Cecil,
A number of times while teaching at RHV, I've returned when the field was still IFR.
On one occasion recently we flew the ILS 30L approach to SJC and when we broke
out of the clouds, diverted to RHV. In another case, we flew an approach into
Hayward, followed I-880 and I-680 to the field and got in under special VFR.
In both of those cases, having a GPS wouldn't have helped anyway, since the MDA
is so high on that approach.
Max T, MCFI



The only drawback is that my home airport,
Reid-Hillview only has a GPS approach and none of the 172's I currently fly
have panel mount GPS's (supposed to be getting two,, unfortunately they
aren't being added to any of the planes that I fly), so we can only take
advantage of the IMC if it is VFR (i.e., so I get back) at my home airport
around the time we plan returning to RHV.