Flying to Palm Springs

 This was my first time going to Palm Springs and going through the notorious Banning Pass. The pass acts like a funnel for the winds and can throw small airplanes around like it's nothing. I always had Palm Springs on my list because it has an awesome Warbird Museum there. The perfect day came along in November, time to take advantage of the weather, and aim the nose of the Skyhawk at Palm Springs. Smooth as glass, and no turbulence at all through the pass!
  Socal will loose radar contact with you while in the pass and then re-establish on the other side. ATC then asked us to follow Highway 111 inbound, then crossed midfield for right downwind entry for runway 31 Right.
  We got free parking at Atlantic Aviation for getting 15 gallons of avgas. They have a small cafe right next to Atlantic, perfect for lunch or breakfast. Atlantic even gave us a shuttle van ride to and from the museum. There were lots of old guys telling stories and facts about the old Warbirds, you can even climb around inside a B-17 Fying Fortress and Catalina PBY! Like Chino, most of these aircraft are in flying condition. Good Times!
  We departed runway 13L, and were asked to fly heading 030 before resuming own nav.

MORE PICS (SLIDESHOW) HERE...

Flight Planning at SkyVector.com

Flying to Santa Barbara

I took my wife to Santa Barbara for a lunch date. We parked at Atlantic Aviation and got 10 gallons of Avgas. In return, we got free parking, and a ride in a Suburban down to the Beachside Cafe. Great food and service, and a beautiful view from right on the beach. It was such a nice day we walked back, it's only about a mile up a bikepath back to the airport. This is high on the list of flying destinations.

Flight Planning at SkyVector.com

Flying to Bakersfield

 Pyramid Lake

The Gorman VOR

Over the Grapevine

This is the first time I flew over the Grapevine. No turbulence to speak of, but it can get pretty bad if you go on the wrong day. I was amazed by the size of the Inversion layer hanging over the entire San Joaquin Valley. It hung about 3000 feet.
No wonder the METARS were reporting 6 miles haze, but clear skies at the same time. Rocket Shop Cafe was awesome, great huge burgers and free parking right outside the restaurant. We flew up hwy 58 and over the Tehachapi Loop on the way back and over the high desert.

MORE PICS HERE...

Flight Planning at SkyVector.com

Flying to Chino

The Chino Planes of Fame Warbird Museum and Flo's Cafe.  We overflew the prison, entered the right downwind for runway 26 Right.  The tower gave us progressive taxi instuctions to the free transient parking T's on the north side near the Museum.   We were walking distance to the cafe and the Museums rear gate.   You could spend all day seeing all the warbirds, it's quite extensive and impressive, most hangers and displays have been newly renovated, a beautiful presentation of these old birds. Most are in flying condition and appear in many movies and TV shows.
MORE PICS HERE...

Flying to San Diego

San Onofre Power Plant

La Jolla

 

Qualcomm Stadium

 

Mark, Tony, and Wolf

 

Casa Machado restaurant on top of the terminal building

 

LCAC Landing craft at Camp Pendleton

 

Queen Mary, Long Beach

We flew down to San Diego, and saw Tony while we were down there.  We flew down the shoreline, then over the Miramar Class B to Mt. Soledad, before descending for a left downwind entry to runway 28 Left. 
There is a nice shot of Qualcomm Stadium just as we turned left base.  There is a Mexican restaurant on the field that has a nice 2nd story view of the airport.  We departed straight out, and stayed under the Miramar Class B to follow the shoreline back up north. We stayed on the shoreline back home, went through the Santa Ana Class C, over Long Beach harbor, then through the LAX "mini route" before returning to KWHP.  MORE PICS HERE...

Flying to Paso Robles

 Santa Ynez Airport

near Santa Maria

Skunkworks

Paso Robles Jet Center

We ate at Mathew's which has now closed.  There was about a 20 knott wind going right down the runway today.  Some guy in a Schweizer 300 was doing hover practice right next to the approach to Runway 19!  I'm could have waved to him on my right as I passed him on final approach, at least he was on the radio.  The marine layer actually crept in and got worse as the day went on, the opposite of what usually happens.
We flew over the layer on the way home and it cleared up once we got to Semi Valley.  Skunkworks made this video.

Flight Planning at SkyVector.com

Flying to French Valley, (F70) Temecula/Murrietta

Lake Elsinore

Skunkworks

The socal marine layer wouldn't let up along the coast, so we decided to stay inland and checkout French Valley, it was a little bumby and visibility wasn't the best due to the haze.
French valley has a long runway and is non-towered, it is among the many tract homes and wineries in the area. We took the 15 freeway south and passed Lake Elinore. It was about here that SoCal dropped our flight following and traffic could be heard on the Elsinore advisory freq of 122.9. Lake Skinner was out the right window as we entered left downwind for runway 18. The restaurant was nice, just a few feet from the free transient parking and a wonderful view of the runway from either inside, or the patio.

Flight Planning at SkyVector.com