A Leg-Stretching Jaunt to the Golden State

There’s a lot to love in California, particularly for pilots and those who enjoy outdoor adventure.

Monday, October 14, 2024 at 08:54 AM ET

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The author enjoys a scenic local birthday flight with longtime friend and fellow pilot Sylvia Grandstaff. [Courtesy: Sam Weigel]

Key Takeaways:

The author undertook a cross-country flight to California in his Stinson 108 as a "proving run" for the aircraft's recently overhauled 78-year-old engine and to refresh his own VFR piloting skills.
The journey involved navigating challenging weather conditions, requiring on-the-fly decision-making and highlighting the importance of self-reliance in VFR general aviation.
The trip was a success, with the plane performing flawlessly and the author regaining confidence in both his Stinson and his flying abilities, confirming readiness for a planned Alaska adventure.

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When Dawn and I decided to take our Stinson 108 to Alaska this summer, it was with the knowledge that we’d had only 20 months of fairly trouble-free ownership, during which time we’ve made a number of updates to modernize the airplane and make it more suitable for cross-country travel.

My one reservation was that our 78-year-old Franklin 150 engine had been freshly overhauled before purchase, and, between Pacific Northwest weather and building our hangar/living quarters, we’d only put 100 hours on it. By comparison, we owned our previous Piper Pacer for over 18 months and flew it some 220 hours.

Sam Weigel

Sam Weigel has been an airplane nut since an early age, and when he's not flying the Boeing 737 for work, he enjoys going low and slow in vintage taildraggers. He and his wife live west of Seattle, where they are building an aviation homestead on a private 2,400-foot grass airstrip.