Trip to see the Parents ..

Another wonderful day for flying!   I woke up early and checked the weather, at 7am the weather was looking good.  After pre-flighting the plane I patiently waited for the weather to burn off.  After checking the weather and calling the destination airport to confirm the coast was clear. I was finally off to Santa Ynez to visit the parents. The trip went as planned taking the planned 2.1 hrs, at 10,500’ my path took me over the top of John Wayne, and LAX. 

LAX

It was great to look down watching the “heavy iron” fly.  I requested flight following just south of Carlsbad airport, (using traffic control for traffic call outs) and found the service to be great, additionally this provided practice dealing with controllers.  The flight plan worked as drawn up. I’m constantly amazed how well the math works out.  

Self Portrait

 As I headed over the mountain by Santa Barbara, I was able to see my destination. 

Found the San Marcus VOR.. Santa Barbara is in the background

 

After calling Santa Ynez traffic I found the pattern was quiet, so I had the airport to myself.   I made a straight in approach, the runway was shorter then I had envisioned it would be. So I aimed for the numbers landing with plenty of runway ahead, using only 700’ of the 2300 feet.   After landing, I found a nice spot for parking and started cleaning up the plane.   Not too long after my Dad drove up to take me to lunch.   After a quick inspection of the plane, Dad and I headed off to lunch.    

Dad, checking out the rental!

 

Unfortunately the wind picked up as we ate lunch and was blowing greater than my restrictions allowed me to fly in.  So I was done for the day. I was hoping to get another quick flight in, but was happy for the hours I got in.    I spent the remainder of the day hanging out with Dad, and enjoying the wonderful view from their back yard.

Tomorrow I’m heading back to San Diego via Victorville, (Southern California Logistics Airport) formerly known as George Air force Base, however now it’s the current home of the civilian airliner bone yard.  The airplane geek in me can’t wait!