AN SMA PLT REGRETS FLYING INTO AN ALERT AREA.

Narrative

I WAS ON A LONG XCOUNTRY VACATION; TRAVELING FROM MONTANA THOUGH IDAHO; OREGON; CALIFORNIA; ARIZONA; NEW MEXICO; COLORADO; UTAH; AND BACK TO MONTANA. MY AIRPLANE IS A 1948 AERONCA SEDAN WITH MINIMAL VFR NAVIGATING EQUIP. MY VOR WAS INTERMITTENT (I DISCOVERED LATER; DUE TO A LOOSE ANTENNA CONNECTION; WHICH I FIXED); AND I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. I HAD A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ABOUT INADVERTENTLY ENTERING THE CLASS C AIRSPACE NEAR SACRAMENTO; AND PLANNED A RTE THROUGH A VERY NARROW CORRIDOR BTWN THAT AND THE TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE RESTRICTED AREA. I CROSSED OVER WOODLAND ARPT ON SCHEDULE AND ON COURSE; AND TURNED SE. I SAW A NUMBER OF LARGE JETS LEAVING SACRAMENTO; AT LOW ALT; CLBING W; AND THOUGHT I WOULD DSND A BIT (FROM 2400 FT MSL TO 2000 FT MSL); AND CHANGE COURSE SLIGHTLY TO THE W. THAT WAS A MISTAKE; AS; WHILE I WATCHED OUT FOR THE GA AND COMMERCIAL TFC BUZZING AROUND ME; I STRAYED TOO FAR OFF COURSE. I NOTICED THAT THE LARGE ACFT AHEAD AND ABOVE ME WERE SHOOTING LNDGS INTO TRAVIS. I DSNDED FURTHER; TO ABOUT 1500 FT MSL AND TURNED IMMEDIATELY E TO GET BACK ON COURSE. AT NO TIME WAS THERE A DANGER OF COLLISION; AND I FELT NO WAKE TURB; BUT I WAS VERY ANXIOUS TO EXIT THE RESTRICTED AIRSPACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; WORRIED THAT I MIGHT SEE A FIGHTER ESCORT IN MY WINDSHIELD. I WORRIED ALL THE WAY TO MY NEXT STOP AT MONTEREY; AND EXPECTED A PHONE CALL FROM THE FAA AT ANY TIME. IN RETROSPECT; I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED A RTE FARTHER FROM TRAVIS'S RESTRICTED SPACE; AND SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED SACRAMENTO APCH FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSITIONING THE CLASS C SPACE. THE REPUTATION FOR ATC IN METROPOLITAN AREAS IS THAT THE CTLRS ARE FREQUENTLY IMPATIENT WITH THE SMALL ACFT INTERFERING WITH THE ORDER BY HANDLING OF COMMERCIAL TFC; SO I WAS HESITANT TO INTENTIONALLY TRAVERSE THE CLASS C SPACE. NEXT TIME I'LL DO IT; AND AVOID THE STRESS I UNNECESSARILY SUFFERED.