I'm flying my Aeronca Sedan from KSZP to KCXP tomorrow. Two different routes I'm thinking about...flying up the valley to I-80 and heading over Donner Pass, or cutting across CA to Inyokern and then flying along the east side of the Sierras up over Bishop, Mammoth Lakes and so on.

Experienced opinions with either or both routes appreciated!

I subscribe to the valley/I-80 corridor. The climb over 80 isn’t bad when you fly the interstate and then you have a crappy, but usable option if the big fan quits.

East side is nice, but WX and Winds and a lack of decent diversions, esepcially with the current weather system would make it a no go for me.

I live on the east side of the rocks, and it’s a nice trip if the winds are down.

At Bishop, follow Hwy 6 up, not 395, and work your way up the valleys east of Mono Lake and into Smith Valley, then Carson Valley.

WX forecast for 4/8 is sunny, temps 70s, and winds 5-10.

Gump

I vote for the east side . About a million times more scenic and the weather looks real good for tomorrow out there .

GumpAir wrote:I live on the east side of the rocks, and it’s a nice trip if the winds are down.

At Bishop, follow Hwy 6 up, not 395, and work your way up the valleys east of Mono Lake and into Smith Valley, then Carson Valley.

WX forecast for 4/8 is sunny, temps 70s, and winds 5-10.

Gump

I'm thinking you guys have talked me into the east side. I hadn't thought about going further east...over Benton, Mina, Hawthorne, then northwest towards Carson.

Or even a bit more west is a beautiful ride. From Benton cross the ridges by Aurora, and go up the west side of Mt Grant. That will take you over Flying M Ranch, south end of Mason Valley, then Smith Valley and back to Carson Valley and KCXP.

That was my usual good wx route if I was playing down by Bishop/Lone Pine.

Gump

Definitely East side, especially with good weather. I was in SZP for 8 years, then down at SEE in San Dog for 3....now, Red Oak Iowa......all the crosswinds and flat land you could ever want here! I miss the mountains ...have fun!

Made it to Carson yesterday, what a great trip. The Sedan ran flawlessly. The MOAs were cold, got flight following with Joshua approach just for peace of mind.

I stopped in Inyokern for a break and topped the fuel tanks and then headed back north. As I closed in on Bishop I modified my flight plan and went up over Mammoth Lakes and Bridgeport, and slid through the welcomingly named Devil’s Gate. Past Topaz Lake, up the Carson Valley and done!

4.1 hours, 8.6gph, and a blistering average speed of 98mph.

Saw the sedan here at Minden the other day! Cool plane!

Ah man... flying past Bridgeport without stopping to fish? Sacrilege!!! Love the Sedan though!

onthegas1 wrote:Saw the sedan here at Minden the other day! Cool plane!

Wow! Already making new friends. Thank you!!!

Rob wrote:Ah man... flying past Bridgeport without stopping to fish? Sacrilege!!! Love the Sedan though!

Thanks Rob. I was on a mission to get it home, Bridgeport is a cool town for sure.

Yup. My airplane came up the East side yesterday 4/17/18. Departed near Palmdale 6:15AM. stops at Inyokern and Mammoth.