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 embarked on a VFR-only circumnavigation of the continental U.S. in his 1953 Piper Pacer, driven by the belief that airplanes thrive when consistently flown and a desire to experience the country intimately from a low-and-slow perspective.
- The initial stages of the winter journey from Minnesota to Arizona involved navigating significant weather challenges, experiencing unique low-altitude views, and enjoying widespread hospitality, with his wife completing her goal of visiting all 50 states during the trip.
- Despite some unexpected repairs, the aging Pacer proved reliable throughout the active flying, reinforcing the author's conviction that consistent use and maintenance are crucial for an aircraft's health and the owner's enjoyment.
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