Flying in California

[jstew15]

I'm going to California this September with a friend to do some flying based at Long Beach. Aiming to do about 50-60 hours between the two of us. I have been before to Palm Springs, French Valley and Redlands but I want to do a lot more longer cross country flights.
Don't really know what routes to try first, up north sounds quite good, but any suggestions would be welcome. Hopefully the weather will be a little nicer than here at Prestwick.
Thanks

JS:)

[Whirlybird]

I got back last week from three weeks helicopter flying in California, based at Long Beach. There's a long diary-type thread I posted on Rotorheads about it (My Three Weeks Flying in California). Although heli flying is a bit different, you might want to take a look for some ideas - I went to San Diego (definitely recommended), Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, Big Bear etc. The last two would be fairly challenging for f/w aircraft, but see what you think. The thread's slipped to the second page now, but shouldn't be too hard to find.

[englishal]

Heading North......

through the LA VFR corridor (if you're not IR) then spend a few days flying around California. There are many great places to go in Cali, a few I've been to and recommend are Santa Barbara (Great burger bar, full of totty), Santa Maria (great mexican), San Louis Obispo (good restaraunt), Montery, Columbia....this place is excellent, very scenic, real redneck bars (checked shirts and all that). Kern Valley is also an experience, interesting approach in a valley with mountains all around, but when you land you can literally taxi off to a camp site. Also a reasonable burger bar type of thing there. Oh and of course if you're flying up the San wankeen Valley (can never spell it), have a look on your chart for Harris Ranch. Its a fly-in steak joint with its own runway parallel to the road, excellent food, and Oakland centre will be happy to give you vectors. All these places have self serve fuel pumps so it doesn't really matter what time you turn up.

Another good place to go is Bullhead City (Lauchlan), in Arizona...well Nevada. You land in Arizona, cross the road where a ferry boat picks you up and takes you across the river to a load of Casino's in Nevada. Hotel rooms are dirt cheap, food is good (don't have the Giant Burger unless you're REALLY hungry or want to eat a burger the size of a dinner plate). Sedona in AZ is good for a ****-up, and 30 miles to the east is 'Meteor Crater' and a few old volcanoes which make good sight seeing. Don't be tempted to fly into the crater though, as has happened in the past or you may never get out due to density altitude............I could go on, but won't as there is so much good stuff to see in the West USA, and it makes great flying and all very accessable from Long Beach. Oh and don't forget Vegas, and Phoenix....

Cheers
EA

[Keef]

Agree with all the recommendations given - there's plenty to see!

Big Bear isn't bad, as long as you know about leaning for takeoff at high airfields. Catalina is definitely tricky, and not for the faint hearted.

Sedona is fabulous.

My favourite of all time is the Grand Canyon. You need the special chart, but you can fly along much of the Canyon, and then drop into the airfield and take a short bus ride to the rim.

It really is a delightful place to fly. And some of the aircraft museums are fabulous, if you like that sort of thing. I did Santa Monica and Palm Springs, and spent a day at each.

[Land After]

I've just come back from flying in Long Beach - I'd agree with all of the above. My votes for good trips/experiences (in no particular order)

Catalina
Las Vegas
Grand Canyon
Big Bear
Monterey up the coast
San Fran & a Bay Tour
VFR over LAX at 3500' for the kicks!


Have a great trip and wear sunscreen!

[Julian]

Yep def agree. You have to check out Santa Barabra, especially if you are a couple of single blokes over there - dont go with the girlfriend! You can overfly the Napa valley, Montery, etc as has already been said. Scottsdale is a pretty cool place to fly into, bit weird parking an Archer III next to a load of biz jets but great feeling :)

Also get yourself down to Brown Field (think its called that but dont have airport guide with me!), as its the last airfield before the Mexican border - the other side of the road is Tuijana. Get your nav right though as if you land at the wrong field you will be impounded by the border patrol!!!!!!! Greasy Joe cafe with decent Mexican food though.

Julian.

[slim_slag]

through the LA VFR corridor (if you're not IR)

I am being totally anal and nitpicky here, but you don't need an IR to get cleared into the LAX class B. There are two established VFR corridors in close proximity to LAX which pass through the Class B - with a VFR clearance of course. The rest of the Class B is like any other class B, if you are a VFR pilot you call approach and ask to be let in.

Even a student pilot (with instructor endorsement) can perform solo flight within class B airspace. How would flight schools be able to exist in class B airports otherwise :)

I think you must be talking about the LAX SFRA (http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~zzyzx/images/lax-sfra.jpg ). Try doing that over Heathrow :D

Your suggestions are spot on, I still need to go to some of those places too.

Cheers

[essouira]

If you fancy some places that are a bit off beat then you may want to:
a) go into arizona and fly over monument valley
b) land in at tombstone and visit the ok corral
c) fly down to nogales, park up and walk into mexico
d) fly along rainbow valley and look at london bridge at some place beginning with h
e) visit tucson and see the graveyard for aircraft
f) spend some time on the east bay and do some aerobatics at one of the topnotch schools
g) sleep over at the many airfields in the wine district - petaluma is one of my particular favourites
h) listen to some good jazz and blues in sacramento
Whatever you decide - have a great time !

[The Nr Fairy]

The "H" place is Lake Havasu City, with an airport nearby.