Longest you’d fly in a day?

[-]

Heavy_Notice3544@reddit

I fly survey and our average good weather day can be 4hrs in winter and up to 9hrs Hobbs during summer. I’ve often ferried 8-10hrs Hobbs in a day. Last month was Seattle- Daytona Beach, FL. Took about 4 days of about 8.5hr Hobbs per day with 2 fuel stops per day in the 160hp c172 with no AP.

Normally I fly our twins (still no AP). Did a trip from CLT- SFO in 3 days about 9.5hobbs each day.

Personal minimums are very personal. I’d take an 8hr ferry over 4 hours of teaching maneuvers any day. Flight plan over things you want to check out on the ground to keep it interesting and make a bathroom/stretch break at about the 4hr mark.

Longest day was 10hrs as an instructor. Of course 8 was only duel given since one flight was duties of PIC for a commercial student.

[-]

SorbetExpert8093@reddit

Are CFIs encouraging a lot of autopilot nowadays? I am surprised how many comments reference an autopilot. I never touched an AP during my GA flying.

[-]

Heavy_Notice3544@reddit

A LOT of new training aircraft are equipped with G1000 and AP. A lot of others are retrofitted. I’ve got just shy of 1300TT and only 10hrs of AP.

Additionally a lot of HP aircraft (looking at you Cirrus circus peeps) have AP. I’ve noticed distinct difference in abilities and awareness from that crowd…and not in a positive way. The number of times I’ve watched a Cirrus jump the nose wheel chocks is hilarious.

[-]

KITTYONFYRE@reddit

Edit: no AP is the way to go. Gives you lots of practice at hand flying which seems to be less and less common these days.

I don’t really think hand flying straight and level for 8 hours is practicing much of anything that’s useful. you need to be able to do actual maneuvers with the plane by hand, not just fly in a line

[-]

Heavy_Notice3544@reddit

Constant standard rate to 30 degree banks every 10 min when intercepting lines. Also, our equipment is about a .1nm laterally. So basically flying RNP precision approaches all day.

As far as ferries go… 8hrs of AP straight and level does even less for a pilot. Can contribute to complacency which kills a ton of pilots in GA. Maneuvers are RARELY useful in everyday flying outside of training. They are really just a metric for your control and feel of the aircraft.

[-]

KeyPersimmon7@reddit

I second this. Survey in a 206 w/ no ap here. Just plan to be in the best winds available and shoot for nice longer lifts. The time goes by faster than you think at 11,500 when you’re not actively maneuvering and landing all the time.

If you want to really feel like a professional pilot just imagine when you are flying 5 legs per day in a metro-liner with no ap. Stamina is a learned skill, this is a great opportunity to fly outside of your comfort zone and apply some of those xc skills you teach all day.

[-]

CMDR_Winrar@reddit

Used to do 10 a day in a cub. Start early, drink a lot of water, bring healthy food, bring a bottle to piss in. Give yourself an out if you need somewhere to rest.

[-]

LRJetCowboy@reddit

Fish spotter?

[-]

West_Read_8698@reddit (OP)

Great tips. Besides fatigue I wanted to give myself enough buffer room for Murphys law

[-]

Small_Chicken1085@reddit

Murphy is going to give you diarrhea over a lathe forest with no airfields around.

[-]

Infamous-Ad-140@reddit

Diapers for the win. The shits waits for no airfield.

Avoid the taco truck adjacent to that podunk airfield

[-]

Small_Chicken1085@reddit

But the LOOK so good. I was defeated by some bad raw tuna once. Freaking Grisly. Astronauts wear diapers. It’s perfectly acceptable damn it.

[-]

Infamous-Ad-140@reddit

Don’t forget comfortable when full loaded!

[-]

Butnuster_Jones@reddit

I used to fly pipeline patrol and would regularly do 8+ without autopilot. It’s all about what you’re used to

[-]

Ramrod489@reddit

I’d plan 3 days, start day one and go until you start to feel tired. You’ll probably make it in 1.5 days, but having that 3 days of availability in your head will prevent getthereitis. It just takes the stress out of it.

[-]

PilotBro25@reddit

I regularly do 8 hours doing pipeline patrol, no auto pilot. Plane has 8+ hours of fuel so I usually stop about 5 hours in to fuel and use the restroom. Longest I’ve done is 13 hours during the summer. Stopped twice that day. Make sure you stay hydrated and fed, or fatigue will accumulate much quicker

[-]

bigbyte_es@reddit

In what plane you fly if I may ask please?

[-]

PilotBro25@reddit

Maule m7. Pretty much a 172 with 73 gallon tanks

[-]

SirKillalot@reddit

Longest I have done so far as a hobby PPL was 8.9 and 8.1 hours (hobbs time) on the way to and from OSH last summer, solo VFR in a 2-seat RV with autopilot. That didn't include any emergencies, but did include an in-flight diversion for some weather at one of my planned fuel stops on the way there, and a replan to stay in a different city overnight to avoid a line of thunderstorms on the way back.

I was pretty miserable at the end of those 2 long days - I'd say it's doable again if I really had to, but I'm definitely trying to plan shorter distances between stopovers for any future long trips I'm doing for fun. The shorter days on that trip where I was flying 4-6 hours felt a lot more manageable.

[-]

BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit

Did many 13 hour days in my Bonanza with no autopilot.

[-]

VisualApproach17C@reddit

Did 14 hours in a SE Cessna from Northern California to Kenai, AK. That was pushing it fatigue long!

[-]

HoonaticRacing@reddit

I’ve flown Tampa to houston in a 90kt plane. It took 12 hours flight time. I was not fatigued at the end, but tired. A year later, same plane, I flew 4 hours the night before, then 6.5 hours the next day doing low altitude aerial patrol of a road race. When the afternoon thermals started tossing me, fatigue hit fast. The 30 minute return to base flight was the longest of my life. Thank god there were free margaritas waiting for me

[-]

FlyingScot1050@reddit

8.5 hours is about what my trip from home to the SW corner of Colorado is, 125mph cruise, no AP. It's a lot of flying but perfectly manageable for a day.

Generally speaking I typically plan to stop every two hours or so, even if the plane has fuel for three, I'm usually ready to stretch my legs and use the facilities by then. Also gives a chance to take a more detailed look at weather rather than inflight foreflighting, especially on the return trip when I'm crossing the middle of Texas in the afternoon during thunderstorm season.

[-]

Fight_Or_Flight_FL@reddit

I've flown airline out to ferry an airplane from west Texas to central FL and it was too bad. Don't eat something that will upset your stomach. I flew with the new owner of the aircraft so it was nice to have another pilot along for company. No autopilot was easy with two pilots taking alternate legs. Up at 3am home by 11pm. Long ass day.

[-]

VileInventor@reddit

About 8 hours is the max i’ve flown in one go. Realistically it’s about fatigue, VFR doesn’t fatigue that much. Go IFR for 8 hours, no AP and tell me how you feel about that precision approach.

[-]

Double-Ad9382@reddit

I flew 8.3 about a month ago. I wouldn’t do it regularly, but I’d have no problem doing it again. I stopped once for fuel and food halfway through. PA28-161 with no auto pilot, just a six pack and Garmin 650. I have a pretty strong bladder, so I just hit the facilities before I departed and when I arrived.

[-]

sennais1@reddit

10+ VDO doing charter in a 206/210 was normal.

[-]

nineyourefine@reddit

As an airline guy I'm obviously in favor of an AP, but it's hilarious reading the responses here with so many "Does it have AP?".

It's a 172! Trim it out and you're good to go! I used to fly survey and do 8+hrs a day (Ferry to location plus shoot images) and we didn't have autopilots. You learn to be a good stick really quick. If you're ferrying VFR, even better because you're not too concerned with wandering a bit here and there.

I think it's a great opportunity and wish more low time guys had the chance to take something like a 172 on a 1000 mile flight. If you have good VMC weather all day from Origin-Destination, I'd get up at the crack of dawn, pack some good snacks, a "just in case" sandwich if you can't find food at a fuel stop, load up some tunes or podcasts and send it!

[-]

JournalistSweet6597@reddit

25 hours

[-]

ijump@reddit

I flew 15.2 Hobbs in my 150 once. Many fuel stops + stopped for lunch & dinner.

I wouldn't bat an eye at ~ 10h though YMMV. It's a personal choice

[-]

Mundane-Reality-7770@reddit

Did 9 hours with an autopilot.

I'd be very hesitant ferrying a plane you don't know at night. And unless things are perfect, Youre going to be doing some night flying

[-]

phxcobraz@reddit

8hrs including fuel stops is about my limit in a day, without an AP. I fly back and forth AZ to WA a few times a year and have done it without AP until recently. I can generally do it in 8-8.5hrs but by the end of the last leg I am wooped. Everyone is different though, so I would set your limits lower and if you feel fresh keep pushing.

I've found my limit is about the same on motorcycle trips.

[-]

SubSoar@reddit

I hand flew an 8.5 once. I’d do it again, but nothing any longer lol

[-]

JGAviation@reddit

My personal record is 10.8 hobbs in a day. I wouldn't wanna do it again without AP!

[-]

sticktime@reddit

Ferried many airplanes and if I had the luxury of choosing about 6 hrs in a day was a sweet spot for me. 2, 3hr legs

[-]

frostyhongo@reddit

No AP done 6 sectors in a Dash. Prob 5.5 flying time.

AP longest over 16. Honestly I’d rather do the 5.5.

[-]

velocityflier16@reddit

No autopilot is stick to 8 maybe 10 max. That’s a long day.

[-]

Zathral@reddit

How long do the thermals go for.....

[-]

Ill-Cryptographer542@reddit

My biggest day was 11.1 hobbs all hand flying, skydive ops. I never want to do that again. By the end I felt like I couldn’t walk straight.

[-]

weaselkeeper@reddit

15 hrs in the air, 18 hrs including fuel stops, Kissimmee Fla to Sacramento in a Beech 18 with AP and a lav.

[-]

Big_Spicy_Tuna69@reddit

Idk, I can (or used to) drive for 14 hours at a time so probably somewhere close to that, assuming regular pit stops. I guess it also depends on weather and terrain. You can go lots of places flying a 172 for 14 hours.

[-]

Adlerson@reddit

Way back in the before times I worked as an instructor for ATP. A student and I ferried a 172 from Riverside CA to Dallas, then flew a different 172 back home. Roughly 1200 nm each way. If I remember correctly we split that up into 3 days, roughly 8 hours of flying a day. No AP. I don't remember that being particularly hard, but I don't think I would have wanted to do it in two days.

[-]

didimentionimapilot@reddit

What’s your experience level? 8 hours in a day for someone with 60 hours and a fresh PPL would be nuts. But 8 hours a day for someone who is a CFI or has been doing survey is just another day. If your goal is to be a professional pilot then I’d say take a pilot buddy and send it.

I started ferrying planes before I was a CFI and knew my comfort level with sitting and staying focused for that long. No one can decide how you’re going to feel, that’s up to you to decide. Plan the flight and just make sure every stop has hotel availability or an FBO couch to sleep on at the very least and stop if you feel unsafe.

[-]

Flaps3please_@reddit

I did my Commercial Long XC in 6.1 with no autopilot, and 2.2 of actual IMC. That was exhausting. Can’t say I’d do it again.

[-]

ConnectionMother9782@reddit

I have done many 8-10 hours days as a pipeline pilot. One day went from Williston North Dakota to Texas in a single day. Is it long? Ya is it tough? Not really. Is it boring? Oh heck ya.

[-]

WizKhalizta@reddit

I'm good after 6 hours in the air with technical stops in between.

[-]

AV_NAV_COMM_PROFIT@reddit

1100 nm 9 hours in 1 day no autopilot 172... Had a hiking gps.... I was completely shot at the end of this.. would not recommend.

[-]

JSTootell@reddit

As a rule, I don't have personal minimums. But that's a different story.

I assume you will be solo. If you have another pilot, that changes things.

I ferries my 150 from Washington to SoCal with another pilot. We swapped seats most stops (I have him extra PIC time) so the "SIC" had time to rest while also adding a little situational awareness. No AP, she's old.

I did my 300nm commercial solo in that plane s few months ago, and I decided ahead of time a couple options on where to stop for the night in case I didn't want to cram the whole flight into one day. I could have made it, but decades of driving experience had taught me you are better calling it a day BEFORE you feel the fatigue rather than after it starts to set in.

1000 miles on a 172, assuming no wind, I would plan for two days with the possibility of 3 or more (weather delays). And I would find a few good places to park for the night. If day one sucks, stop at one of the early places. If day one feels good, continue on.

[-]

changgerz@reddit

did 9.5 hours once with a student and no AP, took turns flying. wouldnt wanna do it by myself tho

[-]

porttack@reddit

Would be a long day, but I'd aim to get it done in one.

[-]

storyinmemo@reddit

I've done multiple days at 10 hours no AP. I might be insane but I'd knock that out in one day without thinking twice about it. Start early without waking early, be rested, have good meals.

[-]

saml01@reddit

My personal limit is 4 hours in a single day. No autopilot.

[-]

H2OConnoisseur21@reddit

I’d split it over two days if you’re fresh to ferry flying. Good to see how you handle it and build new personal minimums from there. Last ferry flights I did I kept it around 6-7 hours of Hobbs per day.

[-]

justarandomguy07@reddit

I recently did my 250 nm flight towards my Instrument Rating. Hand flown the first leg and all approaches, used AP for the second and third legs. I started feeling tired halfway through the third leg. 4.0 hours

[-]

ClearedInHot@reddit

I used to be a swordfish spotter off Cape Cod. I had a 172 with a 60-gallon ferry tank where the back seat should have been. I'd regularly do 10.5-11 hours up to 200 miles offshore with no problems. We'd take off at dawn, fly an hour or two out to the boats, and then be in slow flight at 400-800 feet for hours.

Because I was constantly doing figure-8's out in front of the boat, I had a spare seat cushion that I placed between the seats and sat on that, in the center of the cockpit. Left foot was on the left outboard rudder pedal and right foot was on right outboard rudder pedal. Engine and prop controls were right in front of me, and I could fly most of the day with power, trim, and rudder alone, without ever touching the yoke.

Years later, as a check airman for one of the majors, I was telling this to one of our FAA guys, and he just put his hands over his ears and started chanting, "Naanaanaa, I can't hear you."

[-]

ATrainDerailReturns@reddit

Anything after 5 hrs no AP anything after 5.5 just sucks tbh

[-]

Intelligent-Code5119@reddit

I flew from Tucson to Cle Elum,wa in one long day … no auto pilot

[-]

uv54633@reddit

I’ve done a longer flight like it before, KLYH to KOSH for a NIFA Safecon. I found the AP made me more fatigued as I was doing less. See if you can take another pilot with you, keeps you sane, and stop as required, maybe at airports with cool things (we stopped at Sporty’s), or access to a crew car and a good town. Taking breaks and getting out of the air helps a lot. Also don’t feel like you need to continue, stop and get the rest you need and continue the next day!

[-]

Bunslow@reddit

I did 8-9 hours of flying with four stops (arguably had planned it to be three), and it wasn't so bad. I mean it was tiring for sure but it wasn't so bad.

Of course that was with a two-axis autopilot so most of the flying consisted of me turning the "track" bug around clouds, which is considerably less taxing than actually operating controls for 8+ hours.

[-]

satans_little_axeman@reddit

I don't have the exact number, but I logged about 9 when I brought my RV home (no AP).

Wake up, fly 3 good legs, reach destination, proceed direct bed. It took a lot.

Stay hydrated, stay ahead of weather and fuel, don't be afraid to spend the night a 90-minute flight from your destination if you start to feel rough. Putting a Super 8 on a credit card is much less painful than waking up on fire in a cornfield.

[-]

bdc41@reddit

Did nine hours (three x three hours) with an hour break. Wasn’t bad at all.

[-]

Silly_Rub_6304@reddit

I've done 10.5 in a 206 with bad autopilot.

[-]

rcbif@reddit

Agree with others, that is a day and a half trip.

Especially if the thermals are cooking.

My limit in moderate turbulence in my little Cessna 140 is about 4 hours. Then I'm ready to be still and have a drink, lol

[-]

Prof_Slappopotamus@reddit

Two days is smart. Fly until you need gas, see how you feel, go another hour or so and stay for the night. Finish up early the next day.

Alternately bring someone along and knock it out in a day. Not the most comfortable thing to do, but it's not really that dangerous if you two are splitting the time at the controls. Just stop when you need a break. Every 3ish hours is a good idea for planning purposes, with a "pee alternate" planned right in the middle.

[-]

T0gaLOCK@reddit

11hrs in a 172. 7hrs nonstop.

[-]

OracleofFl@reddit

Autopilot or no autopilot?

[-]

West_Read_8698@reddit (OP)

It’s got Rudder trim at least, no AP

[-]

Icy-Bar-9712@reddit

honestly in my (probably unpopular opinion) that is the ideal option. Once you get the mighty skyhawk trimmed out and able to stop any roll in flight? That's kinds what the autopilot is going to do anyway. Without an autopilot though you are mentally less tempted to "check out" and let the computer fly the plane.

Bigger issue with the lack of autopilot is VFR or IFR?

Other consideration, are you taking this plane from home base somewhere else and then commercial flight back or the other way around? If so, you will be ending up a new place when tired.

Flying commercial out and then ferry back? Might not be as well rested, but in familiar territory when you are tired.

[-]

Yuuungtahoe@reddit

I too share the probably unpopular opinion

[-]

Diligent_Digiridoo@reddit

No AP? That’s gonna be rough. I’d split it into 2 days.

It’s also gonna depend a lot on weather. 950 miles is a long way and if you have to deviate for weather it’s gonna make it even longer.

[-]

MEINSHNAKE@reddit

Going to be a long day, what's the most flying you've done in a day up to this point?

[-]

SuperSaint77x@reddit

Most I’ve done in a SEP in my flight school days was 11.7

[-]

discgolfpilot@reddit

Just a frame of reference 8hrs is the 135 single pilot limit in a 24hr period. 10 with 2 pilots. And that is with a look back to the day before not just the current day.

I would ask myself what is the plan to get to said aircraft. Are you driving or flying somewhere then hopping in the plane. What is any repercussions if you call uncle or weather needing a stop? How quickly will your fuel stops be? I am in my 40s now so my bladder would be something I would be thinking about.

Kinda surprised a flight school is not trying to rope a student into making it part of a lesson

[-]

muchoqueso26@reddit

950 mile day in a 172 would be unlikely just due to weather alone. Plan three days. Hope for two.

[-]

BrtFrkwr@reddit

Have lots of alternates along your route you can duck into for weather, mechanical problems, etc. Great experience.

[-]

Necessary_Use_4729@reddit

I did 11.9 in a G6 SR20 once but doing that with no AP or A/C forget it.

[-]

ReadyplayerParzival1@reddit

Did 12 hours on the Hobbs in an rv-7. Indiana to west yellow stone

[-]

makgross@reddit

Where?

8 hours in dead smooth air with a million miles visibility hand flying is tiring, and excessive if you’ve never done it before.

8 hours hand flying in the Rockies with 20+ knot winds is fucking insane. Even with an AP (because you can’t use it safely). Same deal with IMC, anywhere.

Frankly, this is one of those “if you have to ask” things. Ferrying is A LOT more difficult than low time pilots assume. I spent two weeks ferrying two 172s 25 miles a few months ago. Why? They were fucking death traps and I had to fight with the owner to get them fixed before I’d fly them. Even stupid shit like putting more than 10 gallons in the tanks. Yeah, I only need 6, but cutting it that close is beyond stupid. And even after all that, one of them had the ASI fail in flight, which made me happy I knew the “numbers” for landing.

Note to OP: sitting unused is very bad for airplanes. It is not at all unlikely that the plane will not be flyable when you get there. Assurances to the contrary are totally meaningless.

[-]

shrunkenhead041@reddit

If you've never done anything close to that (like, 6 hours), I wouldn't do it. No AP, turbulence, weather the fuel stops/destination all play a role, but this isn't something you just jump in and do without a plan B.

[-]

eitilt@reddit

Longest I’ve flown without autopilot was 10.5 hours, but we had 2 pilots, don’t recommend:

[-]

Saltyspaceballs@reddit

Without AP I'd honestly try do that over 2 days. It is exhausting to fly for long periods of time, even with AP it's tiring.

Lets put it this way, 8 1/2 hours is basically the top limit of what my airline does as 2 crew flying, with AP and a place to stretch my legs and have a piss. You're effectively single pilot hand flying what an airline would stipulate as a 3 crew trip.

Don't do dumb shit when it comes to tiredness.

[-]

Yuuungtahoe@reddit

My survey 172 has 38 gal usable which allows me ~4.5 hr flights until I hit reserves. Two of those in one day is the most I can do before I start to get worn out. It doesn’t have an AP either but the need for one is overstated if you’re going to be all VFR

[-]

dynamic_fluid@reddit

I’ve flown that much in a piston single with no autopilot but there were two of us and we swapped flying every 30 mins or so. It was still a long day.

I’d probably split that into two days.

If you were part 135 it would be illegal to go over 8 hours. That’s obviously not a limitation for you legally, but worth considering that the FAA draws the line there for single pilot 135 ops, and that would even apply to an airplane with an autopilot and something less fatiguing than a 172.

But, under part 91, it’s fundamentally up to you to decide what you think you can handle safely.

[-]

Puddleduck97@reddit

That's a two day trip, minimum.

[-]

OracleofFl@reddit

That would be my estimate....600ish the first day 300ish in one last leg the second day.

[-]

old_flying_fart@reddit

How old are you? What's your normal sleep/awake cycle like? What's the farthest you've gone before? What's the weather like? Are you crossing the Rockies? What will the terrain under you look like after dark? Are you flying east or west (aka into the setting sun when you're tired?)

There is no one right answer, but I've generally aimed for no more than sunrise to sunset on similar flights.

[-]

NevadaCFI@reddit

I did 11 hours with AP and three stops. I won’t do that again. 8 hours max.

[-]

ChiebChieb@reddit

Find someone to fly with you, get good sleep the night before, leave early and be prepared for a day longer than 8.5 if winds shift.

You’ll be fine and the flight time will be really valuable, also a pretty excellent opportunity to get closer to someone at your flight school.

If you are really concerned about getting fatigued, just be prepared to get a hotel along your route, if at any point, you feel like it’s unsafe to make the next leg.

I did the same thing from Illinois to Colorado during my commercial time building and it was an excellent experience and was a part of building a relationship that led to my CFI job.

[-]

How much flying is too much in a day?

Worrying about fatigue and alertness, especially if there’s an emergency.

Curious how you all put it into your personal minimums

Please downvote this comment until it collapses.

Questions about this comment? Please see this wiki post before contacting the mods.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.