Interesting Airfields in Southern California
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Interesting Airfields in Southern California
I will be hour building in March from Long Beach, CA and would like some suggestions for airfields to visit within 4 hours flight (in a 152, so around 400nm). I may also go a little further afield on a 2-3 day trip so any other suggestions in Nevada/Arizona etc also welcome.
Many thanks.
SU
Many thanks.
SU
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You will certainly have an abundance of choices, some of my personal favorites (I did them all in a C152 in my time building days);
Catalina Island (AVX), Will probably require a checkout and life vests.
Camarillo, Santa Paula, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Monica,
Van Nuys, Lancaster, Rosamond, Mojave, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego, Carslbad, Chino, Big Bear Lake (Should also require a check out and wouldn't recommend it in a '152 during the summer), Monterey and many, many more.
All of the Above mentioned airports have Restaurants on the field as well as attractions nearby. I really can't think of a better location to learn to fly and build time, the airspace can seem a little intimidating at first, but a good instructor and some good pre-flight planning will get you up to speed fast.
Enjoy!
Catalina Island (AVX), Will probably require a checkout and life vests.
Camarillo, Santa Paula, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Monica,
Van Nuys, Lancaster, Rosamond, Mojave, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego, Carslbad, Chino, Big Bear Lake (Should also require a check out and wouldn't recommend it in a '152 during the summer), Monterey and many, many more.
All of the Above mentioned airports have Restaurants on the field as well as attractions nearby. I really can't think of a better location to learn to fly and build time, the airspace can seem a little intimidating at first, but a good instructor and some good pre-flight planning will get you up to speed fast.
Enjoy!
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Flabob (RIR). Home of EAA Chapter 1. Interesting little airport. Plan on having breakfast at the restaurant. Just east of Chino (CNO), where there is a great aviation museum and Flo's restaurant.
For the Palm Springs (PSP) area, I would recommend Bermuda Dunes (UDD) instead of PSP itself. More friendly to smaller aircraft, including corporate, who many go to Jackie Cochran (TRM). On the way, make a stop at Banning (BNG), but check the wind first. You see what I mean when you get there.
Big Bear (L35) at 6752' isn't very suitable for a C150/152.
Camarillo (CMA) has a CAF squadron and museum, which is worth the see.
Should be fun.
For the Palm Springs (PSP) area, I would recommend Bermuda Dunes (UDD) instead of PSP itself. More friendly to smaller aircraft, including corporate, who many go to Jackie Cochran (TRM). On the way, make a stop at Banning (BNG), but check the wind first. You see what I mean when you get there.
Big Bear (L35) at 6752' isn't very suitable for a C150/152.
Camarillo (CMA) has a CAF squadron and museum, which is worth the see.
Should be fun.
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Definitely Sedona, and Grand Canyon. Plus there are a few airplane graveyards in Arizona... Goodyear, Marana, Pinal, Tucson International, Davis Monthan (can't land there but you can fly over parts of it going into Tucson, and there is a museum between KTUS and KDMA where you can get a tour of the boneyard. It is the third largest aviation museum in the US)
I've been to most of the many fine airfields listed above and they all have their points of interest. So here's a couple more, a ways further up the coast:
Santa Ynez Airport (KIZA), situated in a valley about 20 nm north of Santa Barbara. Watch the gliders and other airport activities from the picnic area or find your way into Solvang, a little tourist town with a Danish motif and plenty of restaurant choices. SZP to IZA and back was my first student cross country flight and I've enjoyed many subsequent visits. There's just something serene about the place that appeals to me I suppose.
Oceano Airport (L52), located within 10 minutes walking distance of Pismo Beach. There's a couple of eateries nearby and ATVs can be rented for the purpose of riding the sand dunes. Or just enjoy a nice walk at the beach.
westhawk
Santa Ynez Airport (KIZA), situated in a valley about 20 nm north of Santa Barbara. Watch the gliders and other airport activities from the picnic area or find your way into Solvang, a little tourist town with a Danish motif and plenty of restaurant choices. SZP to IZA and back was my first student cross country flight and I've enjoyed many subsequent visits. There's just something serene about the place that appeals to me I suppose.
Oceano Airport (L52), located within 10 minutes walking distance of Pismo Beach. There's a couple of eateries nearby and ATVs can be rented for the purpose of riding the sand dunes. Or just enjoy a nice walk at the beach.
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- Sedona (scenery)
- Grand Canyon (rest stop before flying over the Canyon)
- Palm Springs (interesting things to do in the area e.g. horse-riding)
- Lake Havasu (good bbq restaurant on the airfield)
- Page (rest stop before / after Monument Valley, can also take the crew car from the airport to Antelope Canyon)
- Tuscon (for PIMA Air & Space Museum)
- Flagstaff (rest stop before / after Sunset Crater and Meteor Crater)
I was flying from Phoenix so not sure which of these places would be within 4 hours of Long Beach.
- Grand Canyon (rest stop before flying over the Canyon)
- Palm Springs (interesting things to do in the area e.g. horse-riding)
- Lake Havasu (good bbq restaurant on the airfield)
- Page (rest stop before / after Monument Valley, can also take the crew car from the airport to Antelope Canyon)
- Tuscon (for PIMA Air & Space Museum)
- Flagstaff (rest stop before / after Sunset Crater and Meteor Crater)
I was flying from Phoenix so not sure which of these places would be within 4 hours of Long Beach.
Santa Paula!
But Astra driver already called it earlier.
So here's another: Harris Ranch (3O8)
If you can see the I-5 as you pass Coalinga, you find Harris Ranch. And bring your appetite for steak! 10% discount for pilots.
I remember taking a friend of mine flying in a Duchess (BE-76) as part of my plan to build some multi time. First I repositioned from HHR to SMO to pick up the friend, then we went to Mojave to look at the parked planes and check out the pictures lining the walls of the terminal until security ran us off. I remember being mildly disappointed when I landed a little off centerline. Oh well, next stop Harris for lunch. I guess the 30' runway width focused my attention properly this time. From the left seat of the mighty Duchess, it looked to me like the props were hanging over the edge of the runway! They weren't of course, but both wingtips were. Well with that, some self-serve fuel in the tanks and a juicy steak in my belly, the flight back to Hawthorne via Santa Monica was pleasant indeed. Another day in the air and 3 point something more in the logbook in furtherance of attaining a full-time flying job. Those were exciting times...
westhawk
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Interesting Airfields in Southern California
I've enjoyed awesome experiences at several of these fields. Thanks so much for the suggestions. Just stuffed myself at the waypoint cafe in Camarillo and off to camp in oceano tonight.
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I would make sure you get a thorough check out in mountain flying operations. Some of the suggestions here, while well intentioned, could be deadly in a C-152 if the density altitude is too high. I've got hundreds of hours of low level search and rescue flying in southern California and would not attempt taking a C-152 through the Banning Pass or over the Cajon Pass unless conditions were ideal. The number of wrecks on both sides of those passes is unbelievable.
You can easily get into a situation where the downdrafts exceed the climb capability of the aircraft near some of those mountains.
Typhoonpilot
You can easily get into a situation where the downdrafts exceed the climb capability of the aircraft near some of those mountains.
Typhoonpilot
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Thanks for the suggestion Typhoonpilot - in the end I opted for a 172 for exactly that reason although the DA has been ok as it's not been too hot this last month. I haven't yet been to Big Bear either - as have been waiting for instructor availability for a checkout - same with Catalina. My blog on my trips is here if anyone is interested to read it.
http://tinyurl.com/orahgty
http://tinyurl.com/orahgty
MYF in San Diego, good Mexican food in the terminal. KSEE, descent museum across the runways. KRNM, small but interesting helicopter museum.
Have fun!
Have fun!
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Surprised none has mentioned Victorville, KVCV yet. It has a cool line up of aircraft in storage. DC10, B727, B737 Classics, an odd TriStar. Millionaire FBO was nice too with a mini-golf set to play with. Hawthorne, KHHR next to LAX is very charming, a small runway in the midst of LA traffic. There is the shopping mall parking and next is the perimeter fence. Ramona, KRNM is another favorite of mine. Seen lots of students doing their first solo there, sitting on a warm tarmac enjoying the afternoon sun. The scenery is stunning. Chuck Hall Aviation is a very friendly rendezvous point and ole' Chuck himself will gladly show the ins and outs of his fine P51 Mustang.
