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I don't know what the distance is across the Gulf, but I've flown both 172's and Cherokee 180's from Italy to England without landing in between.

distance Houston/Cancun approx 800 miles. Max range for a Cherokee 6, a little over 500 miles. Dont get your feet wet.

Both planes did have long range tanks.

Actually 500nm KBRO>MMID, mid-way you are 250nm from land, n,s,e,w. Single engine, extended over water = hi pucker factor.

Yep. I didnt get this old being stoopid There are old pilots and there are daring pilots, but there are no daring old pilots.

That's very true in the context of flying over the Gulf. The flights I referred to were of course mostly over land, which makes a big difference. And we went as high as possible in an unpressurised aircraft - 12k-14k feet - so had a fair amount of gliding ability if the fan did quit. Not that it ever did - modern light aircraft engines are really remarkably reliable.

12K to 14K unpressurized? Not legal to fly above 10K - 13K for more than 30 minutes. Flying above 13K you have to have oxygen.

The flight through Mexico is actually easy and the airports (customs and immigration are very well setup much better than Belize). Fly from Brownsville to Vera Cruz and then direct to BZE

The shortest distances from Italy to England are only in the area of 470 miles. Only 14 miles or so over water.

Not so in Britain, or at any rate not then. The legal max was 12k.

being pressurized has nothing to do with how hi you want to fly in your light acft.

The Cherokee 6 (PA32) had a ceiling of 20k ft. Only took it there with oxygen and light fuel load. However, I have flown for sometime at 15K w/o any problems or oxygen to get on top of weather. I dont recommend anyone doing that though.