The Airplane

I have a Cessna T210 Centurion, a six seat turbocharged non-pressurized single engine airplane.  I have removed the two back seats, so really its a four seat plane with plenty of room.  It will carry 1,200 pounds of stuff half way across the country (thus the title, “West Coast Flying Adventures”), getting about 16 MPG at a lean cruise setting, moving about 200 MPH over the ground.  Its a great platform for what I like to do, and there are not many planes that can carry a load as fast and efficiently as the 210 can.

Lee Vining Airport

I’ve gotten a LOT of stuff in there, although I’m always careful to weigh everything if its going to be a full load.

Backpacking in the Tetons

The most I’ve filled it with?

• Two guys, three bikes and full camping gear for Burning Man in the Nevada desert
• My family of four, full camping gear, traveling luggage and climbing gear for a Canada vacation
• Four guys, tools and stuff for a week long working  vacation in the Navajo Indian Reservation

It does handle differently with a full load, and I have to remind myself not to panic if the plane isn’t off the ground at the normal take-off point.  Most trips its just me, or myself and my business partner and maybe a couple of bikes – although I do carry a pretty good size survival kit.

Fueling up