{"id":74366,"date":"2026-02-16T16:06:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T21:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cirrusaircraft.com\/?p=74366"},"modified":"2026-02-16T16:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T21:11:08","slug":"charting-his-own-course-blake-and-dylans-cross-country-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cirrusaircraft.com\/zh\/story\/charting-his-own-course-blake-and-dylans-cross-country-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Charting Their Own Course:\u00a0Blake\u00a0and\u00a0Dylan\u2019s\u00a0Cross-Country Journey\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
For most people, a summer road trip means packing up the car and hitting the highway. For pilots Blake Freedland and Dylan Tamaroff, it meant something entirely different \u2014 charting a 12,767-mile flight plan across North America in a Cirrus SR22. Over the course of 74 days, the pair landed in 32 cities, crossed 19 states and four Canadian provinces and logged 100 flight hours along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A Lifelong Dream <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For Blake, aviation has always been more than a hobby. \u201cI\u2019ve loved planes and flying since my earliest memories,\u201d he said. \u201cI would dream of flying as a kid and always knew I would become a pilot.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After years of persistence, Blake began flight lessons at 15. By 17, he had earned his Private Pilot License, followed by his Instrument Rating at 20. \u201cI always wanted a challenge in the plane,\u201d he explained. \u201cI wanted to become a better pilot and see the entire country from above.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dylan\u2019s path to aviation took shape later in life, but the pull was just as strong. \u201cI always enjoyed being at airports when I was a kid, but it wasn\u2019t until college that I met a private pilot who took me on my first discovery flight,\u201d he said. \u201cThat one flight changed everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Planning the Ultimate Journey<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The idea for the trip started as a shared goal to test their skills, see the country and grow as pilots. \u201cWe spoke with everyone we could before taking off \u2014 our A&P, our CSIP, airline pilots and even a former F-16 instructor,\u201d Dylan said. \u201cThey helped us prepare everything, from weather patterns to mountain terrain and airspace differences. We wanted to make sure we were ready for any situation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They mapped out their route carefully, taking into account runway length, fuel availability, airport elevation and nearby accommodations. Their circular journey began in Boston and wrapped up in Fort Lauderdale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery flight taught us something new,\u201d Blake said. \u201cBy the end, I was far more proficient in IFR flying and flight planning than ever.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Journey of a Lifetime<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From the Atlantic to the Pacific, each leg of the trip revealed something unforgettable. The pair landed in Aspen surrounded by mountain peaks, went whale watching in Monterey and fished the salmon run in British Columbia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor me personally, seeing Mount Rushmore in person was incredible,\u201d Dylan said. \u201cAnd visiting national parks like Canyonlands and Arches \u2014 those were moments I\u2019ll never forget. Seeing the West Coast for the first time was definitely a highlight.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their favorite memories weren\u2019t limited to the skies. They toured FBOs, met fellow pilots and mechanics, and stayed with friends and family along the way. From fresh lobster in Nova Scotia to fireworks over the water, every day brought a new story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Growing as Pilots<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The trip offered constant opportunities to learn. \u201cFlying around new terrain like the Rockies was intimidating at first,\u201d Dylan admitted. \u201cBut as the days went on, I became more comfortable and learned how to anticipate what the wind and terrain would do. By the end, I was far more confident.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was also a test of endurance. \u201cWith the amount of flying we were doing, we had to stay disciplined about getting rest and managing fatigue,\u201d Dylan said. \u201cIt really pushed us to practice strong crew resource management. Me and Blake\u2019s CRM is pretty much down to a science now. There\u2019s no other pilot I would have rather done this with.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Meaning of the Cirrus Life\u2122<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For both pilots, this journey was about embracing what the Cirrus Life\u2122 stands for. \u201cIt means charting your own path,\u201d Blake said. \u201cCirrus provides the tools and technology, and it\u2019s up to us as pilots to make something amazing out of it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After covering thousands of miles, Blake came home with a renewed sense of gratitude and a goal to give back. \u201cThis trip made me realize how fortunate I am,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to inspire kids who dream of flying but might not have the opportunity. Aviation gave me so much and I want to share that joy with others.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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