My wife and I are flying from Spanish Fork to Oceanside on Saturday for a family reunion. I will need to refuel somewhere in the Vegas vicinity and I'm wondering where the best (easy access, cheap fuel, no valet parking, etc.) place is? I'm looking at Boulder or Jean or ???

Also, either on the way there or back or while we're down there, I'm looking for suggestions of where to fly. I'm thinking about going out to Catalina Island. My wife and I have been there a few times, but never flown to it. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

I've always loved Corona for an early morning breakfast at the airport cafe. A lot of GA activity there on the weekends.

You can also get an ATC clearance to fly low around the San Diego harbor and down Coronado and back. I was vacationing there last year and we tried that plan twice and were granted permission once, which was worth it.

The coastline flight to Santa Barbara or as far as ??? should be a requirement.

I would top off in Mesquite or Perkins, get up high and tuck it into SoCal bypassing all the Vegas ATC drama.

Avalon is nice this time year the airport in the sky charges $25 landing fee and then if you go to town you'll have to take a bus 15-18 bucks I think. It's a bit expensive but should be cooler than the mainland. Corona's restaurant is still closed from the flood. If you're gonna have wheels San Diego has a lot of history. I did the Midway aircraft carrier Musiem a couple years ago and is very impressive. The Gas Lamp District has a lot of good restaurants and entertainment. If it was me I'd stay close to the coast it's hot here inland.

Looks like Boulder City has fuel for 5.37 and is probably the easiest in the L.V. Area to get in and out of. Down here in So. Cal. Looks like L35 Big Bear is 5.17 & 5.20 in Hemet KHMT

Well be there for a week and we'll have ground transportation as well. Planning on seeing a bunch of stuff in San Diego, and I like the sound of the Midway Aircraft carrier. I'll put that on the list. I'll have to check on getting a low level clearance around the San Diego harbor and Coronado, I didn't know they would let you do that. I know there is a vfr corridor at about 3300 to 4400" though.

We are planning on flying up the coast to Santa Barbara and seeing if we can spot Shawn and Gus. Also, I do think we'll make a day out of Catalina. Thanks for the heads up on Coronado though. That was one of the things I wanted to do. Oh well.

Hi Allen,
When we went to caveman we got fuel at Bryce on the way home. It was less expensive and since the airport is at 7600 I wasn't to far from cruising altitude after take off. Then Big bear (L35)is always a good fuel stop, reasonable fuel, good restaurant and once again hardly a climb out of there. Then its downhill all the way to Oceanside. Skip Las Vegas unless you just have to do it. HOT HOT and more HOT.

If you are heading up to Santa Barbara try to hit Santa Paula for your fuel it is always at least $1-2 less than SBA but you will get free parking at Atlantic in SBA if you buy 8 gal fuel. Not sure if you have dinner plans there but the walk to the beach is great and the Beachside Cafe is good. They have 2 bicycles avail for free at Atlantic also.

There is a VFR corridor over LAX or you can use while going north or you can request the shoreline from socal approach and fly lower.

PM me when you are here, If I am off work I'll fly out and meet you somewhere.

David

To add what was mentioned above and I know most of your time may be spent down in the SD area.

Chino has the Planes of Fame Museum and they regularly fly war-birds on some weekends.

Perris Valley is fun to land and watch big groups of skydivers and they have some old ramp mummies parked on the east side of the runway.

There's a couple of more small private museum/warbird displays at Santa Ana ($12.00 PP ) and Santa Monica (landing fee) airports.

If you fly up the coast to Santa Barbara, give the "LAX Mini Route" a try. I think it's kind of neat to fly over LAX at 2000-3000 feet

On your way home, I think it would be a great flight up along the Colorado River. Probably a little out of the way. Maybe buzz over to Yuma, then up to Lake Mead over Hoover Dam.

Have fun! Looking forward to your trip report and pictures.

m7flyer wrote:
There is a VFR corridor over LAX or you can use while going north or you can request the shoreline from socal approach and fly lower.

David

Hi Dave. Have you done that? I wanted to do that route, but I figured it was only for the helicopters.

If just a fuel stop I'd go to HII -Lake Havasue for cheap fuel and Waldos BBQ -Cheap fuel . I'm at Boulder part time -or AZ50 but they only have Mogas (alachole except when we buy 200 gal.+).Perkins /Overton would be my other choice. You can bypass the Vegas class "B" by overflyn Lake Meade . Kingman anit too bad with good grits near self service fuel .

i like big bear city for gas always one of the less expensive. hi 6752' so you don't have a climb back to altitude. good restaurant on the field. you will be going by giant rock and bacon strip too.

have fun...rob

OregonMaule wrote:i like big bear city for gas always one of the less expensive. hi 6752' so you don't have a climb back to altitude. good restaurant on the field. you will be going by giant rock and bacon strip too.

have fun...rob

I'm thinking if you can type you can fly get ur ass outa that chair n go fly heal up

We made it to Oceanside! Great flight, super smooth all the way. Ended up getting fuel at Overton, and at 9:30am it was already 93°! Thanks for all the great ideas - we have family stuff going on for the first few days here, so I won't be flying much until maybe Wednesday. I do plan on flying over San Diego at dusk the first time the weather looks good though. Then one day out to Catalina. I'd love to fly low over LAX - that would be awesome.

As soon as I get an idea what my schedule is I'll let you guys know. I'll tell you what though - after years of flying in the mountains of Utah and Nevada, my ground speed landing at Oceanside felt like I could get out and walk faster!

Sounds like a fun trip Alan. The Wasatch is only 100 degrees and windy I'm sure Oceanside is pretty nice about now. How did you like Overton? Easy in easy out? I like that area down there when its not a furnace.

I forgot to mention Flabob airport... if you get some time to hit it (if it still exists) its worth a visit. Blast from the past kind of place.

Glidergeek wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:i like big bear city for gas always one of the less expensive. hi 6752' so you don't have a climb back to altitude. good restaurant on the field. you will be going by giant rock and bacon strip too.

have fun...rob

I'm thinking if you can type you can fly get ur ass outa that chair n go fly heal up

i.m so stoned i don't know if i could the airport. pain has eased up and i took a lot less oxi today

Here are a few shots from the flight down to Oceanside. I don't have any from Oceanside yet, but I'll post a few as soon as I get them. Noreen shot a few pictures with her phone while I was turning crosswind over Oceanside harbor, I'll try to post those as well:

Brain Head Ski Resort


Cedar Breaks Naional Monument


Zions National Park


Solar Power Plant South of Vegas


St. George, UT - the old airport is in the foreground


Zions Nationa Park


On crosswind for Oceanside

Sweet pictures!!

The cloud layer finally lifted and we went up flying for a bit. We flew down from Oceanside to San Diego and back and followed the coastline. Hoping to make it out to Catalina tomorrow now that the official part of the family reunion is finished.
Here are a few pics:

Oceanside Harbor




Del Mar Raceway


Some sailboat out fishing


Floating around Torrey Pines

We made it out to Catalina Island today - what a great flight! Perfect weather, great Buffalo Burger at the Airport, and we took the shuttle van into Avalon for the day. They call the airport there on the island the "Airport in the Sky" because it's at 1,600ft. on top of the island. I think they need to watch a couple of videos on this site and they will change their minds!
Here are a few pictures:

The airport on Catalina Island (not my airplane in front)


The City of Avalon


The shore on the West of the island


Noreen really likes this tree...


The Pier at Oceanside on our way back to the mainland

Great photos! Looked like a great trip

Allen;

Great photos!! You professionals make us shutter hackers look bad, so post some bad ones once in awhile

TD

Nice pictures Allen, Catalina Island is on our hit list while we're here in California.