Pilots will tell you that they fly to save time. Airplanes are often called time machines, not because you can go back but because you can save a lot. We had a trip planned to Charlottesville, VA and you can drive or fly. The Google says driving is a 9 hour affair. The girls did it over the summer and it was North of 11 with stops.
You can go commercially via Charlotte. 2.5 hours in the air, 1 hour connection and 3 hours on either end so door to door is about 6-6.5. Doing it ourselves we can make 4-5 hours door to door. The difference depends on the winds. We headed up Thursday once Rachel got out of class. When the kids were young they would fall asleep in their car seats as soon as the engine started. Now as young adults they do the same just without the car seat.
I decided to plan a fuel stop at 2 hours as the Charlottesville gas is pricey. While it looked like normal gas it must be somehow special based upon the cost. We stopped just North of Fayetteville, NC. The airport had good reviews and they were spot on. They fueled me while I feasted on fresh cookies.
We were soon on our way again and less than an hour later touched down in Charlottesville. The speed was due to the 33 knot tail wind. We peaked at 201 knots in level flight. That's 231 mph, not too shabby.
Now Signature runs the FBO and their prime customers are jets. We arrived to a ramp full of jets, big jets, small jets, all kind of jets and figured we would get parked way out. Surprisingly they waved us right up front and since we were small, we fit into an open space between several jets.
We soon had our rental car and headed into the city to eat, sight-see and check out UVA. We were at UVA to see if Rachel wanted to go there next year. The town and campus are quite nice.
We walked in the footsteps of TJ, you know Thomas Jefferson. I am told that he hung out at the Rotunda too.
After taking a walk about, we dropped Rachel with some new friends and we went out for dinner. I was liking the town even more when we found a 5 meat (with 2 mustard) platter.
We added a pizza and life was good.
In case you all missed it, we have landed in Virginia, #36 done.
You can go commercially via Charlotte. 2.5 hours in the air, 1 hour connection and 3 hours on either end so door to door is about 6-6.5. Doing it ourselves we can make 4-5 hours door to door. The difference depends on the winds. We headed up Thursday once Rachel got out of class. When the kids were young they would fall asleep in their car seats as soon as the engine started. Now as young adults they do the same just without the car seat.
I decided to plan a fuel stop at 2 hours as the Charlottesville gas is pricey. While it looked like normal gas it must be somehow special based upon the cost. We stopped just North of Fayetteville, NC. The airport had good reviews and they were spot on. They fueled me while I feasted on fresh cookies.
We were soon on our way again and less than an hour later touched down in Charlottesville. The speed was due to the 33 knot tail wind. We peaked at 201 knots in level flight. That's 231 mph, not too shabby.
Now Signature runs the FBO and their prime customers are jets. We arrived to a ramp full of jets, big jets, small jets, all kind of jets and figured we would get parked way out. Surprisingly they waved us right up front and since we were small, we fit into an open space between several jets.
We soon had our rental car and headed into the city to eat, sight-see and check out UVA. We were at UVA to see if Rachel wanted to go there next year. The town and campus are quite nice.
We walked in the footsteps of TJ, you know Thomas Jefferson. I am told that he hung out at the Rotunda too.
After taking a walk about, we dropped Rachel with some new friends and we went out for dinner. I was liking the town even more when we found a 5 meat (with 2 mustard) platter.
We added a pizza and life was good.
In case you all missed it, we have landed in Virginia, #36 done.
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