Thread: Utah to Maine and back

The report is on the attachment. The adventure was great!

Roberts' Cross Country Trip in 2008 CTLS N86LS

Between 7 August and 24 August 2008, Carole and Russ Roberts took an extended trip in their new 2008 CTLS which, at the start, had only about 15 total hours on it. The itinerary was as follows:

Date From To H:min* Comment

7 (1L9) Parowan, UT (ALS) Alamosa, CO 3:29 Lunch
7 (ALS) Alamosa, CO (LBL) Liberal, KS 2:53 Remain Overnight (RON)

8 (LBL) Liberal, KS (1H6) Tulsa, OK 2:24 25 Hr Check, (RON)

9 (1H6) Tulsa, OK (HBZ) Heber Springs, AR 1:42 Lunch
9 (HBZ) Heber Springs, AR (MSL) Muscle Shoals, AL 1:58 Visit Family (RO3N)

12 (MSL) Muscle Shoals, AL (LOZ) London, KY 1:57 Lunch
12 (LOZ) London, KY (IDI) Indiana Co., PA 2:53 Visit Tip Ruffner's (RON)

13 (IDI) Indiana Co., PA (SCH) Schenectady, NY 2:17 Lunch
13 (SCH) Schenectady, NY (LEW)Auburn-Lewiston,ME 1:28 VP-10 Reunion (RO3N)

17 (LEW)Auburn,Lewiston,ME (POU) Poughkeepsie, NY 2:07 FDR Lib.,Hyde Park (RON)

18 (POU) Poukeepsie, NY (ERI) Erie, PA 3:06 Lunch
18 (ERI) Erie, PA (MGY) Dayton, OH 2:20 USAF Museum, (RO2N)

20 (MGY) Dayton, OH (SPI) Springfield, IL 2:19 Visit Lincoln Library (RON)

21 No flights due to weather. Remain in Springfield, IL (RON)

22 (SPI) Springfield, IL (1H6) Tulsa, OK 4:03 Erratic EMS (RON)

23 (1H6) Tulsa, OK (LBL) Liberal, KS 2:32 Lunch
23 (LBL) Liberal, KS (ALS) Alamosa, CO 2:40 Fuel (RON)

24 (ALS) Alamosa, CO (1L9) Parowan, UT 3:34 Home

* Hours here are actual in-the-air flight time (from first attaining 30 knots to dropping below 30 knots) and do not include time for preparation, pre-flight, warm-up, taxi, or postflight of aircraft.

Total Time 43:42

Comments:
1. The primary purposes of the trip were to get the 25 hour engine inspection enroute, visit family and friends, attend the reunion of U. S. Navy Patrol Squadron TEN in Brunswick, ME (of which Russ was Commanding Officer in 1965), visit the presidential libraries of FDR and Lincoln, and to visit the Air Force Museum. The presidential libraries, especially the very new Lincoln Library and Museum, are highly recommended as is, of course, the incredible USAF Museum. By chance, in Schenectady we shared the taxiway with the B-17 from the museum there and watched its departure. (Russ had flown the Navy version B-17 (the PB-1W) in 1948.)

2. The Dynon EMS became erratic in flight out of Springfield so an inflight diversion was made from the planned stop in Kansas to Tulsa for repairs by Rex Johnson at 1H6. The problem was a loose ground wire which he quickly found and repaired. Rex had on 8 August performed the 25 hour Rotax inspection. He is highly recommended for all CT maintenance. Our stops with him were very enjoyable. Tulsa Tom came over to say hello and lend us a car on the first stop. At IDI, Tip and Diane Ruffner met us and made that stop specially enjoyable.

3. Except for the above item, the CTLS performed flawlessly. While missing the ability to proceed IFR when needed, I much prefer cruising the CTLS to our previously owned Arrow. At altitudes below 9000 feet we constantly cruised at 120-122 knots TAS with 5100-5200 rpm and a fuel flow indicated at 5.3 gph. The integrated GPS, autopilot, HSI and VOR make a great combination.

4. I used a combination of filing VFR flight plans and mostly using Flight-Following enroute. I identified myself initially as "a Flight Design Charlie Tango which in your computer code is Foxtrot Delta Charlie Tango". This raised no questions with ATC. Sometimes when a turnover to another ARTCC sector was made, or in tower controlled traffic patterns, the controller would get a better description to pass on to other pilots. A "high wing white Light Sport Aircraft" worked for that.

5. Since the Flight Design CT has already proved itself with trans-Atlantic flights, an around the world flight and a recent visit to the Bahamas from New York, this trip adds little to the record. It does, however, provide more proof that you can really travel in it. I think that it is also pertinent that the pilot here is 80 years old and is flying using his driver's license in lieu of an aviation medical exam.

Russ,

Thanks for the great trip report. I had no idea you are 80. Looking forward to seeing you and Carole in Page.

way to go russ and caorl