Epic Alaska Adventure - Spring 2024
| << Leg 25 - Elk City, OK to Little Rock, AR | Trip Home | 🛬 Trip End 🏠 |
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Leg Stats
- Time Enroute: 4.7 hrs
- Distance (direct): 669nm
- Distance (actual): 706nm
- Fuel Used: 51.9 gal
Fortunately, the winds aloft today would allow for us to make the long hop all the way back to Orlando in one go. The forecast for today called for the usual afternoon thunderstorms in Central Florida, meaning that the earlier we departed the better.
We were out of the hotel by 730am and got ready to depart.
We took off for the final time and climbed out, happy that we would be home soon!
We encountered a little bit of cloudiness enroute, but had mostly smooth rides.
The real challenge would be at the end, where Florida was already brewing up the storms for us. Our long flight meant that my storm avoidance fuel would be rather limited (no lengthy detours), so I started to plan a diversion to Gainesville (still clear) to sit on the ground and wait out the weather. As we got closer, I began to see that the weather was moving slowly north and dissipating to the south, so I found a way around and negotiated the reroute with ATC.
We skirted the edge of the weather along the coast, enjoying smooth rides and moderate precipitation on the receding edge of the weather.
We got back into clear weather on the south side of the storm and made the left turn east to skirt the heavy rain columns on the way past.
We were now home free, and only 60 miles from home! Orlando had just a bit of showery precipitation to dodge, and soon we had our home field in sight!
The field wasn't busy and we were quickly cleared to land.
We climbed out of the Mooney, weary from our long leg and ecstatic to be back home after our most amazing adventure yet!
We have now flown to 49 US States and 7 Canadian Provinces in our Mooney!
Leg Photos
Trip Leg Navigation
