Flying the Mississippi: Real-world flight plan

When I fly this in real life, I certainly don't plan on breaking it into almost 70 legs. I will be doing it over five days. That will give me a good balance between amount of flying per day and time to check out the locales.

Day 1: Lake Itasca to Little Falls (KLXL)

Sky Manor (MN86) -> N47 14 04 W95 11 59 -> KBJI -> KPGZ -> 2MN2 -> KAIT -> KBRD -> KLXL
187 nm, 2.1 hours

Start by flying over the source of the Mighty Mississippi and finish the day in Charles Lindbergh's childhood hometown.

Day 2: Little Falls to Quad Cities (KDVN)

KLXL -> KSTC -> KSTP -> KONA -> 7WI0 -> C74 -> KSFY -> KDVN
340 nm, 3.8 hours

I've never been to the Quad Cities area, and 4 hours in a prop plane is enough for one day's flying. I also would like to check out John Deere's headquarters building, since it was designed by the world-famous architect Eero Saarinen. He also designed Washington-Dulles International Airport, which I am in every day at work, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Day 3: Quad Cities to St. Louis (KCPS)

KDVN -> KMUT -> KBRL -> KEOK -> KHAE -> KSET -> KALN -> KCPS
237 nm, 2.6 hours

Although I've spent several weeks in St. Louis while getting my EMB-145 type rating and during Captain upgrade, there are still many things here left to check out. The first time I was there, I got a bottle of water from where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi.

Day 4: St. Louis to Memphis (M01)

KCPS -> KFES -> 12LL -> KCGI -> KCIR -> 0M2 -> 7M4 - M01
244 nm, 2.7 hours

It's not hard to find a reason to stop in Memphis for a day!

Day 5: Memphis to New Orleans (KNEW)

M01 -> KHEE -> 0AR7 -> M32 -> KVKS -> 0R4 -> KHZR -> KREG -> KNEW
391 nm, 4.3 hours


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The author is an airline pilot, flight instructor, and adjunct college professor teaching aviation ground schools. He holds an ATP certificate with ERJ-145 and DHC-8 type ratings, as well as CFI, CFII, MEI, AGI, and IGI certificates, and is a Master-level participant in the FAA's WINGS program and a former FAASafety Team representative. He is on Facebook as Larry the Flying Guy, has a Larry the Flying Guy YouTube channel, and is on Twitter as @Lairspeed.

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