So what the hell is "true XC" anyway? The FAA defines a XC (cross country) flight in 61.1(3)(ii)(B) as "that includes a point of landing that was at least a straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure:" Yep, I'm not thinking about that definition, but this trip will exceed that paltry standard on the very first leg. I'm talking about a true cross country as in across this country. Starting in New York state and ending in Washington state meets my definition of a true cross country flight.
OK so why a true XC flight? I wish I could tell you that I had some high and lofty goal in mind, some great noble cause to fly for, some deeply personal significant milestone to mark but I don't. This flight will happen because I can do it, because I have a deep burning desire to do it, because I don't want another year to slip by and have the deed undone, because I'm tired of reading about people making this trip in planes far less qualified than mine and having a great time doing it, because I need an adventure worth writing about. Because it is there.
This trip takes off on June 12th, weather permitting. Weather permitting because there is absolutely no point in flying across this beautiful country if I can't see all there is to see. Weather permitting because my one lone passenger, she who will spare me from the endless hours of solitary confinement in flight, my loving and oh so understanding wife is much more comfortable that way. And that is good enough for me.
In the next few weeks I'm going to try to take everyone thru the preparation that goes into a flight like this and then I'm going to post up the daily trials and tribulations of the flight itself. With plenty of pictures of course.
see ya.
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