TOUR AMERICA - The Overview
We’ve all dreamt about it. The great American road trip. Long open roads with the wind in your hair, no job, no responsibilities. Just you, your car, your music, and your sense of freedom. This dream was to come a reality in 2020. Although unofficially committed, the original plan was to spend a good part of the summer of 2020 exploring the American wonderland.
With travel off the cards, so too is our great Tour America, or, so I thought. Thanks to the incredible work of Randy Olson, the man who created a computer algorithm to optimise the ultimate USA road trip. His conditions were to visit every one of the 48 continental states, whilst seeing at least one national park or monument within each leg of the journey. You can read about his conditions and processes here.
Randy’s map showcasing the ultimate USA road trip
Using Randy’s basic guide, I began transforming his route (whilst adding key interest areas of my own) into flight plans via the use of ForeFlight, Skyvector and the US VFR sectional charts available. Trying to keep the adventure primarily VOR to VOR, for confidence in the navigation systems, whilst also ensuring most of the landmarks and cities were present for both enjoyment and VFR navigation purposes, the ultimate Fly America plan began to take shape.
Lake McDonald - Glacier National Park, MT
My version, starting at Glacier National Park and following the basic flow and direction of Randy’s route, will take the trusty Cessna 172 over 22,000km (11,890NM) in the most picturesque lap around the country.
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