[Michaelnewerb]

I am still planning to make this flight although it is more of a longer term project since I just have 15 hours in my pilot's logbook, and would need at least 40 hours to get my license. One reason why I'm offering massage services for women is to be able to afford more frecuent flying lessons, and speed up the proccess of getting my license. Anyway you chicken heads, the flight is not that dangerous, and I won't be flying over a lot of open water because a cessna 172 plane has a range of 580 knots using 80% power at 8000 feet, or 687 knots using 60% power at 10,000 FT. Neither way is that enough to fly over a long leg of open water without landing to refuel. I've already thought of all this, so the plan is to take off from New Jersey, land 2 or 3 times on the way to Florida ( depending on the wind direction) to refuel, and make the last U.S. landing in Miami. Then I would spend the night there and take off from Miami to DR. I said Cuba is a possibility because I would like to visit that country on the way to my destination, but if it's not possible, I can still make it because I dont really need to land in Cuba. There's a whole archipelago of islands that stretch all the way from the southern coast of Florida to DR and beyond. I can land to refuel in a lot of those islands enroute. Nonetheless, they also provide a safety net just in case I have to make an emergency landing, so the trip is not that dangerous. Regardless of the danger level of the flight, I am willing to do it because I'm not scared of flying. I love flying, and it is something I've known I wanted to do even since I was a little kid. Flying all the way from NJ and landing in my beloved DR would be a really wonderfull experience for me. Maybe something you dont understand, but for me it's one of those things I want to do in my lifetime. God willing, I will attempt this flight when I get my license, even if I have to go by myself, however I hope there are some people out there with enough sense of adventure to dare fly with me to my favorite destination in the world.

[Unlopssesuj]

Who would fly with a student pilot or recent "graduate" over that much open water and the part about connecting via Cuba ought to interest the US Government and the Cuban Air Force.

I suspect the airplane rental folks would go apoplectic over the idea and the route, unless they want to see a Cessna with 20mm cannon holes in it courtesy of Fidel.

[RSAccountssy]

The flight itself is do-able, though I agree with ricktoronto that only an idiot would accompany a student/beginning pilot on such an adventure.

Our local Veterinarian made a flight last summer to the Bahamas, then on to a conference in Jamaica in his 6 seat plane. He secured a permit that allowed him to fly over Cuban airspace. According to him it wasn't a big deal and the trip went smoothly.

Swede

[Wmshyrga]

is across the street from my office. Pick me up if you decide to do the Cuba leg, I have a gift for my little friend, Fidel

~~~

so you don't get lost;

Lat - 40 degrees 52' 30"
Long - 74 degrees 16' 55"

close enough

[Michaelnewerb]

Hey Cubano eso ta jebi man. I'm enrolled in Caldwell flight academy, so that is my home airport right across the street from your job. Maybe you can help me with the proccess of obtaining a Cuban landing permit, and introduce me to your friend Fidel Castro.

[Nigeopire]

Anna to Tim. Come in Tim. Over!

I'm begining to think this should be moved to the airline section since Tim's point for starting this thread was kind of lost over Cuba.

[BliliBoopsy]

Papi Lindo NJ, I knew there was something that kept cracking me up, through-out the Free Massage, Post,



By Papi Lindo NJ Feb, 2003.
I am looking for travelers (preferably single females) from the U.S or canada to accompany me in the most adventurous trip to DR in my life. I am taking flying lessons to get my private pilot's license, and once I get that, I want to fly from NJ to DR in a small plane. This is something I've been planning for a while, so I would like to get 3 passengers to share fuel costs and rental fees for the plane, as well as the awsome experience that I think it will be from take off to landing in that beautiful island. According to my plan, this trip would take about 2 days since we would have to land in virginia and florida to refuel and get some rest, then we could land again from florida to cuba( or maybe another caribbean island along the route) to refuel for the last time, and from there, straight to DR. If anyone is interested or has any suggestions, holla back at me , or contact me through email or im at PapiLindoNJ@aol.com.
How are you coming along with this? Did you get your pilot license yet?
Are you still going to fly down?

Give us an update.

Thanks
Tim H.

[Unlopssesuj]

Originally posted by m65swede
He secured a permit that allowed him to fly over Cuban airspace. According to him it wasn't a big deal and the trip went smoothly.

Swede He wants to land there too. I think the rental plane people with or without permits are unlikely to want their American plane to land in Cuba.

[lizadax]

Don't airlines pay the Cuban gov't to fly over their airspace? Just wondering.........I mean that would explain how Air Jamaica gets to Jamaica so quick.

[TOD4wDTQ]

The three most dangerous piloting areas, those with 50 hours, those with 500 hours, those with 10,000 hours. Certain over confidence is generally reached at those approximate times.
BTW papi, knots refers to speed. Nautical miles, miles and kilometers refer to distance. Minor errors such as that often times prove costly.
a fellow pilot with over 19,000 hours PIC singles to heavies including rotor and all the add ons