Historic Flight from Florida to California

Pilots Matt Hansen and Jessica Scharle successfully completed a transcontinental flight in a Light Sport Airplane (LSA) from Jacksonville, FL to El Cajon, CA within a single day. The pair departed Cecil Field Monday morning at 0601 EDT, made five stops along the way, and touched down at Gillespie Field near San Diego at 2222 PDT for an elapsed time of 19 hours and 21 minutes, including time for fuel stops. Total flying time was over 17 hours.

The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate that an LSA is a viable mode of transportation for long distance flying, and to draw attention to Able Flight's nonprofit flight training scholarship program for people with physical disabilities. Matt Hansen is a 23 year-old Commercial pilot and flight instructor who has been very active in training people with disabilities to become Sport Pilots. Twenty four year-old Jessica Scharle is an Able Flight Scholarship recipient, and one of Hansen's former students who earned her Sport Pilot certificate in 2008. Jessica was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a condition that essentially fused all of her joints together, and has overcome obstacles throughout her life and has taken on challenges, such as flying, that many would not attempt.  The first female Able Flight Scholarship recipient to earn her pilot certificate, Jessica shared equally in the piloting of the aircraft on this historic trip.

Taxiing up to the ramp at Gillespie, they were met by family members and media. Asked what was the hardest part of the trip, the two replied in unison, "Texas." When asked what their plans are now, the response was to rest a bit and enjoy San Diego.

According to Hansen, "We couldn't have hoped to have had a better day for flying a Light Sport Airplane coast to coast.  Early in the day we had smooth air and were able to get to 8500' where we had a fuel burn of 4.9 gallons per hour. Later we did deal with a lot of turbulence across Texas, and then saw just a little mist on the windshield in Southern California."

Since the NAA (National Aeronautical Association) does not yet have a category which allows for the restrictions and limitations of an LSA, the crew has applied to the Guinness Book of World Records for an official record.  They are hopeful that their record will encourage the NAA to create a category for Special Light Sport Aircraft (factory built).
 
Their Peregrine FA-04 is a factory-built Special-Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) and carries just under thirty gallons of fuel.  The aircraft used for the flight is equipped for nighttime operations, and can be flown at night by a private or commercial pilot.  That allowed Hansen to complete the last segment after dark. The crew alternated flying duties along their 1813.5 nautical mile route from Florida to California. The route was designed to avoid all restricted airspace and any area that would require flight above 10,000 ft msl for obstacle clearance.

FMI: http://www.ableflight.org/