Top 6 small airports in Southern California

mr_happyland

mr_happyland

Pre-takeoff checklist
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mr_happyland
In my latest video, I put together a list of my favorite airports to fly to in Southern California. My criteria was a combination of factors such as restaurants, transportation, cool things to do etc... There are many good ones to choose from but this is what I came up with:

 
1. kern valley
2. oceano
3. big bear
4. santa ynez
5. catalina
6. camarillo
 
GeorgeC said:
1. kern valley
2. oceano
3. big bear
4. santa ynez
5. catalina
6. camarillo
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I like everything on this list except for I would swap out Santa Monica with Camarillo
 
Tantalum said:
I like everything on this list except for I would swap out Santa Monica with Camarillo
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I strongly disagree. The city of Santa Monica does not want you there. They charge you for every landing (something like $14 last time I was there). They closed the Typhoon restaurant and I believe nearby Spitfire Grill is closing soon too. They want to drive away all business even before they shut the airport down entirely in 2028. Meanwhile Camarillo embraces general aviation. That place is packed on the weekends.
 
Tantalum said:
I like everything on this list except for I would swap out Santa Monica with Camarillo
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Lol, no.

mr_happyland said:
I strongly disagree. The city of Santa Monica does not want you there. They charge you for every landing (something like $14 last time I was there). They closed the Typhoon restaurant and I believe nearby Spitfire Grill is closing soon too. They want to drive away all business even before they shut the airport down entirely in 2028. Meanwhile Camarillo embraces general aviation. That place is packed on the weekends.
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Spitfire is getting a new owner, and I still don't think SMO will close

Tantalum said:
Damn, really?

Camarillo is a cool spot, but it's almost TOO busy on the weekends
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Camarillo does get way too busy sometimes, but for good reason.

wrbix said:
As usual, nice editing......and the best airframe.
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Too bad he doesn't fly it as fast as he should :p
 
No Palomar? The Landing is easily the best place to fly into and eat in SoCal.
 
6? That’s easy...
Chino
Cable
Corona
Catalina
Compton
Camarillo

Any airport that starts with a “C”:)
FYI - Compton is a beautiful little airport with a lot of nice people based there.
 
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N1120A said:
Camarillo does get way too busy sometimes, but for good reason.
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it's a cool spot for sure and I brought my dad there and a lot of my flying friends there as well however as far as doing anything else it's limited.. places like Kern, AVX, etc, have stuff to do outside the airport. Doesn't revolve purely around aviation
 
Tantalum said:
it's a cool spot for sure and I brought my dad there and a lot of my flying friends there as well however as far as doing anything else it's limited.. places like Kern, AVX, etc, have stuff to do outside the airport. Doesn't revolve purely around aviation
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Camarillo has lots to do in and around it. You can go outlet shopping!
 
How about 6 of the most depressing/deserted So. Cal Airports(ok, yes, I was based in San Diego at the time):
1. Banning
2. Brawley
3. Chiraco Summit
4. Calipatria
5. Blythe
6. Imperial
 
What about Columbia?

I like it better than Big Bear, since it is less touristy...
 
chartbundle said:
How about 6 of the most depressing/deserted So. Cal Airports(ok, yes, I was based in San Diego at the time):
1. Banning
2. Brawley
3. Chiraco Summit
4. Calipatria
5. Blythe
6. Imperial
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Haha...that's a great idea actually. At least Chiraco Summit has some old WW2 stuff to look at.
 
I want to be in one of your videos one day. That would be cool.
 
IK04 said:
What about Columbia?

I like it better than Big Bear, since it is less touristy...
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Columbia is awesome! Camping there is on my to do list. I didn’t include it b/c it’s not Southern California otherwise it would be a strong contender.
 
mr_happyland said:
Columbia is awesome! Camping there is on my to do list. I didn’t include it b/c it’s not Southern California otherwise it would be a strong contender.
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Oh, Duh.. I didn't draw the connection to Southern California... That explains why so many of my old favorites aren't on the list.

How about Agua Dulce? Has it fallen into disrepair like so many other remote public airports?
 
Santa Paula should have been included. It's definitely small but a great community there.
 
Camarillo is a favorite of mine. Many wonderful times at Waypoint Cafe with family and friends over 30 years. We went there every time we went to visit my in-laws and there are so many memories. When my father-in-law passed away, we had a plaque put on one of the benches with his and my MIL's names. Bench is over at the side entrance. Capt Richard J Miller, USN Ret and Lois Miller.
 
IK04 said:
Oh, Duh.. I didn't draw the connection to Southern California... That explains why so many of my old favorites aren't on the list.

How about Agua Dulce? Has it fallen into disrepair like so many other remote public airports?
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No. A lot of work was done there, hangars, cafe, BBQ pit etc. Even a swimming pool. But they got busted for doing some stuff without permit, the swimming pool I think is gone. The locals were not happy and while unsuccessful in getting it closed, were successful in getting operations there severely restricted.
 
Loved the video. I'm currently in PPL training down in the LA basin (first solo this week!) and most of these have been on my list of places to go once I get my PPL.

Question about Kern Valley- what route do you take from the LA area? Over Gorman to Bakersfield and up the canyon or follow the 14 up through the Edwards MOAs and over the hills near Inyokern?
 
Spacedoc said:
Loved the video. I'm currently in PPL training down in the LA basin (first solo this week!) and most of these have been on my list of places to go once I get my PPL.

Question about Kern Valley- what route do you take from the LA area? Over Gorman to Bakersfield and up the canyon or follow the 14 up through the Edwards MOAs and over the hills near Inyokern?
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Congrats on the upcoming solo! It's a great feeling. The solo cross countries are even better.
As far as routing goes, I've gone both ways. I think the central valley route is a little shorter for me, but sometimes other aspects play a role. If the central valley is LIFR, I've gone the desert route. If winds are strong from the west, you're gonna get a rough ride on the desert side, as it's on the leeward side of the mountains.
 
Thanks for the response- so it sounds like both options are viable but weather dependent. Makes sense.

Actually, I DID have my first solo earlier this week. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be, but after going around on my first trip through the pattern due to a wonky final I did think to myself "I'm gonna have to land this thing eventually..." And I did!
 
mr_happyland said:
Congrats on the upcoming solo! It's a great feeling. The solo cross countries are even better.
As far as routing goes, I've gone both ways. I think the central valley route is a little shorter for me, but sometimes other aspects play a role. If the central valley is LIFR, I've gone the desert route. If winds are strong from the west, you're gonna get a rough ride on the desert side, as it's on the leeward side of the mountains.
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You should shoot those approaches on the way! Keep current!
 
chartbundle said:
How about 6 of the most depressing/deserted So. Cal Airports(ok, yes, I was based in San Diego at the time):
1. Banning
2. Brawley
3. Chiraco Summit
4. Calipatria
5. Blythe
6. Imperial
Click to expand...

Actually, Chiraco Summit has a cafe and General Patton museum so close it is essentially on the field.
 
chartbundle said:
How about 6 of the most depressing/deserted So. Cal Airports(ok, yes, I was based in San Diego at the time):
1. Banning
2. Brawley
3. Chiraco Summit
4. Calipatria
5. Blythe
6. Imperial
Click to expand...

IPL is fairly busy.
 
Agua Dulce was bought by the Spears family, the one that ran a NASCAR team for years. They did alot of improvements so its still a nice airport. They used to have a monthly BBQ flyin in the summers but that stopped about a year or two ago.

IK04 said:
Oh, Duh.. I didn't draw the connection to Southern California... That explains why so many of my old favorites aren't on the list.

How about Agua Dulce? Has it fallen into disrepair like so many other remote public airports?
Click to expand...
 
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