I can back up the good reports on Rainbow, their websitesite is . .. .<a href="http://www.rainbowair.com" target="_blank">www.rainbowair.com</a>. .. .Contains all prices, info, etc.. .. .If you want to fly to Catalina, Big Bear or over the Mexican border you will require a checkflight with an instructor - but these are then valid for life, i.e. dont have to do them every year, etc. You have to go up if you havent flown the aircraft type you want to hire for a while (I think 28 days), also you will require a checkflight if you have never hired from them before.. .. .They offer excellent block rates and I always hire the new PA28-181, they have new C172Sp will colour moving map for the 'boys toys' freaks amongst us <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> ). .. .My tips would be get the Big Bear and Catalina check flights done as soon as you get there, dont forget the Buffalo buger at Catalina!!! (Should be a requirement of he checkflight in my opinion <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> ). .. .I have flown up as far North as San Francisco and as far south as the Mexican border, next time I intend to get the Mexico checkout and go down to Baja.. .. .They always have a special of the week as well (last time was Archer II complex), where they knock extra money off the hourly rate, aircraft changes each week so keep and eye on theboard and you could pick up a bargain!. .. .Aircraft have good availiability and only ever had one prob with equipment which was fixed straight away. Instructors are all a good bunch as well (mix of American and UK instructors) and are willing to work around your schedule and arent adverse to joining you on a trip away if you want to get some hours in. We left once at 10am and landed again at 2.30am next day.. .. .Scenery is incredible and if you are not night rated get one of the guys to take you up over LA at night - amazing, you can even see the Hollywood sign! Mixture of deserts, ski resorts, towns, there is even a bloody good fly in steak ranch (only in America!). .. .Julian. . .. .[Edited for cr@p use of smileys <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> ]. . . . <small>[ 07 March 2002, 08:45: Message edited by: Julian ]</small>