More small plane questions...

Your flight is almost 600 miles according to Google earth. There are several possible planes to fit your description and they can range from 300 miles to almost 600 depending on fuel capacity and consumption.

http://www.enter.net/~kellys00/info.html

Here are some with longer range.

http://www.national-aviation.com/fleet.shtml

Depending on the models you are looking at, cruising speeds range from 120 to 210 mph approximately so figure on 3 to 6 hours.

This is pretty easy research. I searched "Cessna fuel capacity" and found applicable information in the first two hits. "Cessna range" I suspect would produce similar results.

You need to pick a plane and go by it's capability. Aircraft sales sites will list pictures and most of the info you are looking for for each plane.

http://www.aircraftdealer.com/

But there are SOOoooo many other interesting planes beyond Cessna that you have an opportunity to really add some pizzazz to your story.

Look around online. You'll find all you need.

How about those mountains in between??

It's do-able.

http://www.cseaircraftsales.com/content/cessna/introduction.html

This site cites max altitudes to 20,000 feet in the craft the OP is considering. Highest mountain in California is Mount Whitney--14,491 feet, about the same as the Rockies.

Might get a bit cold up there.

I'm not a pilot. I enjoy aircraft but mostly I fly models.


Rainy, pilots have proved to be some of the nicest people I've ever met and they LOVE to talk about their planes. I suggest finding a small airport and talking with some. They can be a wealth of stories and might even give you some fodder for interesting problems for that flight. I mean, if they are just going to take off and land they might as well go by bus.

Delarege said:

Rainy, pilots have proved to be some of the nicest people I've ever met and they LOVE to talk about their planes. I suggest finding a small airport and talking with some. They can be a wealth of stories and might even give you some fodder for interesting problems for that flight. I mean, if they are just going to take off and land they might as well go by bus.

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I was on a pilot's web site about six months back. They gave me great answers. They also suggested I finda nice rainy day and bring a box of donuts and a few liters of coke to an air field and the pilots there would be more than willing to answer my questions.

Rainy Night said:

For those who've already helped me out, thanks!!!

I changed the location from LA to San Francisco.

Could a small plane with 6 passengers make it from SF to Salt Lake City without stopping for fuel?

How long would such a flight take in a Cessna?

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What MODEL Cessna? They make more than one, and I think the smallest only holds maybe two or four passengers. I got this far, I'll let you do more research:
http://www.cessna.com/aircraft/
And if any website would have info on number of passengers and range on a full tank of gas (though I'm sure this changes somewhat with load, speed and temperature), I think it would be the manufacturer's.

OTOH, I've yet to see a bank's website that has what I consider the most basic information, their holiday schedule. You think you'd be able to look online to see if they're closed next Monday for Vice President's Day.

It's possible...but Cessna's have a short range and low service ceilng... A King Air 350 would be better---if you can afford to rent one that is...they have a altitude of about 25,000 feet.

I flew in Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and Colorado on 206s and 207s. Single piston engine Cessnas that carried 5 and 7 people. A trip from Salt Lake to San Francisco would be no problem. Mountains aren't that bad, you just need to pick your spots. The planes are more than capable. Figure 120 knots at cruise. It's been a while, I think long range tanks were around 80 gallons and fuel would run about 12 gallons a hour. 500 miles with reserve is no stretch.

You might be able to find a pilot's operating handbook on-line that would fill you in on details of the plane you are interested in using.

The Caravan is just a 206/207 on steroids. Turbine engined, really high off the ground compared to a 206 and reliable. Good luck on the story.