skua - did you get any pics of your Extra experience? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .I do indeed fly from San Carlos. All the Bay Area airports are expensive compared the rest of the US (I'm told), but probably look fairly cheap compared to European prices.. .. .West Valley Flying Club gets good marks from most (they're at SQL and PAO and have Cessnas and Pipers mostly). <a href="http://www.wvfc.org" target="_blank">www.wvfc.org</a> is their site.. .. .Diamond Aviation at San Carlos is good too, but fewer aircraft - Cessnas and Katanas.. .. .The Bay Tour is a must, but other good flying destinations from up here are Monterey, Columbia, Sonoma, etc.. .. .BAL.