In this episode of the Aviation News Talk podcast, Max interviews Nicholas Jain, who recently purchased a Cirrus SR22 and flew it from California to Missouri. The two aviation enthusiasts detail their shared experience in buying the plane, conducting the pre-purchase process, and navigating a cross-country flight through various weather and terrain challenges.
The episode begins with Nicholas arriving at San Jose Airport on a Wednesday evening to meet Max. After picking up a rental car, they immediately began their journey south to Santa Maria, where the aircraft had been moved after a pre-buy inspection. This was not Nicholas’s first trip to California related to the purchase. Two weeks earlier, he had flown out to meet Max and conduct a test flight in the Cirrus. This test flight, which lasted about an hour, provided both of them with an opportunity to assess the aircraft’s systems and functionality. Afterward, Nicholas arranged for a local pilot to fly the plane to Santa Maria, where it would undergo a more detailed inspection at a maintenance facility that had not worked on the aircraft before. He found the maintenance shop through COPA (Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association), which Max recommends to all Cirrus owners and renters for the wealth of resources and knowledge available through the community.
Their three-and-a-half-hour drive from San Jose to Santa Maria ended around 11 PM, and they stayed at a hotel conveniently located near the airport. The next morning, while Max was returning the rental car, Nicholas pre-flighted the SR22 at the maintenance facility. The aircraft was new to him, so he checked the oil levels, borrowed a fuel sump from the shop, and ensured that the plane had what was needed for the upcoming long flight. Nicholas shared his concerns about small, overlooked items like fuel strainers, which are often removed by sellers before transferring an aircraft.
Weather conditions at Santa Maria were not ideal, with an overcast layer at 300 feet, typical of the marine layer that rolls in from the coast. Nicholas, however, felt confident in departing with an ILS approach available at the airport. The marine layer eventually lifted slightly to 400 feet, and they were able to take off and head towards their first destination, Arizona.
Nicholas and Max discussed the challenges of navigating through mountainous terrain shortly after departure. Flying IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) at the required altitudes for safety would have placed them much higher than they preferred, especially since the SR22 was not equipped with oxygen. Therefore, they opted for a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) route once they were above the clouds to better navigate the lower mountain passes. Nicholas remarked on how different the terrain was compared to his home in Missouri, where most of his flying is done over flat land. He particularly noticed the effects of updrafts and downdrafts while flying through the mountains.
Their first stop in Arizona was the Grand Canyon Airport, which they chose because of its cooler temperatures and favorable conditions compared to other potential stops like Flagstaff or Prescott. Nicholas and Max were greeted by a friendly Twin Otter pilot, Sam Buchanan, who lent them his truck to get lunch while they refueled. This act of kindness stood out to them as one of the most memorable moments of the trip, highlighting the camaraderie often found in the aviation community.
After their stop at the Grand Canyon, the two pilots faced a long leg to Albuquerque. As they approached, they could see weather starting to build beyond the city, and although Albuquerque had clear skies, they made the decision to stay the night due to fatigue. Max emphasized the importance of recognizing when to stop early, citing their five-hour flight time and the building weather as key factors in their decision to land.
The following morning, they took off for Wichita, Kansas, with the goal of reaching Nicholas’s home near St. Louis. Max suggested departing VFR to save time, which allowed them to navigate the mountain passes more easily. Nicholas was not used to mountain flying, so he found the constant pitch adjustments to maintain proper climb speed during the departure to be an interesting challenge. Max provided valuable guidance on managing the aircraft’s performance through the updrafts and downdrafts, and they successfully cleared the mountains. Once clear, they picked up their IFR clearance and continued towards Wichita.
At Wichita, they made an impressively fast fuel stop, completing everything within half an hour. Nicholas remarked on the convenience of having a Subway sandwich shop inside the FBO, which allowed them to refuel both the plane and themselves quickly. Max noted that it was one of the fastest turnarounds he had experienced.
On the final leg of the journey, flying IFR from Wichita to Missouri, they encountered some unexpected weather and had to make several deviations around towering cumulus clouds. The SR22’s avionics allowed them to monitor weather and terrain effectively, helping them avoid significant turbulence and rain. However, towards the end of the trip, they experienced an unexpected issue: they lost engine instrumentation on the Garmin Perspective system. All data related to the engine, including RPM, manifold pressure, and fuel levels, disappeared from the display. This introduced a new layer of complexity to the flight, including the final landing.
Throughout the episode, both Max and Nicholas emphasized the importance of thorough planning, flexibility, and safety in long cross-country flights. They also shared how the unique challenges of the trip, from mountain flying to unexpected technical issues, provided valuable learning experiences for both pilots.
In conclusion, this episode provides an insightful look into the process of buying a plane and flying it across the country. Max and Nicholas’s journey highlights the importance of preparation, adaptation, and the strong sense of community within the aviation world.
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