Frequently Asked Questions
We get asked some pretty interesting questions. We will do our best to answer them on this page. If you don't see an answer to your question, please use the "Contact Us" button and send it to us.
1. How many times have you traveled from coast to coast and what routes have you taken?
We have been traveling coast to coast since 2004. The map below shows the routes from 2004 to 2015.
2. Can the photos and logbook be copied or downloaded?
No, all the content on this website is copyright protected including the Vintage Flying logo, all the photos and the logbook.
3. What kind of camera(s) do you use to take the photos on the "Photos" page?
Photos were taken with a 47 megapixel Nikon D850 with a Nikkor 28-300 mm vibration reduction (VR) lens. Some photos were taken with an iPhone. Those photos are marked beginning with "IMG" instead of "BFH."
4. You refer to "we" in your logbook. Who is with you?
We fly solo most all of the time. Pilots respond to Air Traffic Control (ATC) with the pronoun "we" even if they are flying alone. Charles Lindbergh wrote a book about his historic flight titled "WE."
5. What is your primary means of navigation and communication?
We use aeronautical charts on ForeFlight software backed up by a Garmin GPS. We have found that navigating by reference to the wet compass is the easiest way to maintain our course and using the ETA provided by the GPS to forecast our time of arrival. For communications we have a portable Icon A24 transceiver radio strapped to the left leg (the Cub does not have an electrical system or battery).
6. How high can the Piper Cub fly?
We've flown the Cub a number of times just above 9,000 feet above sea level. It takes a very long time to climb to that altitude. Generally we look for lift to assist us.
7. How fast do you fly?
We cruise consistently at 70 miles per hour. Headwinds and tailwinds effect our ground speed.
8. How far and long can you fly on a tank of gas?
The Cub has a stock 12 gallon fuel tank with 11.8 useable gallons of fuel. We average about 4.1 gallons per hour. If we leave at least 30 minutes of fuel in reserve (2 gallons) we would be able to fly for 2 hours and 20 minutes. However, we plan our flights for no more than 2 hours. The headwinds or tailwinds determine how far we fly. If the wind is calm, we could make about 130 miles on a tank of fuel (obviously less if a headwind, more if a tailwind).
9. Do you follow a rigid flight plan and itinerary?
No we sure don't. Weather conditions often change our planned route of flight. We have never completed one of these adventures as planned, but then, that's why they are adventures.
10. How long does it take to develop your flight plan each year and when do you start your planning?
We generally start the initial planning in January. We pick destinations that provide for adventure and attempt to find routing that takes us over beautiful and interesting terrain. The planning continues until the day we leave.
11. When you land at a small airport at the end of the day, how do you get to a hotel?
Some airports have a courtesy car availble. Sometimes we find that some kind person will get us to and from a hotel. We refer to them as Airport Angels. We've come to rely on them.