Greyhawk -
When I have some real numbers I'll switch to graph paper. I don't even know what my empty weight is yet -- I was guessing (perhaps optimistically) 1100 pounds. I also don't know the actual fuel requirement as a function of airspeed and gross weight. I also only had rough measurements of a ferry tank capacity. I was mostly trying to determine whether it was possible at all and whether it had been done before.
From what I have been able to determine, it may be doable but is definitely marginal. Certainly it may be fun to see if I can do it -- even if I demonstrate it to myself by flying from California to Massachusetts.
I had been toying with the idea several years ago, but gave up the idea since I didn't want to leave my wife without a husband for something that was really not that important. The risk/benefit just wasn't there. Now that this is no longer an issue I have been thinking of it again. You guys have given me some good ideas to consider, and some data points to gather in my initial flight test program.
- Rob Wolf