is this doable? buy a slow flying plane in the line of a champ, 140..
slowly take my time to explore the western states. stopping in selected areas renting a car exploring the area, then flying over the area at low band altitudes. especially the rivers, deserted plains, canyons ...
all the times I have seen the west it was so vast. I was going to start my SS at age 62 which is 3 years from now.
never been west and was wondering if this was a dumb idea? I figured 30-60 day trip.
buy plane and resale at end of trip
I am not a rich man but really have been wanting to do this.

I have about 500 hours between training in a 150 and owning a 160 tri-pacer. all 25 years ago.

Sounds like a great trip to me.

Gump

Just "DO IT"

If you don't make it happen you'll never get another chance. I wanted to live in Alaska so I sold my business and went, what an experience. At our age you only get so many chances so don't pass them up.


Rick

Sound advice from the previous two posts.

As for planes, the slower the better. Lots of BCPers out west to assist you along the way.

I have a friend who retired as a DA investigator, with two careers in law enforcement. At 65 years old, he decided to fulfill his dream, took lessons and bought a 1998 Cessna 172. He has flown all around the country in it and is having the greatest time of his life.

His only regret... all together now as one chorus... that he didn't do it sooner and thank God he finally achieved his dream.

As Matt said, you will find lots of friendly faces, and useful advice, and airport help,... on this forum and several others.

I'll offer the first piece of common sense advice, put extra time and effort into getting a mechanically sound and reliable airplane, because you do not want to lose time or sacrifice any adventures screwing around with mechanical problems. So if your budget demands it, get a cosmetically ugly airplane but make absolutely sure it is in excellent mechanical condition. Pick solid over pretty... this airplane is going to give you one of the greatest adventures of your life, no matter what it looks like.

If you are going to tent camp along the way, highly recommended BTW, you will need some baggage capacity. Two up, the 'Champ has almost none, though if you're solo, you can fill the back seat with camping gear, baggage will still be limited compared to some other choices. I love the little 7AC though (had one for 15 years).

There are some good classic airplanes available for about $20K and up. It's still very much a buyers market, so take your time and do the research to learn the foibles and advantages of the various offerings.

Good luck!

bumper

next question. I visualize flying up a river, finding a flat spot, then camp and fish hike. are the national Parks off limits for that type of activity? I know in south Carolina it wouldn't work well. also is it a bad idea to carry food in a plane while camping because of the scent attraction of bears coyote etc...
I want to wait on selection of airplane until I can figure out what is possible and if I can find a human friend to tag along or small dog for company.

I read a good book about 10 years ago written by a guy who loved sailing. Up to that point he had stuck to coastal sailing in Southern California. He had a stout but small boat, 20', quite capable out on the open ocean, but as I said small. One day he says to hell with this, comes up with a plan to take some time off and do some real sailing. He took a year off and sailed "Kowabunga" to Tahiti and around the Marquesas then up to Hawaii and back to LA. When asked why he did it he said he didn't want to be on his death bed saying he was sure glad he didn't take that year off from selling insurance to have the vacation of a lifetime.

VFR wrote:next question. I visualize flying up a river, finding a flat spot, then camp and fish hike. are the national Parks off limits for that type of activity? I know in south Carolina it wouldn't work well. also is it a bad idea to carry food in a plane while camping because of the scent attraction of bears coyote etc...
I want to wait on selection of airplane until I can figure out what is possible and if I can find a human friend to tag along or small dog for company.

Do the trip.... You will have a blast, and ya ain't gettin any younger either... As for camping spots.. Landing is a National Park will get you arrested, next in line for harrasment is national Forest land and the least chance of hassles is BLM land... Don't land on Indian Reservations as they will probably seize your plane..... Best bet is to read the AFD and find all the airports that allow camping, you will be amazed at how many there really are..... Like the advertising lingo says... "Just Do It "....

preciate the advice and glad to know it can work. Time to start the in-depth research so I can come up with a basic route, and logistics with a budget.
broad flight plan now is to leave South Carolina south along coast to Florida, west along gulf to Mississippi. then follow rivers north to Dakotas. and westward back down south along continental divided to New Mexico Arizona etc..
if there are. areas that I need to considered I would appreciate listing them. I. am not big on big cities. love God's handy work

VFR, By all means yes, just do it. Another thing to have is weather radar devise (gps, ipad, etc). It will ad a lot of safety and piece of mind for you.

I remember my first trip west. I called for a briefing and was told "VFR not recommended," so I stayed another day in Kansas at the motel. Never saw a cloud all day.

Lay down that 72 inch tape measure and then put your finger on your age. Every thing to the left is gone. If you are average, what is on the right is all that you have left. Go get it.

Patrolguy, your 72 inch tape measure analogy finalized my decision to move my retirement up by 2 years. Thank you, Mike.

If you start looking now for a good 150 or 160 tripacer and find a good one, as soon as you are in the air, it will be like kissing your first girlfriend (or better). They are a good stout plane.

If you like God's handywork, then come out here to see the coastal redwoods. He was really handy there. If I am still alive, stop by. I will be 70 in when you retire.

Tim

Hey VFR, you do realize that now that you asked the question you are required by the internet God's to keep us up to date and post lot's of pictures when you do make the trip. right?

From a planning perspective consider picking up the Fly Idaho, Fly Utah etc series by Galen Hanselman, also a Pilot Getaways magazine subscription. You will not have to worry about missing flying into National Parks. They contain a huge list of places to fly that you can choose from and that are better. You can also find strips that are adjacent to National Parks that offer cars so if you have a must see it can be worked out.

Do it----you will not regret it.

patrol guy wrote:
Lay down that 72 inch tape measure and then put your finger on your age. Every thing to the left is gone. If you are average, what is on the right is all that you have left. Go get it.

Very meaningful (and frightening), thanks.

patrol guy wrote:"VFR not recommended,"

That's pretty much what those Lockheed guys say for any flight briefing any more....

There is a bunch of the west that you can basically land and camp anywhere you want to. Another thing is that usually no one will even know you are there.. Go for it..

Most of the ranchers or property owners that you may run into will be happy to see you, they don't get to see plane very often. If you do find a cranky one, offer to help them with whatever he's doing, you'll have a friend for life.

But Go For It..

VFR wrote:I figured 30-60 day trip.buy plane and resale at end of trip.I am not a rich man but really have been wanting to do this.

Great idea. For that matter, why not lease a plane for a couple of months? I had a friend with a similar retirement mission who took a 172 all the way from Missouri up to Alaska and back, over 2 months' time (July-August), camping under the wings a lot of the time along the way, paying a dry rate, and it was less than the cost of owning in the end (insurance, use tax, etc). The FBO had to arrange for insurance coverage to go through Canada- that was it. You wouldn't even have that issue. The FBO was happy to have 80 hours' dry rate on the plane over the time period, and my friend had a memorable, economical trip.

Go for it,

My son and I did such a trip around the border of the USA in our Maule. Gone for a month....15,000 miles, 123 hours of flying, 66 landings, stayed at isolated airstrips, camped under the wing all but 4 nights....never saw another person on our overnights 70% of the time Carried all our food and gear with us. trip of a lifetime.

In retirement I've continued such adventures.

Suggestion. If owning an airplane is and economic issue(when isn't it?) buy something that will do the job for you...something with more performance and load carrying ability. After the trip....sell it! Buy something as soon as you can the prices are 30 to 50% less than five years ago. Should be able to get all your money back and maybe a bit more.

Good luck friend.

bob