It’s a basic fact of aviation: Airplanes love to be flown. When they sit, bad things happen. Engines corrode, critters set up residence and basic maintenance gets neglected until the airplane finally flies, at which point expensive stuff breaks. Hourly costs skyrocket, and the crestfallen owner flies even less. When I bought my 1953 Piper Pacer, I committed to flying it 10 hours a month, and, in fact, I did clock 119.7 hours during the first year of ownership. Of course, it’s a lot easier putting on those hours in the summer than in a Minnesota winter. Last January, a particularly miserable, bitter-cold outing prompted an adventurous escape to the Bahamas. This year, Dawn and I made our snowbird plans early with one modest goal in mind: to fly our humble VFR-only airplane around the circumference of the United States.
Taking Wing: Touring America by Air
Key Takeaways:
- The author is undertaking a multi-stage aerial circumnavigation of the U.S. in his vintage Piper Pacer, advocating for "low and slow" flight as the best way to genuinely experience the country's diverse landscapes and culture.
- Inspired by a prior cross-country motorcycle trip, he committed to consistent flying for aircraft health and to escape winter, navigating significant weather challenges inherent to VFR-only winter travel.
- The ongoing journey, having covered over 4,200 nautical miles from Minnesota to the Southwest, has delivered spectacular views, warm small-town hospitality, and underscored the importance of continuous aircraft maintenance.
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