Re: What is going on with 2024 the SCCBC season?

Tom Elam <thomas.e.elam@gmail.com> wrote:

On 7/17/2024 9:09 PM, -hh wrote:

-hh wrote:

Alan wrote:

On 2024-07-16 07:08, -hh wrote:
 

On Saturday we leave for Vancouver on Air Canada. Looking forward to
that too. Flying is flying. :)

 
That you are "looking forward" to "flying" as a passenger in what is
about the same comfort as a bus says everything I need to know about
your taste.

 
LOL! A bus does not fly and travels at about 10% of the speed of a
commercial jet. Not comparable.

 
Fun fact:  a bus on a highway is moving a lot closer to a Cessna's
cruise speed than a Cessna is to a commercial jet, which makes the bus
must *more* comparable to the Cessna.
 
Similarly, the windows on a bus & Cessna are much larger than a 737
jet's "porthole", & have more forward views.
 
 

What would you take on a long trip that is more comfortable than an
aircraft? Car? Bus? Train? Motorcycle? I suppose a ship could be, but
very slow.

 
I'm reminded of and joke that some of my former military (and later 747)
pilot friends have told me:
 
One day, a fighter jock pulls up next to a 747 to have a chat.  He
proceeds with a "watch this!", showing the 747 a loop, barrel roll, etc.
 
Then the 747 pilot responds with his own "watch this".
 
Time passes as the jock just is watching the 747 cruising along straight
& level.  After 15 minutes, the 747 pilot comes back on the radio and
says "well how did you like that?".
 
Jock replies:  "how did I like .. what?"
 
747 pilot explains: "Well, I switched to auto-pilot, then got up and
went to the bathroom.  Then I stopped & brewed a fresh cup of coffee and
had that while I stretched my legs..."  :-)
 
Remind us how long the corridor is in a Cessna, Tommy. Oh, and headroom
to stand up in the cabin too.

 
The amazing part for me was Tommie suggesting that flying in economy on
an airliner was somehow something to be looked forward to...
 
...for the FLYING ITSELF!

 
If that really is the case, then he’d better never ever choose an aisle
seat ;-P

 
Oh, and one more thing:
 
Fun fact:  the cruising velocity of a cruise ship is closer to that of a
Cessna than a Cessna’s velocity is to a commercial jet (eg 737).
 
And yes, a cruise will take longer to go the same distance (of course), but
it’s not only more comfortable, but the food is much better (& there’s a
private bath)…and no layovers at Denver or Chicago while en route.
 
IIRC, the longest cruise we’ve taken to date was a bit over 2500 miles.
 
-hh

 
OK, checking Expedia for a cruise from Carmel to Luddington MI. Website
can't find that, or a direct commercial airline itinerary either.

IND-ORD-MDL exists, and is on paper faster than driving the 300 miles.

Indy International to Muskegon/return is about $600 each on our travel
dates and the scheduled trip time alone is about 7-12 hours on the
flight schedule via ORD plus the drive to Ludington and having to be at
the airport 1-2 hours ahead each way.

I’m finding cheap midweeks on Google Flights at $276/pp-RT, so half of the
above.

It's a 2.5 hour Cessna flight with
about an hour each way to get to the airport, load up and get airborne.

So that’s 3.5 hours minimum…plus the destination side too, for its
transportation arrangements (& costs if renting, Uber, etc).

The aircraft will cost about $650 to rent, about half airfare. A
variable is weather, but with my IFR rating I can very likely work
around that. The airlines are hardly 100% reliable either.

Yet driving is <5hrs, and has no meaningful VFR/IFR concerns.
Plus one has ‘free’ transportation included at the destination too. 

For costs, at a fully burdened $0.50/mi rate, taking one’s POV is $300 RT =
half the cost of renting a Cessna…and unburdened, it’s just 20 gallons of
gas for 600 miles at 30mpg, or ~$75.

Our Santiago to Fort Lauderdale trip was about 4,800 miles, and the food
was excellent. Stops were OK, but the Canal was the highlight.

Food is reliably good on cruises…better than airline food, even up in First
Class seats.  Even a car based road trip can do better at times, especially
when one plans ahead.

-hh