AVIONIX Radio Presents
A Pilot's Odyssey
Part A
Around the Country in 12 Days
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Inspired by the Steven Koontz book, Cannibal Queen, two retired Southwest Florida pilots took off in their single engine Cessna 172 for a nationwide circuit, flying over 7,000 miles in 12 days. Their plan was to touch down in every state that formed the outside border of the continental United States, making a broad clockwise journey through all kinds of weather. While the flying was fun, the most important part of the trip turned out to be the people they met.
Don Kemmerling and Evan Wood are two VFR pilots who had less than 200 hours of flight experience each when they decided to take the trip. Don is a hard-driving, retired FAA Air Traffic Controller, whose radio talents were a real help during much of the trip, particularly through the high traffic airspace in the country. Evan is an electrical contractor who flies for fun, and is a complete Type Z, laid-back personality. Neither one had ever flown west of Mississippi, so the trip around the country was a once in a lifetime dream.
Preflight planning was accomplished over the course of
several months, mostly over coffee in the kitchen. A trip
like this covers all altitudes and weather, from rain to
sleet to blistering heat and thunderstorms. Every leg was
worked out in advance. With fuel and rest stops figured in,
given perfect weather and no aircraft maintenance problems,
the two figured the trip could be made in as little as 10
days. Some other pilots stated that given the relative
inexperience of the two, the trip was more likely to span a
complete month. With great weather nearly the entire trip,
they completed the flight in just 12 days.
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