Folks, I live in MT (Billings) and want to fly XC to OH (New Phili) where I grew up but have never yet made the trip. I am VFR (850 hrs) and thus am concerned about Wx issues primarily. I have a 182 with a good autopilot etc and have a route already planned, but am most concerned about “when is best to go”. Any opinions or recommendations? Thanks much in advance.
Montana to Ohio … best time of year ?
- Thread starter VFRinMT
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- MountainDude
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- KPDX
If you are patient, any time of year will work (may take 2-7 days). Simply look at the 7 day forecast for the route and go.
Summer mornings are very likely to work, and if you have good onboard weather, even summer afternoons may work (key word "may").
Summer mornings are very likely to work, and if you have good onboard weather, even summer afternoons may work (key word "may").
sourdough44
En-Route
May through September, with good weather.
Once the Wx gets good in MT you're good to go until probably October. Just watch the forecasts and start to look for big highs passing across the US. Since you're going VFR, be sure to plan for extra time going out and coming back.
Also, you said you had your route planned... but is that straight out and stright back? Maybe re-think that and plan on stopping at different places for a day (or two). XC flights open up a lot of the US that you'd otherwise probably never visit. So take advantage of it!! The other tip is to call ahead and make sure there is fuel. There seem to be more stories about pumps being down and waiting on parts or the fuel truck arriving a day or two late. Not a bad idea to have an alternate fuel Apt in mind and land at your first choice with plenty of fuel to get to the alternate if necessary.
Also, you said you had your route planned... but is that straight out and stright back? Maybe re-think that and plan on stopping at different places for a day (or two). XC flights open up a lot of the US that you'd otherwise probably never visit. So take advantage of it!! The other tip is to call ahead and make sure there is fuel. There seem to be more stories about pumps being down and waiting on parts or the fuel truck arriving a day or two late. Not a bad idea to have an alternate fuel Apt in mind and land at your first choice with plenty of fuel to get to the alternate if necessary.
455 Bravo Uniform
Final Approach
You’ll probably want to skirt the south side of Lake Michigan rather than crossing directly over (GPS Direct To).
In the Midwest you’ll start to see spring rainstorms (if lucky, not snow like this weekend/today). They are going to be predictable and should not catch you off guard if you track weather development.
In the Midwest you’ll start to see spring rainstorms (if lucky, not snow like this weekend/today). They are going to be predictable and should not catch you off guard if you track weather development.
Hypie
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I have made the trip from the Chicago area to KMSO several times now, from July to November. I only had to file IFR on a couple legs of the journey but honestly, I could have waited it out a day or so and been fine VFR. I usually stop in KPIR, great FBO and good folks there.
If I were going to pick one time of year to do that trip, I'd probably choose mid June to October. There's always a chance to be caught by an unforeseen storm or problematic weather, but that time period generally produces the most consistently nice flying weather. My personal preference would be fall, but that might be getting a bit late in the year for comfort farther west.
Most of my trips have been in aircraft limited to VFR operations and I have found that trips are doable any time of the year with a little planning and flexibility. Despite the aircraft limitations, I've been everywhere in the US except for the New England area. In other words, I wouldn't lose a ton of sleep over exactly when the trip is done.
Most of my trips have been in aircraft limited to VFR operations and I have found that trips are doable any time of the year with a little planning and flexibility. Despite the aircraft limitations, I've been everywhere in the US except for the New England area. In other words, I wouldn't lose a ton of sleep over exactly when the trip is done.
Clip4
Touchdown! Greaser!
September.
sourdough44
En-Route
You could do a ‘2-fer’ with that trip. That is, plan it around an Oshkosh visit, during the big fly-in. If so as long as weather is cooperative, the Fiske arrival is usually more settled by Wednesday or Thursday.