Long XC in Cessna 150?

Would you routinely take a 700-800 one way trip in a Cessna 150 for business?

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RyanLikesFlying

RyanLikesFlying

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RyanLikesFlying
Weve all heard it, a long XC is a series of short ones. But who’s done it or regularly does it?

I rent a 150 regularly from a friend for a very reasonable price (fuel, MX, and keeps it flying- he flys his RV8 mostly), and I have a lot of these work trips coming up where I have these grand ideas of flying myself, doing the week of work and flying home. The owner is ok with it and my employer with reimburse me for travel expenses.

With that said, would you? The 150 ain’t fast and it ain’t big. But it’s just me and a carry on. Would you do a 800 mile flight in one, each way? I’m sort of building hours (not really sure what for?) and I’ve also thought these types of trips would do that quickly.

If you would, what sorts of things should I be thinking about? I’ve done 4 hour flights (fuel and bio stop in there) in the plane a few times with no issues. I guess looking for opinions to talk me in or out of it.

I am not instrument rated and I know WX is always a factor in a long trip. I’m not looking to fly 8 or 10 hours a day either due to fatigue and opportunity to make dumb mistakes.

Ryan
 
Most 150's I've seen and the few I've rented are not very capable and are in poor shape. I had flown them a few times from Tampa to Ft.Lauderdale and back. They are also slow. My main concern was the weather changing en-route (This being FL and all) My butt also starts to go numb after enough time; you feel so grateful when you plop out of the aircraft and get to stand. Other than that it's great to build XC time in them and you get to fly longer in an airplane and take it all in!
 
If you are flexible and give yourself time it could work. Be prepared to miss some meetings though or make alternate arrangements.
 
If that’s all I had to work with, sure! I really enjoy the little 150/152’s. Cheap and semi-fun to fly! :)
 
I'd have no issue flying a J3 coast to coast, your call that's a heck of a trip, if you have common sense and are a decent stick and it's a solid plane nothing really crazy about doing that trip in the 150.


You will build hours and some very good experience doing this.
 
Some of the longest cross country trips I've done have been in VFR only 90ish knot airplanes.

In fact, I've got to do another one next week. 950nm one way.
 
Your dispatch rate might be low. I've flown 1/2 that distance many times in my Cessna 150 (that's me flying home on one such trip) and it's 5-6 hours with a fuel/stretch stop. Once in a while when the WX gods are smiling, absolutely. Routinely? Ehhh...
 
That sounds really painful to me but it's feasible... I've done 2000 NM in one day in an SR22 and that would make someone who owns a proper jet think I'm crazy. Just treat it like an adventure!
 
If you got the time and find it comfy hours on end, they are good little planes. Like any other plane just prep the flight well and be prepped to cancel or push due to weather.
 
Seriously, it’s definitely doable with the right mindset.

But beware fatigue. Long stretches at even moderately high altitudes can really wear you down by the end of the day. I certainly had more endurance when I was younger, but now several 2+ hour legs in one day leaves me pretty tired. And tired pilots make more mistakes.

But give it a try. You’ll get a pretty good idea after that first one if it’s something that would be appealing on a regular basis.
 
Why yes, yes I would. Especially if I wanted to build hours. Since reading that book about those two Joisey brothers flying across the country in a J3 been itching for a long trip. I've flown a T41 from NJ to AL in a day, about 8-9 hours with two fuel and pee stops, and then back again a week or so later. Flew a V35 from Montgomery to Erie and back, over night trip. Warrior from AL to Volk Field WI.
 
I'd do it twice. Maybe three times. Before I would be searching for some way, any way to buy, borrow, beg, build something faster.

Such a long route would have a large exposure in time and miles to weather. I'd expect delays and cancellations.
 
mscard88 said:
Why yes, yes I would. Especially if I wanted to build hours. Since reading that book about those two Joisey brothers flying across the country in a J3 been itching for a long trip. I've flown a T41 from NJ to AL in a day, about 8-9 hours with two fuel and pee stops, and then back again a week or so later. Flew a V35 from Montgomery to Erie and back, over night trip. Warrior from AL to Volk Field WI.
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There is a 15 minute movie trailer on that book., flight of passage. I hope they finish it the trailer was great and had one or two aerobatic pilots (sean tucker) as actors.

 
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Let'sgoflying! said:
I'd do it twice. Maybe three times. Before I would be searching for some way, any way to buy, borrow, beg, build something faster.

Such a long route would have a large exposure in time and miles to weather. I'd expect delays and cancellations.
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Exactly what he said. As fun as it sounds, traveling in a 150 on a schedule is likely to get grueling quickly, especially with hurricane season coming. You'll spend the entire week watching the weather to see if you have to rent a car to get home.
 
There is a awesome 20 minute trailer somewhere, just can’t find it now.. Here is an old to tell the truth on them and a very short clip.



 
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In 1980 I flew from Novato, California to Jacksonville, Florida and back in a '66 C-150 without an autopilot. It was a fun trip.

N6554F%20Herlong%20Field%20HEG%201980%20med_zpsmi2haylp.jpg
 
No -- I'm too tall to fit in one comfortably. If I fit in it I would though, sure.
 
I flew a non-stop (well, one fuel stop) 450 nm trip 4 years ago in a '66 C150. When I was done, I felt like I had gone 10 rounds...and lost!
 
150s are great x-country airplanes if you are traveling solo. I’m 5’11” and 215 lbs and I was plenty comfortable once I got inside.

I delivered one to a new owner last year from Norfolk to Memphis. About 700 nm, but I could have easily done more.
 
tawood said:
Clear but turbulent...not even airmet turbulent, but just C150 turbulent and flying low-ish over the Smokey mountains...
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Sometimes it’s just a timing thing. I had a ferry trip like that in an Ercoupe last fall. I usually enjoy ferry trips. That one was a miserable experience.
 
mscard88 said:
Where's it at, and where ya want it? I'll go get her. Maybe. :)
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Might take you up on that. It’s at KAID Anderson, IN. Need it at 0NY0 in North Creek, NY. Might have an ATP/CFII ferry pilot lined up for this Monday. If he can’t do it are you able to find your way out of the southwest? I mean southeast? ;)
 
I flew mine coast to coast and all over the country many many times. It's no big deal.
 
C150 was my first plane. Flew it coast-to-coast many times and flew 1100 mile one-way trips (2200mi roundtrip) once a month...

Doable, but now, anything slower than M0.82 is too slow :)
 
It would be fun to do it once or twice, so it depends on how frequently you would presume to do this, and as others have mentioned how amenable you are to schedule delays.

The physical endurance standpoint is highly personal. I did 1450 miles in two days in a Pitts once. The second day it was very hard to force myself to get back in the airplane. But I can drive or ride a motorcycle 1000 miles a day with no problem.
 
Ken Ibold said:
It would be fun to do it once or twice, so it depends on how frequently you would presume to do this, and as others have mentioned how amenable you are to schedule delays.

The physical endurance standpoint is highly personal. I did 1450 miles in two days in a Pitts once. The second day it was very hard to force myself to get back in the airplane. But I can drive or ride a motorcycle 1000 miles a day with no problem.
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No kidding.

My first ferry job was flying a 450 Stearman from southern FL to NJ. By the time I delivered it, my rate went up!
 
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