Hawthorne CA to San Francisco flight planning

[Yossarian]

I'm planning my longest XC yet, from Hawthorne CA to (most likely) Hayward
Executive up by San Francisco. This will be a day VFR flight in a C172SP
in mid to late April. I'm pretty close to getting my instrument rating and
have 120 hours.

I'd like to get opinions on the route. The two choices I see are--

1. Head inland, Tejon Pass (Gorman), then Avenal VOR to Priest to Hayward.
It's the most direct but airports are few and far between in case of
trouble. Terrain is fairly flat once you get past Gorman but it's pretty
hilly until then.

2. Follow the coast up until Santa Barbara. Then Santa Maria (SMX), Paso
Robles, and follow the 101 up to Salinas then Hayward. I like this route
because there are more, larger airports available but it adds about an hour
to the trip. Fuel reserve should still be at least 90 minutes.

Any thoughts on Hayward? It seems to be mostly jet businesses but do they
at least tolerate piston singles? Any recommendations on FBOs or services
there?

Thanks in advance.

[Ditch]

I usually take the shortest route possible...but then again I don't fly for
the scenery anymore. Up 101 over by Salinas is a nice route tho. If you
decide on that route, just watch for the airline traffic while south of San
Jose (KSJC) airport. There is a lot of it up that valley from Gilroy north.

As for HWD being GA friendly..that is pretty much what flies there. There is
business activity, but HWD is not dominated by it. Just watch out for the
OAK Class C airspace and you will be good to go.


"Yossarian" > wrote in message
. 97.142...
> I'm planning my longest XC yet, from Hawthorne CA to (most likely) Hayward
> Executive up by San Francisco. This will be a day VFR flight in a C172SP
> in mid to late April. I'm pretty close to getting my instrument rating
and
> have 120 hours.
>
> I'd like to get opinions on the route. The two choices I see are--
>
> 1. Head inland, Tejon Pass (Gorman), then Avenal VOR to Priest to
Hayward.
> It's the most direct but airports are few and far between in case of
> trouble. Terrain is fairly flat once you get past Gorman but it's pretty
> hilly until then.
>
> 2. Follow the coast up until Santa Barbara. Then Santa Maria (SMX), Paso
> Robles, and follow the 101 up to Salinas then Hayward. I like this route
> because there are more, larger airports available but it adds about an
hour
> to the trip. Fuel reserve should still be at least 90 minutes.
>
> Any thoughts on Hayward? It seems to be mostly jet businesses but do they
> at least tolerate piston singles? Any recommendations on FBOs or services
> there?
>
> Thanks in advance.

[Don Tuite]

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 16:43:03 -0800, "Ditch" >
wrote:

>I usually take the shortest route possible...but then again I don't fly for
>the scenery anymore. Up 101 over by Salinas is a nice route tho. If you
>decide on that route, just watch for the airline traffic while south of San
>Jose (KSJC) airport. There is a lot of it up that valley from Gilroy north.
>
>As for HWD being GA friendly..that is pretty much what flies there. There is
>business activity, but HWD is not dominated by it. Just watch out for the
>OAK Class C airspace and you will be good to go.

It's maybe worth noting that staying east of 101 before RHV and then
continuing east of 680 on north avoids the hassle of transitions
through SJC and RHV (or NUX and PAO). The other thing is that it's
kinda busy from SUNOL across the Dunbarton bridge, what with PAO and
SQL traffic, so you need to keep an eye out.

I suppose it's simpler IFR.

Don

[RST Engineering]

Over the Grapevine by Gorman to Bakersfield, then if you are GPS, a straight
shot for Livermore and into Hayward over the Oakland hills.

If you are VOR, then Bakersfield, Fresno, twenty miles south of Manteca hang
a left into Livermore, thence...

Hayward is VERY friendly to GA...not much jet traffic there. Above ALL
avoid going into Oakland and tying down at that huge new Jet Center at the
south end of the airport. What a rip. Tie down at Kaiser, and if you are
very quiet about it, they don't seem to even notice that you are there.

Jim


"Yossarian" > wrote in message
. 97.142...
> I'm planning my longest XC yet, from Hawthorne CA to (most likely) Hayward
> Executive up by San Francisco. This will be a day VFR flight in a C172SP
> in mid to late April. I'm pretty close to getting my instrument rating
> and
> have 120 hours.

[[email protected]]

What a glorious opportunity to SEE SOMETHING along the way. If you
are just going to fly direct, a "tube" out of LAX would be easier and
cheaper.

Rather than direct, consider some sightseeing....over agua dulce, past
Palmdale...

Many great stopping places, mojave....bakersfield, delano...

So much to see for those willing to look and explore.

Neal

[John Godwin]

wrote in
oups.com:

> Rather than direct, consider some sightseeing....over agua dulce,
> past Palmdale...

Agua Dulce has a great BBQ.

>
> Many great stopping places, mojave....bakersfield, delano...

I understand there's to be a new TV Show "CSI: Bakersfield" :-)

--

[Blueskies]

"John Godwin" > wrote in message . 3.44...
>
> I understand there's to be a new TV Show "CSI: Bakersfield" :-)
>
> --

I heard Fresno...

[Hilton]

Hi,

Plan on ableskivers in Solvang!!! (Sanya Ynez)

Hilton