National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Just a fun question. I was thinking about cross country flying the other day and wanted to see what was the farthest or best cross country some of you have flown in your Chiefs.

Todd Wilemon

From KPNC (Northern Oklahoma) to OSH in 2009. So much fun!

John Rodkey of the fAA email list flew from the Santa Barbara area to Middletown and back some years ago. Thats far enough for me.

I did Middletown to Phoenix last year. Will be doing it next summer as well!

Todd,

Great topic !! I have owned my Aeronca Chief continually since 1980. I have had hours & hours of pure joy flying NC3469E. Our Chief is a 1947 11AC Chief. I do use the rear aux tank all of the time. I live in Marion, Indiana. I have flown our Chief to Lakeland, Fl three times. My longest cross country non- stop was 4 hours. I have done this a couple times. Most legs are 3.5 hours. It helps to be by yourself and stretch your right leg over to the right outside rudder pedal. I have flown to Blakesburg, Iowa. Huntsville, Alabama. Several trips to Alliance, Ohio to see my friend Brian Matz at his Aeronca gatherings. Many trips to Oshkosh over the years. We would love to have you fly to Marion, Indiana for the 20th annual Fly/In Cruise/In coming up on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. I would encourage you to take your Chief out and take a trip. See: http://www.FlyInCruiseIn.com

Sounds like some awesome trips. I have not ventured too far yet. I normally just cruise around for an hour or so checking out the sights. I am going to plan some longer trips in the near future.

Todd

Cool flights!

One trip I have to make is from home (near Pittsburgh) to my parents home in upstate NY (Near Potsdam).

My flight planner tells me it will be 6.5 hours.

(Last time we went it took 3.5 in IMC in a C205)

Pardon me for barging in on this Chief conversation but I'm bored and figured I'd visit with you guys a bit.

My longest xcountry trips in a 46 champ with a 65 hp engine and only the one 13 gal tank have been from Naples, FL (apf) to Peach State (ga2), depending on my route it's about 575 miles. Needless to say I stop every 2 hours to be safe and as luck has had it both times I did the trip had headwinds both ways! Course it's all good cause I'm flying so who cares how long it takes.

I like the xcountry flying and try to do it regularly at least by connecting a few stops together around S. FLA.

Take Care
Ed

Ed, what's a NORDO Chief friendly airport in Naples? I may have to come down to help clear out my recently deceased father-in-law's condo and it would make the trip from Iowa more interesting if we could come down in the Chief. That would indeed qualify as our longest cross-country.

Rick,

The three closest (in order) are:
Marco Island- MKY about 12 miles from downtown

Everglades City- X01 about 30 miles from downtown

Immokalee- IMM about 35 miles from downtown

distances as the crow flies.

All are good airports with MKY being most convenient. Let me know when your coming and I could probably pick you up from the airport and could probably loan you my car to get around and put you up here as I have a spare bedroom and live in East Naples. Just PM me on this site and we can connect.

Sounds like a fun trip alright, sorry about the circumstances though. As you say, the trip would at least be more interesting.

Take Care
Ed

Thanks Ed. If we end up being the 'lucky' parties it will be sometime after Christmas. We'll have a car and place to stay, but I'll give you a call anyway and thanks much for the offer. Maybe we can do lunch at the Snook in Marco.

Sounds great Rick. We can go flying around here some if you have the time. I will be gone mid January for a few days to see my surgical oncologist in Baltimore for a routine check-up, other than that should be around.

Did round trip from Lancaster, Ca to Fairview, Ok and return in a 85 Champ, 13 gals of fuel. Was 34 hrs and 22 fuel stops. Brought my Chief home from mid state NY to middle TN. From Middle TN have been to S n F and other about 600 mi trips. No aux tank in it, but only the A65 and 15 gal tank. Still good for about 2+45 between stops.

Out of my league here. I think the furthest I've flown my Champ was from my home airport in Western Wisconsin to Oshkosh a couple of years ago. Around 150-160 miles. Ground speed was 110 mph going over according to my GPS and about 75 mph coming back (I have it set for mph instead knots otherwise it's too depressing ). But like Ed says...half the fun is getting there, so why hurry. I average around 4 gallons per hour at 2150 rpm once I'm up and cruising but usually figure 4.5 to stay on the safe side and will average 80-85 mph depending on wind conditions.

I flew my Cherokee 140 to Livingston, Montana once. That was my longest trip.


MikeB

While not a cross country in the usual sense.....I did 6.5 hours a couple of months ago on the Fall Colors Tour here in Northern MN. Flew over a large portion of the northern part of the state. It was a LOT of sitting. I do have a Temperfoam seat cushion so that made it much better. Oh, I only carried a extra 10 gallons of fuel with for this entire flight. Got home with plenty of fuel in the tanks. Didn't really need it though, my Champ hold 39 gallons!!
WW

Flew my 7DC Champ from 16FL, Pace Florida to KMEB, lauringburg North Carolina with three stops. Had headwind all the way home for 8.4 hours. I left Florida the mourning hurricane Ghustoff went into Texas. Wind that mourning was gusting to 22knots but we knew it would get better the farther east we went. We had plenty of time to count the cows in the pastures over Georgia!!!