Living and flying in the Antelope Valley

[Gripdana]

I had some time this afternoon to take my Sonex up for a 45 minute flight after doing scheduled maintenance. My hanger is located in the Antelope Valley which is about 30 miles north of Los Angeles. It is a hub of aviation. The Space Shuttle was assembled and maintained here and skunk works is here about 6 miles away at Palmdale airport. The Mojave Space Port has Scales Composits and Edwards Air Force Base here also. When I got out into the air I heard the approach controller talking to a Heavy doing touch and go's at Palmdale. I looked over to Palmdale and there was a B2 bomber doing touch and goes. I have never seen it from the air. Boy that was something to see. You never know what might be out. It was a great afternoon.

[mike20sm]

That's a cool story, not many private pilots can say they've been flying up near a B2 bomber. I recently had an epic flight too, soaring in close proximity with another glider while ascending in a thermal. At times we were dead level with each other in tight circles having a blast, it really gives a new sense of reference of how you're flying having another point in the air across the way.
Your story got me thinking about something I've heard about, but haven't learned yet, and that's practice areas. Being in a potentially congested airspace with all sorts of military airplanes, you have to be aware of all the MOA and Restricted areas which are clearly shown on sectionals, but where is the practice area airspace at Fox Field and is it noted on a sectional?

[Gripdana]

At fox the practice area is north west and west of Fox. The MOA's and restricted air space is east a few miles. Palmdale is not in an MOA or restricted. Many of the aircraft go there to do practice approaches.

[Bryan Cotton]

Never got to fly with a B2 but they flew every day over the Nevada Test Site when I was flying the Cypher (shown in my avatar) there back in '96. They always flew with an F16 escort. That was just over the hill from Area 51. The Aurora was rumored to be flying then. We never saw it but may have heard it, then again it could have been a UFO test.

C130's used to fly into Elmira often. Had always hoped to be in the pattern with them in the C140. That way when the tower said I was #2 behind the C130 I could say I was 10 more than them.

I miss the gliders. Fun enough to dice it up in the thermal with other gliders. Very cool to do it with eagles. One spring I shared a thermal with four of them, plus a red tailed hawk.

[Sonex1517]

Great post Dana!

I just finished reading the story of Pancho Barnes. So much aviation lore in your area.


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

[GordonTurner]

Hi Dana,

Flew over this evening on my way into Santa Monica. For some reason I thought you were in San Diego??? Did you move or am I mis-remembering?

Gordon

[Gripdana]

I've always been here. My hanger is in Lancaster at KWJF. How long are you in Santa Monica? I may go down that way this weekend depending on the weather.

[Sonerai13]

Dana, I had a similar experience many years ago at Lancaster. I was delivering an airplane from Placerville, CA back here to WI. My first fuel stop was at Lancaster. As I was on a wide downwind a shadow flashed over my airplane and I looked up to see the very recognizable, unique shape of an SR-71! He was on approach to Palmdale. Very cool to see that bird "up close and personal" in the air. Cool stuff goes on out in your neck of the woods, that's for sure.

[Gripdana]

I just finished reading the story of Pancho Barnes

Pancho was an amazing woman. Barnes Aviation is right next to my hanger. I believe her son Bill started it in 1940. I have done some of my flight training there. She had some great quotes. “When you have a choice, choose happy!” and “Flying makes me feel like a sex maniac in a whorehouse with a stack of $20 bills”. She was definitely ahead of her time.

[Gripdana]

Joe,
I was driving to work at Palmdale in the late 90's and saw the SR71 in the pattern. Everyone on the road just pulled over and got out to look. That was an amazing airplane to see. I wonder if that was when you saw it?