV-12 on a late spring afternoon for that trip, particularly as it would compare to a C172?

 

[murphey]

Take extra water.

 

[M20K]

If you have oxygen, it's a non issue. Without O2, still shouldn't be an issue, just go as high as you can and try to stay over the valleys and not too close to the ridges.

And I'm not say you can't cross a ridge, so don't go crazy trying to plot some convoluted course. But there are a few places where you're right over the ridges and you can easily fly a little bit to one side or the other and you're over a valley. So just give it a little thought vs just going direct. Go earlier in the day if you can.

 

[idahoflier]

If you have oxygen, it's a non issue. Without O2, still shouldn't be an issue, just go as high as you can and try to stay over the valleys and not too close to the ridges.

And I'm not say you can't cross a ridge, so don't go crazy trying to plot some convoluted course. But there are a few places where you're right over the ridges and you can easily fly a little bit to one side or the other and you're over a valley. So just give it a little thought vs just going direct. Go earlier in the day if you can.

Thanks for the feedback! No O2 on board. Probably moot anyway, not sure it will fly above 12,500 due to the DA. Unfortunately probably looking at a mid day departure for the trip home so I know there will be some bumps. I have flown this a few times, so know the route and what to expect, just not sure how that translates to an LSA. As I have gotten older I tend to care a little more about the ride...

 

[midlifeflyer]

I have flown this a few times, so know the route and what to expect, just not sure how that translates to an LSA. As I have gotten older I tend to care a little more about the ride...

That part is easy. The ride will feel much bumpier in a lightly loaded LSA than in something heavier.

 

[Daleandee]

The ride will feel much bumpier in a lightly loaded LSA than in something heavier.

True enough. When it gets middle of the day hot & thermally, my little plane get's tossed around pretty good. As I get older I try to avoid that kind of rough & tumble. Sometimes altitude helps but you gotta come down sometime ...

 

[asicer]

Isn't conventional wisdom that early morning tends to be a smoother ride tan late afternoon?

 

[luvflyin]

I'm taking a trip from KMAN to KRTS next week and trying to screw up the courage to fly my RV-12. I think I have enough confidence in the aircraft to give it a shot, but I'm concerned about the turbulence I'm going to encounter over the Nevada, Oregon and Idaho deserts. Anyone have any feedback on the expected ride in an RV-12 on a late spring afternoon for that trip, particularly as it would compare to a C172?

My googlin’ says an RV-12’s wing loading is 10.4 and a 172 is 14.7 so you can expect a rougher ride in the RV

 

[midlifeflyer]

Isn't conventional wisdom that early morning tends to be a smoother ride tan late afternoon?

Yes. That's generally true everywhere. When it comes to mountains and deserts it seems especially true.

 

[idahoflier]

Thanks for the feedback! I do understand the wing loading/weight and atmospheric/time of day aspects. Was more looking for "Been there, done that, don't do it..." or "BTDT, it's not much worse, suck it up and go for it...".

Nothing like experience, so I guess it's a good excuse to try KMAN - 26U tomorrow afternoon...

 

[sarangan]

I'm taking a trip from KMAN to KRTS next week and trying to screw up the courage to fly my RV-12. I think I have enough confidence in the aircraft to give it a shot, but I'm concerned about the turbulence I'm going to encounter over the Nevada, Oregon and Idaho deserts. Anyone have any feedback on the expected ride in an RV-12 on a late spring afternoon for that trip, particularly as it would compare to a C172?

That’s a pretty remote route with little in the way of services or support along the way. Honestly, I'd be more concerned about making it on the ground than dealing with a rough ride. Flying at night should help you avoid turbulence, but that introduces a different set of challenges.

 

[idahoflier]

That’s a pretty remote route with little in the way of services or support along the way. Honestly, I'd be more concerned about making it on the ground than dealing with a rough ride. Flying at night should help you avoid turbulence, but that introduces a different set of challenges.

Yeah... Not going to fly it at night. BTDT (not intentionally, just ran out of daylight as I left KWMC headed to KMAN) and not going to do it again. It is remote, but there are a lot of places for a successful forced landing. If I do fly the RV-12 I will stick to the highway/interstate...

 

[asicer]

Was more looking for "Been there, done that, don't do it..." or "BTDT, it's not much worse, suck it up and go for it...".

Ok. In that case, BTDT. Suck it up.

 

[Groundpounder]

Instead of leaving in the afternoon, spend the night and leave first thing the following morning

 

[idahoflier]

Instead of leaving in the afternoon, spend the night and leave first thing the following morning

Always an option, but after 3 nights in KRNO I think I'll be ready to head home, even if I end up getting tossed around for 4 hrs...

 

[David Loftus]

I just flew my DA40 home from Vegas to Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. DA40 has lighter wing loading than most 4-seater GA airplanes. NV, AZ, NM, TX are not fun in the heat. Of course most people know that in the afternoons, the convection creates significant turbulence over the desert. So much so that my GFC700 autopilot continually threw error messages and gave up a few years ago on the same route. Not wanting to repeat that rough ride, I left KVGT at 2:00am to avoid getting beaten half to death again. For safety, I just followed the headlights below on I-40 while it was still dark. Means you go a few miles out of the way, but there is always an out if something fails during night flight. After sunrise, I flew more direct. By late morning, I was more than halfway home over Missouri where flying conditions were much more benign. It all comes down to the flexibility in your schedule and route. I highly recommend watching daily turbulence patterns on an app like Windy so you can see what times and routes are most vs least likely to be problematic. If I see an EDR in the red, I'm not flying it. I adjust my route, departure time, or both to avoid the bumpiest areas.