Moving Across the Country in my 70-Year-Old Airplane! Michigan to California Part 1

I'm moving! Today we take the Bonanza from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Wichita, Kansas on day one of a three-day solo trip flying from Michigan to California. Thanks for watching!

Route: KARB K52 KICT

Instagram: bayflight

TikTok: planegirl

Editing removes context & this video should not be used for instructional purposes!

#aviation #bonanza

[edwardwade]

I didn’t realize how much work, attention to logging, and communication goes into flying. You make it look easy and enjoyable despite the responsibility and skill needed to fly a plane! Very cool!

[jrbarber]

Stevie, From an 80 yr old geezer, whose left seat days are behind him, riding along with you was a total delight. Thank you.

[traviscarr]

I want to thank you for letting us follow your passion for flight. I'm 58 yrs old and getting ready for retirement. My wife and I were on the lookout for a new truck and a 5th-wheel trailer. That all changed when I saw your videos. Needless to say, you gave an old man searching for youth admirations. I got the bug and did the research. Now I'm a 58 yrs old student pilot. I am already looking for a Mooney or a Beechcraft. Just so you know new truck and 5th-wheel for what we were looking for is around $130, 000.00 not to include the $40.00 to $80.00 per night at a campsite. plus time setting it up. After talking to our pilot for work who also is a DPE has bought 6 planes in the last 20 years and might have lost a total of $5, 000.00 Way better return than 5 yrs and an old trailer to trade in. So if any old people are watching this go for the plane. At the night's end, there are no bugs in a double-tree hotel. Thank you Stevie for your inspiration with a new dream of not being put out to pasture. I will keep you updated on my progress. Keep doing what makes you happy.

[ns]

I might have mentioned this to you before but really appreciate your use of the checklist and overall attitude and flying techniques. I have owned 3 Bonanzas and a Baron since 1983 and been a CFI-I for 29 years and you are a great inspiration for other young ladies as well as others. I taught my son to fly beginning at age 15 and instrument rating in our S35. He spent 22 years in the USAF and flew all three fighters and is with UAL as a 777 instructor. I also taught a 22 year old young lady Instrument, Commercial, and CFI and she now flys the Airbus for Frontier. What I mean by all this is that I hope you continue to excel in GA and inspire others. This can be life changing for others. Keep it up.

[CS_]

Kudos for thanking the tower for their patience while learning to fly there, they rarely get thanks for that, I am sure it was much appreciated! Love watching your adventures, fly safe and high! ❤️

[enzovalentini]

Her videos are so well made. the right mix of relaxation and information to make you enjoy the flight without actually pretending it takes no effort. top quality content

[ChesterHill]

Amazing young Pilot, love the attention to protocol. I just bought a 1960 Comanche 250 to get my 17-year-old Granddaughter into flying. She can start with the Cherokee 140's and progress to the 250. You are the premier role model for her to progress to this more complex airplane. Thank you for the inspiration. You rock!

[whyjamaica]

Been a controller for the past 13 years now. Always love when pilots shows us some love 😎👊

[d-sx]

This is way a better example of pilot workload / workflow than most of the YouTube pilots provide. I literally forgot how much work a flight like this is. Nice job!

[Jetlag]

Hi Stevie, I am an airline pilot and your vlogs makes me miss general aviation so much. You have motivated me to make a plan goal of flying across country in a general aviation aircraft. Thank you for the displaying your enjoyment and passion.

[meganagetro]

You are an inspiration for any person interested in aviation or anything else. So awesome to see you do this.

[jasongorkisch]

There's always something awesome about watching someone be good at what they do.

[_K_W]

I’ve been an enlisted crew member for 19 years, racked up about 6k hours on 2 transports. I’ve seen every type of pilot out there and you are awesome. Great checklist discipline. Keep up with hard work and enjoying aviation. Your video has me wanting to get my ppl when I retire and teach my kids how to fly.

[piobmhor]

My wife and I did a similar trip when we were your age back in the 80’s. We did it in a 1947 Luscombe with a hand-held radio. It was pretty cool taking off with sleeping bags, a tent and toothbrushes and not much else. All our other stuff was going by truck. Departure was Waterville Nova Scotia to Vancouver British Columbia. I still have the plane and did a few trips since then, but they pale in comparison to that trip.

[jasonhawley]

I'm a 52 yr old man, and this young lady is doing something that would literally scare the living daylights out of me. I applause your courage.

[SKYKOP]

I'm a retired from both the Air Force (20 Years) and FAA/DOD (20 Years) controller. For 40 years I always looked forward to going to work. It's refreshing to hear good VFR radio etiquette young lady and especially seeing excellent checklist use. 40 years as a controller will do that to ya: CHECKLIST, CHECKLIST, CHECKLIST; it'll save your life. Your flight instructor taught you well. My favirote GA airplanes are the BE-35 & BE-55. I spent a good amount of time back in the late 60's/early 70's in a BE-55 in the Kansas City/St. Louis/Branson, Misouri area and miss it very much. Something to keep in mind: Not far from K52 across the Illinois line SE of Hannibal, Mo. is PPQ (Pittsfield/Penstone) airport that back in the day sold us a lot of gas and fed us alot of breakfast's too. Or loaned us a car to drive into town for eats. I'm betting they still do. I truly enjoyed the 1st leg of your Mi. to Ca. trip. You made an old guy happy today Miss Stevie. Many thanks. A dear friend's son is a controller at SoCal approach who also uses "Adios" after a freq change: Listen out for him. Looking forward to leg's 2 & 3 enroute to Ca. Make sure that baggage is stowed crossing the mounains. Be safe. "Adios!!!"

[OneMorePutt]

What a fun adventure. It looks like you had perfect weather for your move. My 2.5 year old daughter is obsessed with going to see that small planes taking off and landing at our local airfield. I'm therefore already saving up for her flight lessons.

[raymondjolly]

Stevie, I just wanted to say that your videos changed my life. You inspired me to become a student pilot and by doing so I've changed my lifestyle so that I my medical isn't an issue. Thank you for sharing. I should be soloing in the next few weeks.

[NMWQ]

Hi Stevie, I was recently watching some YouTube videos on aviation and stumbled across yours. I just want to tell you how much I have enjoyed them. You have accomplished so much in the past 6 years, your parents must be so proud. I too am a pilot and flew out of Grosse Ile (KONZ) from 1973 to late 2006. When I watched your TicTok video flying up the Detroit River and making that steep left turn over KONZ, it brought back a lot of memories and I even got a little teary eyed. I hope you enjoy your new home in southern California. Thank you for doing what you do. Take care and stay safe!

[jcims]

You're about the same age as my daughters and I am beyond impressed at your independence and confidence and skill. Thanks for bringing us along!