Southern California Autumn 2022

Aviation events in the United States and Canada
Berf
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Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

There seems to be a few of us that are heading to western USA fromm Edwards, Nellis, Fleet Week, Santa Maria etc (inc Nevada). This thread is for any tips, advice, thoughts or generally helpful comment around any of those events (but the event itself remains with other threads). Let us know of any other non aviation events that anyone could attend, spotting places, where else you are visiting etc.

My itinerary:
LA - staying Venice Beach - will try to have a short time at LAX - maybe In N Out burger or is the Proud Bird Food Bazaar area better - seems to have a few aircraft there...?

- downtown
- Griffiths Park at Sunset
- Getty museum
- LACMA
- Petersen Auto

Santa Maria
- Friday before show
- poss Saturday at show depends on Edwards

Edwards
- Sun (maybe Sat)

Las Vegas
- two days - Nellis
- stay at The Strat

Palm Springs
Aviation Museum

Chino
Two musuems
March AFB

Pasadena
Bobs Big Burger Cruise night
one or two other museums around here

head to New York to meet the wife who refuses to sit in the desert in 100 degrees plus watching aircraft.

More details on other museums and car stuff if anyone is interested....

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

I'll be doing Velocity Invitational on the Friday before Edwards
https://velocityinvitational.com/

Look out for rocket Launches at Vandenberg AFB.

There's a twilight snowbirds display at Salinas on the Friday.

The aircraft park at Point Mugu is worth a 10min stop.

The Sidewinder LL route is worth a try.

Always looking for other non-aircraft things to do such as concerts, events, experiences. Anything goes... within reason.

Andyph
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Andyph »

verreli wrote:
Mon 20 Jun 2022, 6:17 pm

The Sidewinder LL route is worth a try.
Has it reopened?

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

Andyph wrote:
Tue 21 Jun 2022, 7:24 am
verreli wrote:
Mon 20 Jun 2022, 6:17 pm

The Sidewinder LL route is worth a try.
Has it reopened?
The sidewinder low level route didn't close. The rainbow canyon section of the jedi transition is history.

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boff180
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by boff180 »

Whilst in LA, if you visit Torrance Airport you will find the following on display:-

YF-17 Cobra
F-14 Tomcat
YF-23 Black Widow II
A-4 Skyhawk
T-38 Talon

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

Thanks for that Boff I had missed those..

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

boff180 wrote:
Wed 22 Jun 2022, 5:25 am
Whilst in LA, if you visit Torrance Airport you will find the following on display:-
YF-17 Cobra
YF-23 Black Widow II
Are these the actual preserved flying prototypes or mock-ups and if so, how did they end up at Torrance?

Mike
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Mike »

They are actual aircraft, not mock-ups. Torrance is right next to Hawthorne, where Northrop was based for many years.

Andyph
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Andyph »

verreli wrote:
Tue 21 Jun 2022, 2:04 pm
Andyph wrote:
Tue 21 Jun 2022, 7:24 am
verreli wrote:
Mon 20 Jun 2022, 6:17 pm

The Sidewinder LL route is worth a try.
Has it reopened?
The sidewinder low level route didn't close. The rainbow canyon section of the jedi transition is history.
OK Yes I have just re aquainted myself with the chart - have you tried any None Rainbow Canyon parts of the route?

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

Andyph wrote:
Wed 22 Jun 2022, 10:37 am
OK Yes I have just re aquainted myself with the chart - have you tried any None Rainbow Canyon parts of the route?
I've only been once before to the Sidewinder - many more times to the canyon. The last two years plans didn't quite work out. I'll be trying two spots this time, one near Peppermint Springs and the other near the Watchtower, both in the valley north of Lake Isabella. From the research I've done no location is perfect and traffic is less than the canyon but in my opinion, it's no worse than lowfly in the Lake District where I've blanked more than once, and you can get some exotic machines. Lets face it, even a Superbug is exotic for the UK.

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spellow3010
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by spellow3010 »

Doing Edwards (update now available it seems #salivate) and Santa Maria. :heartpulse:
Now officially qualifies as a 'regular' at Famous Dave's - El Centro

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

spellow3010 wrote:
Wed 22 Jun 2022, 11:38 am
Doing Edwards (update now available it seems #salivate) and Santa Maria. :heartpulse:
Santa Maria is looking interesting with Hawkeye / C17/ F18E / F35A / Hercules displays and Fresno F15C flybys. Oh, and the Snowbirds.

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

verreli wrote:
Wed 22 Jun 2022, 12:13 pm
spellow3010 wrote:
Wed 22 Jun 2022, 11:38 am
Doing Edwards (update now available it seems #salivate) and Santa Maria. :heartpulse:
Santa Maria is looking interesting with Hawkeye / C17/ F18E / F35A / Hercules displays and Fresno F15C flybys. Oh, and the Snowbirds.
and a whole bunch of Planes of Fame stuff

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boff180
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by boff180 »

Fresno performed fly-bys at Lemoore in 2019 and they were superb - ended up being a mini-display using their special jet!

ImageF-15C California Air National Guard by Andrew Evans, on Flickr

At the moment my trip is looking like....

El Centro
Yuma
Pima/Tucson
Luke
Williams
Nellis
Area 51
Nellis
Mojave/Palmdale
Edwards Show
Santa Maria Show

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

boff180 wrote:
Wed 22 Jun 2022, 4:41 pm
At the moment my trip is looking like....
...
Nellis
Area 51
Nellis
...
Curious about your Area 51 stop. Assume you're taking the anonymous flight from McCarran (or whatever it's called now) for a personal tour hence bookending with Vegas?

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boff180
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by boff180 »

Haha no, just a day trip out to the little Aleinn and a quick selfie at the gate :-)

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

The burgers at the Little A'Le'Inn are good. Tried them following a day on the hill at Coyote Summit during a red flag. Parked the car off the highway and before I'd reached the summit it was already being investigated by a patrol car. They take security seriously around there !

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

Tempted by Morcheeba on 12 October in LA. Also at San Luis Obispo 13-14 if you area bit further north.

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

Now that RIAT is over I'm putting the finishing touches to my October road trip. 3700 miles planned covering the following aviation destinations...

Huntington Beach airshow (TBirds, Snowbirds, F18E, F35C) flying
Torrance airport (YF17, YF23) static
Point Mugu Missile Park (F14) static
California Capital airshow (F22, Growler, CF18, U2) flying
Klamath (F15 ANG) flying hopefully
Salinas (Snowbirds @ twilight) flying
Fleet Week x2 days (Blue Angels, F35C) flying
Fresno (F15 ANG) flying hopefully
Sidwinder x2 days (F18, +????) low flying
Edwards x2 days (TBirds, F22, F35ABC, B1, B52, NASA - F15, F18, ER2) flying
California Science Center (Space Shuttle) static

Obviously not just an aviation trip so also including Velocity Invitational at Laguna Seca, Vineyard tours, Whale watching, Hiking and numerous photo destinations / landmarks. Did look for a rocket launch too from Vandenberg but none are due to fly in October. Hoping they add the Hawkeye to Fleet Week but far from guaranteed.

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

Looks great - maybe worth going to if you are in the area - Lyon Air Museum is about 20 mins from Huntington Beach at Orange County Airport.

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

There is a Space X Falcon 9 launch due in October - but nothing confirmed.

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

Berf wrote:
Thu 04 Aug 2022, 5:54 pm
Looks great - maybe worth going to if you are in the area - Lyon Air Museum is about 20 mins from Huntington Beach at Orange County Airport.
Thanks for this. I was planning to stay at a hotel near OC airport so will look it up.

As for Vandenberg, my schedule is getting to the point where things are locked in but will keep an eye out. Seeing a rocket launch is on my bucket list.

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

verreli wrote:
Thu 04 Aug 2022, 6:54 pm
Berf wrote:
Thu 04 Aug 2022, 5:54 pm
Looks great - maybe worth going to if you are in the area - Lyon Air Museum is about 20 mins from Huntington Beach at Orange County Airport.
Seeing a rocket launch is on my bucket list.
Yes - its well worth it if you can. I saw a Shuttle Launch in 1984 - it was amazing. That reminds me I must get a patch for that sometime.

verreli
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by verreli »

Berf wrote:
Thu 04 Aug 2022, 8:05 pm
Yes - its well worth it if you can. I saw a Shuttle Launch in 1984 - it was amazing. That reminds me I must get a patch for that sometime.
I saw a shuttle launch from sun 'n' fun, so c.90miles away. i.e. a distant vertical contrail raising to the heavens - no noise. One of my biggest disappointments. You think they'll always be another opportunity at the time... I'll make a bigger effort next time. Maybe for Artemis or a Space X BFR...

Berf
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Re: Southern California Autumn 2022

Post by Berf »

Two Space X launches scheduled now 29 and 30 September - bit too early for me - let's hope they are delayed!

Also a few museums in the Point Mugu area - but they are only open Friday Sat Sun - CAFSoCal at Camarillo and the Mullin and Murphy Motor Museums.

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