First Leg over Water

Started looking at my planned rout to St. Croix for my Final Fix Project (see previous posts).  I have laid in a course that includes the first stop in the Turks-Caicos Islands.  The Providensiales island has the only airport with fuel for the Cherokee Six (100 low lead AvGas for those of you who do not fly).  This type of fuel is getting very expensive and may be on its way out in the not so distant future.  There is a search for some replacement fuel for the aging General Aviation fleet… so far none is in production to any great amount (AOPA is working on it).  I am sure that something will come around but until then we have to make due with the good old petrol.  There are also engines in the works that run on diesel fuel which is what the jets run on so there is no real shortage of that type of fuel (and its less expensive).  These conversions can be very expensive so I don't see that in the near future for the Six.  

    Any way, back to the first leg over water… the distance is 509 nm to the MBPV airport and it will stretch my limits on the Six.  I can carrie 84 gallons of fuel when the tanks are full.  There are 4 tanks on the Six so I have to be aware of each tank as I don't like to run the tanks dry… the passengers don't like it when the engine hick-ups when the tank runs dry.  I burn about 12 gallons per hour when I am "leaned" out and the Six will do approximately 119 knots at these settings.  So with 80 gallons and 12 gph, you get approximately 6 hours of flying and keeping 30 minutes of reserve.  

    The first leg is about 509 nm and if there is no head wind, you could fly it in 4 hours and 18 minutes.  The problem is that there is a high pressure weather system that likes to hang off the eastern part of the Bahama Islands and that create a head wind while flying south.  This could greatly increase my time on this first leg.  We will have to check the weather and the winds aloft closely to make sure we can make this first leg safely as a head wind could push us back an hour or more and that could push us close to our legal limit!  A 20 knot head wind will put us at 5 hours and 8 minutes.  Luckily there are other islands around but if I can make it to here, I don't have to clear customs twice and pay all the departure fees required in the Bahamas.  I will need to save my dollars as I am sure the fuel will be high priced.  I know that I will need to contact the FBO in the Turks-Caicos Island Airport but that will be long distance and I will need to look up the code for that Island.  Oh well, thats for another day.  Too much math for today!  Back to the coffee.  Bye for now, Robin.