Hey everybody,

Now that my bird is flying again, I'm about to tackle my boyhood dream and have started planning a trip across the USA with my new, super 170.

I had asked previously on another thread for places to visit, but I am also really interested and keen on meeting as many fellow aviators as I can.
Any suggestions would be welcome!

Help me to fill this map with a bunch more dots…



I don’t want those long straight lines, I want a jaggery flip-floppy mess!

And the only fixed points are really the start in 28M and a few days in BDU, the other spots are thrown in just to separate the out and return legs (and because I happen to know someone there).

From KBDU, you should make a stop at C08 Silverwest Airport. August 12 is Airfest here and it's a great flyin with live music and a bunch of cool airplanes! We own hangar 12. There are two courtesy cars and great lodging in town.

Also, when you leave Silverwest, fly over the great sand dunes and make a stop at Hooper Hot springs (small dirt strip) - they have good food, cabins, hot springs and alcohol. https://www.sanddunespool.com

On your way south, you might as well stop at angel fire KAXX. Great Vietnam memorial.

Then on to Santa Fe KSAF for some good food in old town.

If I was heading south, that's how I would do it.

Cheers,

Jim

That's only a partial trip across the USA. You're skipping some of the most interesting places west of the continental divide. If you extend your westward limits, I'd have more suggestions. For the flatlands in the Midwest and Eastern parts of the country, you won't be getting the best your super 170 has to offer. Still, there are some interesting places to visit. Gaston's on the White River in Arkansas is a grass strip well worth stopping at. They have fishing cabins, a fancy lodge and a great restaurant. If you get far enough south, and east check on visiting Triple Tree Aerodrome in South Carolina. It's 7,000 feet of Bermuda grass. It's like landing on a golf course green. Check with the owner before flying in. They have big open house events, but I'm not sure about the ability to land there on a random flight. The strip isn't anything to write home about, but landing at First Flight Field in North Carolina and walking over to the Wright brothers memorial can be a special memory. It's a BIG country. Seeing it all will take more than one tour!

Didn't you visit Puckett Gliderport in Eagleville TN (50M) on a previous trip? I'm a stone's throw away in Murfreesboro (KMBT). Let me know if you come this way again. We have a very active "hundred dollar hamburger" group that will be glad to help you gain a couple of pounds while you are here.

Just south of me is the Beech Museum at Tullahoma (KTHA). Worth a visit... two grass runways in addition to the pavement.

If you are a whiskey connoisseur, my neighbor, Virginia Butler, is the Master Distiller at Uncle Nearest Distillery, which is practically across the street from Shelbyville (KSYI). Interesting part of Tennessee Whiskey history here.

South of Atlanta is Peach State Aerodrome (GA2). Restaurant on the field and various events throughout the year.
Worth a visit.
https://www.peachstateaero.com/

Also the Air Force Museum near Macon GA (KMCN). https://museumofaviation.org/
I haven't been there in 25 years... It was always nice and I would like to visit again as I've heard it continues to improve.

That should put a couple of jaggery flip-flops in that southeastern line......

Lot's of "friendlies" north of the 49th parallel

I am in agreement with Flyhound. You are missing some incredible summer flying by not venturing west of the divide. I personally would not miss some summer Idaho/Montana flying. You could spend a week in that region alone and still not even come close to seeing everything there is to see. Then there is all of Washington, Oregon, and California. These would be top on my priority just because it is usually perfect weather and some amazing backcountry flying. You also don't need to hit rugged backcountry strips. The Oregon Coast has some amazing paved airports right on the beach with great camping. The San Juan Islands are also worth seeing.

If you do make it out to Oregon/Washington - I would be willing to meet up with you. I would love to see your airplane in person. Curious how much time you have for the trip ?


Josh

Thanks guys, great suggestions, map updated!
Where else?
Someplace up in the northern part oft the country?

jaudette wrote:From KBDU, you should make a stop at C08 Silverwest Airport. August 12 is Airfest here and it's a great flyin with live music and a bunch of cool airplanes!

Thanks Jim for putting some dents in the BDU-outbound leg!
I remember Silver West from my days of soaring out of Boulder. C08 was always an emergency alternate should the Sangres turn nasty on my way to Blanca Peak .

Flyhound wrote:That's only a partial trip across the USA. You're skipping some of the most interesting places west of the continental divide. If you extend your westward limits, I'd have more suggestions. ....
Seeing it all will take more than one tour!

Let me be a little bit more specific about my vision for this trip.
I'm planning on roughly 4 - 6 weeks of mostly visiting airfields - or private strips - where I can camp. I'll have a folding bike with me to explore nearby attractions.

Sure within that time frame I can't see it all.
How far west I get depends on the weather and the number of interesting places along the way.
I'd love to make it to the West Coast...

Flyhound wrote:For the flatlands in the Midwest and Eastern parts of the country, you won't be getting the best your super 170 has to offer. Still, there are some interesting places to visit. ..

Thanks for your suggestions!
Should I make it to the other side of the Divide I'll be in touch.

kg wrote:Didn't you visit Puckett Gliderport in Eagleville TN (50M) on a previous trip? I'm a stone's throw away in Murfreesboro (KMBT). Let me know if you come this way again.

Yes, I did - and wouldn't mind to stop there again - very pleasant memories!

kg wrote:That should put a couple of jaggery flip-flops in that southeastern line......

It sure did! Thanks!

Dog is my Copilot wrote: You could spend a week in that region alone and still not even come close to seeing everything there is to see. Then there is all of Washington, Oregon, and California.

Josh, I know ... and secretly I hope I'll get to see at least some of it!

Now back to the planning board....

As long as you are up north you ought to check out Niagara Falls. I lived in Erie for a few years and just enjoyed the scenery. The Falls are easy to get too, ATC is really cooperative. Head on over to Cleveland and land at Burke Lakefront. Like landing on a boat.

What dates will you be flying - Let me know approx arrival at C08 and I'll see if I can arrange some hangar space.

GA2, Peachstate, mentioned above, will almost certainly allow camping. I know they used to ... they have changed owners but I believe the current owners are continuing with the previous owner's vision.

I've never been there but 8FD3, Blackwater Airfield, in the panhandle of Florida is supposed to be a great place to camp. The information you need is on the RAF Airfield Guide on their website.

If you want to venture further south, Arcadia Florida, X06, has a very nice camping facility on the field. Shelter, picnic tables, refrigerator, bath house.... and a short bike ride into town. A couple of years ago they were voted the best airport in FL. Super nice people there. And it's a short flight to Everglades City, X01, where you can also take a bike ride into town for seafood... they are known for Stone Crab Claws.

Summer will be hot in this part of the country.

Looks like fun but I too would push going a little further west. Utah, Idaho, Nevada all amazing flying. Being originally from Europe the desert country never fails to amaze me. Not to be missed IMNSHO.

1Y9 in northwest Iowa has a campground with showers and a snack bar with food right next to the airport. Can land on grass next to the 30 foot wide asphalt if you want.

From VA85, if possible fly up the Shenandoah valley over Harrisonburg towards Winchester. It's beautiful. Took that route ferrying the Champ home from FL.

Pete

Thanks everyone, much appreciated!

kg wrote:I've never been there but 8FD3, Blackwater Airfield, in the panhandle of Florida is supposed to be a great place to camp. The information you need is on the RAF Airfield Guide on their website.

If you want to venture further south, Arcadia Florida, X06, has a very nice camping facility on the field. Shelter, picnic tables, refrigerator, bath house.... and a short bike ride into town. A couple of years ago they were voted the best airport in FL. Super nice people there

and

pburns wrote:From VA85, if possible fly up the Shenandoah valley over Harrisonburg towards Winchester. It's beautiful.

..are great ideas to plan the southern - most likely the return - leg.

I'm really getting excited about this trip...
..even more so when I look at pictures from my last adventure!



Should the outbound trip (northern route) be a quick one to get to Colorado as fast as possible in order to make time for excursions out west, as

daedaluscan wrote:Looks like fun but I too would push going a little further west. Utah, Idaho, Nevada all amazing flying. Being originally from Europe the desert country never fails to amaze me. Not to be missed IMNSHO.

and others "insist" on?

You’re missing lots of great stuff in Utah:
Mexican Mountain
Cedar Mountain, over 7,000’ so great for camping in the summer, cold in the fall
Mineral Canyon UT75
Happy Canyon UT97
Poison Spring (short and requires precision)
Hidden Splendor (cool approach through the canyon, best in morning)

If you venture into Utah, join Utah Backcountry Pilots Association and download the content pack to your ForeFlight for all the strips and info.

Backcountry Utah is hot in the summer, fall is amazing, spring can have some wet/soft strips

Have fun

Coastal MD and VA have some really neat flying. Lots of unpopulated beaches but there are a few areas with wildlife restrictions. Campbell field (9VG) is a neat grass strip that allows camping, but I don't remember there being much to do around the area. Earth (VG39) is really cool, the end of the runway is the ocean! But it's private and I'm not sure the owner's policy on visitors. I had good luck when I visited after calling ahead.

Ocean city (OXB) is a neat paved strip with a beach town nearby. Cambridge (CGE) has some of the best seafood I've found at a fly-in restaurant.

Other neat grass strips in that area: Jenkins (15N)- grass only, lots of old abandoned airplanes. Albanna (0N6)- nothing to see, looks like a backyard strip, but a cool stop. Massey Aerodrome (MD1)- cool grass field with a museum. Laurel (N06).

Utah-Jay wrote:You’re missing lots of great stuff in Utah:

Great !
I'll fill in another foreflight map with "have to see" places west of the Divide just to have a list to choose from should I make it there.

twofingers wrote:Coastal MD and VA have some really neat flying.

Like it!
to visit those places alone would make a nice trip for an extended weekend!

here's a closer look of the Virginia/Shenandoah to Massachusetts part as suggested by pburns and kg.
more jags...

Utah-Jay wrote:You’re missing lots of great stuff in Utah:

map updated !
Curious about those "famous" places out West - keep them coming!

Im sure you have marthas vineyard on the list but maybe you and Greg already did that. Also, I would make a stop in Arkansas. Visit https://www.flyoz.com/. There are tons of great backcountry strips there and also a nice grass strip with the best FBO Ive ever seen at Bentonville... tasty cafe too. KVBT. On your way back around, come through Vermont and we can meet up. There are lots of private strips all over the state. Basin Harbor is a must...