Scenic Flight Across the Cascades

Join me on a rare VFR day in November as I fly from Boeing Field in Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Spokane International Airport. As you’ll see, the scenery changes dramatically and quickly on a flight east, from the lush green terrain around Puget Sound, across the mountains and the Columbia River, to the dryland farms of central and eastern WA state, and then back to the foothills of the northern Rockies east of Spokane.

This video features highlights from the 01:37 minute flight and includes instrument overlays and replays created with the tools at FlySto.net.
I flew my preferred route from Boeing Field via the GPS-based T268 airway, which roughly parallels I-90 and for much of the route overlays the VOR-based V2 airway. But T268 offers lower MEAs when you’re IFR because it can include small zigs and zags that aren’t feasible along a victor airway.

Because the skies were essentially clear, I made this trip VFR and without VFR flight following—the government shutdown was still in effect and controllers had been working more than a month without pay. No need to add to their workload, especially on a quiet Sunday morning. But I filed and activated a VFR flight plan electronically through ForeFlight.

Join me in the Beechcraft 36 for the scenic departure from RWY 14R at Boeing Field, views of the scenery enroute, and the arrival and landing at KGEG.