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Here's another benefit of general aviation. My family was to attend an affair in Southern California. To be there on time for the affair, we have to travel on Friday. But because of my work commitments, I have to stay behind as the rest of the family traveled that Friday. The next day, an 800 feet overcast covered over Napa making any VFR flight a no-go. Around 9:30am, the sky went 800 feet broken with clearings in the western area of airport. I requested a Special VFR clearance, flew through the clearing around Petaluma and proceed towards LA above the overcast in Napa. After a stopover at Bakersfield Muni (L45), I landed at Brackett Airport (POC) around 2:30 pm in time to be picked-up and get ready for the affair. At Bakersfield, I had a quick lunch at Harmon's Rocket Cafe, a racing themed airport restaurant. It also gave me time to review the complex LA airspace before proceeding, and the flight plan to cross over the Sierra mountain ranges. Flying from Napa to Bakersfield has been over flat terrain. But from Bakersfield to LA, the terrain changes to high mountain ranges. Crossing these mountains had to be planned; before crossing, weather had to be checked, and the route planned out. I decided to fly over Gorman VOR at 9,500 feet; pretty much follow Hwy. 5. On my return flight, I was delayed because of low overcast. I first attempted to use the same route through Gorman but had to turn around due to low ceiling. Someone in the airport suggested flying through the Cajon Pass towards Mojave. After planning carefully planning that route, I took off, flew through a clearing somewhere above Cable airport, and was above the overcast around 8,500 feet. I continued to climb and leveled agt 10,500 feet over the Mojave desert where the sky was clear. I stopped by a Delano Municipal (DLO) for a quick break, then proceeded to Napa. The leg from Delano to Napa was a night flight. |
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First stop over was Bakersfield Muni (L45). |
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A welcome place to eat after the first leg. Harmon's Rocket Shop Cafe is located at the opposite end of the airport from the fuel station beyond the hangers. Also time to review the complex LA airspaces before taking off. |
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Inside Harmon's Rocket Shop Cafe with racing theme. |
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After crossing Gorman at 9,500 feet, landed in Brackett airport (POC) in La Verne. |
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Brackett administration building right next to the transient parking. |
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Nice picnic table next to the administration building. |
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Inside the administrative building. There's also a place for flight planning with flight planning terminals. |
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Brackett tower; I find their controllers helpful. |
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Interesting terrain at the end of Runway 26R. |
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Outside patio of Norm's Cafe at the Brackett Administration Building. Good food; one of the few places that do not accept credit cards, only cash. |
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Getting ready to fly back but needs some careful route planning to get out from the complex LA airspaces and low overcast. |
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Over Mojave Desert at 10,500 feet; finally clear from the overcast. |
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Flying over Mojave Desert; there's the thick overcast over LA basin I'm rerouting to avoid. |
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Flying over Palmdale airport; notice the thick overcast in the LA basin. |
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Landed in Delano Muni (DLO) in Bakersfield for a much needed break. The airport building is close; where to go?! |
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This answers the question on where to go in Delano. |
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And it's just few steps outside the airport. |
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Fueled up and ready for the second leg to Napa. It's getting dark; it will be a night flight. |
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