The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I am flying my 1952 170B from Toronto to Reno for the Reno Air Races in September. My plan is to come across Nebraska to Salt Lake City and on to Reno.

I am looking for the best VFR route between SLC and Reno. I am open to any suggestions. I do not have to go through SLC coming from the East..

If anyone is flying from the East to Reno for the Air Races I would be happy to join up for the flight through the mountains. I have lots of mountain flying experience in the Canadian Rockies, but none in the Wyoming, Utah, Nevada mountains.

Regards, Ian Sutcliffe

416-817-1787

I recommend SLC-KENV-KLKO-KLOL-Reno.

Salt Lake City---Wendover---Elko---Lovelock---Reno. Thats the old air mail route and is just about as direct as you can get.
Early,early mornings are best crossing the desert, and that's about as desert as you'll find.
There's fuel for sure at Elko, but I'm not sure about Wendover and Lovelock.

According to AOPA 100LL is available at ENV, LKO, & LOL. Field elevations are all at or above 4000. Density altitudes this time of year can reach 8000. I flew this route on the home from OSHKOSH one year in my Champ without difficulty. I rode an updraft created against the upwind side of terrain by a near by CB to 12,000 in the Champ before it got to cold. ENV is an interesting old field if you time to look around - B-29s operated out of ENV when they were testing "the bomb". Casinos are located near-by ENV where you can get a good steak. I hear there is a good book coming out about the early Air Mail days and pilots.

My planned route From Toronto to Reno is as follows:
BUTTONVILLE MUNI [CYKZ]
ST CLAIR CO INTL [PHN]
LANSING MUNI [IGQ]
DES MOINES INTL [DSM]
MILLARD [MLE]
NORTH PLATTE RGNL ARPT LEE BIRD FLD [LBF]
CHEYENNE RGNL JERRY OLSON FLD [CYS]
MEDICINE BOW [80V]
RAWLINS MUNI HARVEY FLD [RWL]
SALT LAKE CITY INTL [SLC]
WENDOVER [ENV]
ELKO RGNL [EKO]
DERBY FLD [LOL]
RENO TAHOE INTL [RNO]

Thanks for the suggestions on time of day, fuel and attractions. I hope the Density Altitude is not too bad in September. My 170 is not much good above 11,000 DA.

I am leaving September 9th from Toronto. Weather permitting, I hope to get as far as Millard on Saturday, Salt Lake City on the 10th and Reno on the 11th. Any additional suggestions on this route (fuel, airports, interesting attractions, hotels, terrain, members, etc.) is always appreciated.

Cheers, Ian

If you find RNO unbearable or in hospitable try TRK or A34 or CXP. A34 and CXP are on the same side of the Sierras as RNO and not a bad drive.

If you have time, Wendover was where the crew trained to drop the first A-bomb, they have a walking tour of the facilities. We got weathered in there once, spent some time wondering around the place, they have fuel and a free casino taxi into town if your looking for food. But no rental cars in town.

I was in Wendover over the weekend for the airshow. They have fuel, and casinos adjacent to the airport. Runways are long. Elko is a little far south for fuel. Contact clover control for military airspace use, as shown on the chart. On off use days you can cross even the Restricted areas at 11,500 or higher. Contact SLC Center to verify.