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just for curiosity sake.... has any one ever done a long distance flight in a max no matter how many stops for fuel and weather....  like say if I wanted to fly to oshkosh or airventure  could it be done?
so far ive done a short cross country of 38 miles one way... turned around and went back to home base after eating breakfast at the on field diner.  That was alot of fun!   went from PTD to SLK which is through the Adirondack mts. so it was really beautiful sight!

i decided to add photos of my short cross country  PTD - SLK   enjoy!  

That country looks a lot like where I fly in Maine. Not too many emergency landing fields; kinda raises the pucker factor. Thanks for posting the pictures.

No problem aero... Do you ever fly to Vermont or new hampshire

if you search the archives for airbike ace's post or google for his site he has several stories of flying to oshkosh in his airbike, if it can be done in that it can definitely be done in a max. it would require a lot of pre-planning but he would be the person with all the answers on that subject. i have thought about it myself either that or trailering it there, if it wasn't for that big lake to go around it would be a lot easier going from michigan.

thanks thunder!  I just read the story and all... wow is all I can say and would love to do something similar in my max.... just take off towards something fun and dont worry about how long it takes you.  What I gather thou is that no matter how much route planning you do, weather can always change that on you at the last minute so you have to be ready for it...  
It would be a bit more for me than to just go around the lake as you put it.  LOL im in Northern New york state up by the Canadian boarder.  I could fly down the east coast to sun n' fun thou!  wow what a great goal to have!   I would be concerned that not having a fuel gauge.  I only burned .75 of a gallon going one way 38 miles to SLK thou. So that's pretty good.

Yup Thunder in mid 70's I had a Champ and I use to take a week off in the fall and fly west from Millinocket just to see the colours changing on the trees and I'd usually make it to Syracuse, NY then turn around and fly back. Those were some great trips. I can remember when AV gas went to 50 cents a gallon and I thought the world was comming to an end lol.

its at $5.60 currently at my FBO

Most I ever did in my old max was a bit over 480 miles and it was great I had 10 gallons of fuel on board and the max burned 3 an hour it was great watching the earth pass by.  About 2 1/2 hours in the max and I was ready to walk a bit and get gas but man was it a blast.  If you have a reliable plane and enough fuel to fly and pick you landing spot I would go for it... course you will scare the pants off old Bill but he has survived worse.  Paul did it in a open plane mine was more comfortable enclosed but if you trust the plane and engine then the distance really doesn't matter.  You can fly in the pattern all day and put 150 miles or more on a plane in a good day or 300 in a weekend or you can fly a straight line and go somewhere. Planning is important and letting people know where you are and going is too.

lol sometimes the pattern is more fun than a straight line due to the fact the straight line speed is some times negitive aka backwards  

Quoted from 1300zman lol sometimes the pattern is more fun than a straight line due to the fact the straight line speed is some times negitive aka backwards  

Tell me about it... On Monday mornings, when I can, I commute from NH to NY in my C150. 90kts isn't very fast, but combined with straight line it cuts travel time in half  (4+ hrs vs. 2- hrs)... Except this week I had a 40kt headwind... GPS was showing 55kts ground speed... now if I had been flying a max I still wouldn't be there ...

Seriously, I love it when I hear adventurous folks talking long x-c in max.  Closest I have come is across US twice in an Aeronca... Everything you guys have said about planning seems the key...

I would consider a gps for ground speed with very close monitoring of fuel burn to enhance cross country performance....travel light....carry money...lol...and lastly watch the weather and the winds.

Head winds are a disaster...so choose the time of year for light winds.

Australia is a broad flat land with maybe fewer safe fuel available airfeilds than the USA. In Australia I also take water, cell phone, radio...etc.....and I call it sky camping...great fun....great fun and great fun with a wingman...or second aircraft...and it also makes you feel safer....LOL

And Paul..aka Airbike ACE is the ACE at this type of air adventuring or skycamping. IT can BE done so enjoy and plan...and dont forget the camera


regards Arthur

yea you can definitely fly cross country, my plane has been to osh kosh flown from marion IN to osh Kosh and back and as far a you getting .75 gal for 38nm I used about 2.5 maybe a little more.

Hi 1300Zman,

If you don't make a trip like this, when will  you?  And where will you be 10 years from now if you don't do it?  Will  you feel you have missed something?  My bet is you will be pissed and you will most certainly have missed a lot. Everything from the detail of planning the flight, flying the  plan, overcoming obstacles, having fun and building your confidence.  You will have many  memories which can  be translated into stories that just might motivate others.

It is not a piece of cake as this music slide show illustrates http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-f9HuewRg but after you have acquired piloting experience and confidence in your plane, the question really becomes...why not?  It may be the highlight of your flying experience.  Additionally, it might motivate you to do it again or go to another location.

A few years ago a fellow flew a Quicksilver from California to New York with AirVenture as a stopping point (among others).

I suggest you seriously consider making the trip.

AirBike Ace
(Paul Fiebich)

Paul that was a great vido; I like your spirit.

Thanks so much Paul!!! I will be trying to make such a trip this year!  Between me and Oshkosh there are a lot international airports I would also have to fly far enough around to stay out of their airspace... I looked over my course last night a bit...  I found this website http://www.skyvector.com you can pot out legs of a cross country and input mph and it gives you time to each stop and all info for each airport it was pretty useful

I personally have not flown  a great long distance yet but the former owner flew to osh kosh.    I have only made it on 34 nm and building, gettting a little braver as I go.

Paul,
Loved the video and the music. Looks like there were a lot of "emergency landing sites" that could be used for a Max that would be questionable for GA aircraft. That would make a trip an adventure rather than a frightening trip. It would take good planning ahead though.

Gary

I am like the post flying within 15nm of my homebase until the plane has proved to me its trustworthy.  Its doing good but I guess I am a little gunshy right now.

LIke many of you if the weather hold I plan a 57nm trip this week or next.

maybe this is something we ought to plan for the summer....a fly in/camp in somewhere.

Hey I love your thinking dale!!

Is it flicker that has the map where each person that owns a max can load it on that map that way any of us can look and see where we are located.   Sonerai.net has a similar map

ok so i got bored today and plotted my course to OSH from my home base using sky vector.  I came up with 22 stops for fuel and food and seeing family along the way!  below is my hopeful flight route!!    I have been thinking about it and I really hope to go this year!!!   tell me what you think so far... Paul F. this is directed towards you since you have the most knowledge about this kinda thing in such a small plane  lol

Jon

Hey Zman,

How about plot one to get that HiMax back from Italy (for sale threads).  How many islands are there in the big pond ?   LOL

man you have a ways to go that would be an awesome trip, I just checked mine only 368nm for me, you are a lot farther.

Good luck and hope you make it

lol gary probably not enough... would have to lose some body weight to carry more fuel  

With Freindly winds......wonderful and easy.....thanks for the map....looks like a nice programme, does everone use this in the USA..?

regards Arthur

a lot of us do and back it up with navmonster.com for wind checks ETC.

I just was browsing online last night for different gadgets and i found this....  I don't know how many of you use your iPhone/ipad for navigation but I use my iPhone!  so for on these long trips I was worried about my battery dying and not being able to charge it... i found sollight.com and they have (pictured below) a small portable solar powered iPhone charger!!!  also comes with other adapters to charge cameras and other portable devises!!!  Maybe if I'm lucky it my charge my hand held transceiver that i use in my plane for communications with the outside world! ill keep you all posted I'm really considering getting one!