ths@lanl.ARPA (01/15/85)
Regarding the comments about flying verses driving: I think that both sides of the argument have valid points. There is no right or wrong answer here. The importent aspects must be evaluated by each PIC and they must draw thier own conclusion. o How capable are you, can you go IFR? o How capable is the airplane, can it go IFR? o How much is your time worth in a given situation? o Do you have a specific schedule that MUST be met? o What time of year is it (winter is generally considered the worst) o Where is the flying to be done? (Northeast? Southwest? Big difference!). In the past 14 years I have spent three nights at "other than my destination". I have cancelled 3 trips because of weather. I have cancelled two trips due to airplane malfunctions. I typically make three trips of significant distance (>300 miles) each year so I guess I am looking at about 40 trips that entail at least two legs (there and back). The longest trip was 4000 miles (8 legs total, C-182). The most frequent trip I make is from New Mexico to California. Either the San Francisco or LA areas. I make one stop enroute to LA (Flagstaff, Phoenix or Prescott) and a second stop (Gen Fox, Bakersfield or *****) if going to SFO. The return trip from LA can be made with no stops and only one returning from SFO (unless unusual WX). From a time standpoint there is no way a car can compete with the C-182. I am in LA in 6 hours and SFO in 8 (including stops). I plan on 1 hour per stop especially if there is wx and I need an update. I can't even get out of New Mexico in 4 hours driving. It is a two day trip to LA and almost three to SFO. As a point of interest, you can get a ten minute refueling stop IF you call ahead and advise the FBO of your need. The folks in Prescott had the truck out by the tiedown closest to the runway waiting as we landed and finished topping us off before I could get to the mens room and back! And this was at 8:30 on a Saturday night! They have 24 hour service. From a cost standpoint I can take Southwest airlines to LAX for $98 round trip so the only way I can breakeven is by filling all the seats. The car would be cheaper too except for the motel and food costs. Because we live two hours from ABQ airport, I can actually get to places like Anaheim as quickly in the C-182 as I can using the Big Bird. So the argument has many sides. Ask me to fly with one other person from New Mexico to New York in January in a C-172 for a very importent meeting and I will probably decline. Change the date to July and specify a C-182 with three people and I'll go for it. The nice thing about a C-182 is that in order to come even close to running that thing out of gas you have to provide the occupants with a "humanoid range extender", sometimes referred to a an empty Gator Ade bottle.
gmm@bunker.UUCP (Gregory M. Mandas) (01/17/85)
> The nice thing about a C-182 is that in order to come even close to > running that thing out of gas you have to provide the occupants with > a "humanoid range extender", sometimes referred to a an empty Gator Ade > bottle. In Sporties this month there is a "Human Factor Range Extender" for sale. gmm