It did cost about 2x more to fly my own butt there than flying Southwest at last minute rates, but eh, I got to a closer airport, and I got to leave on my own schedule for both legs :)

The flight there was definitely my best flight to Socal where I got to fly over all 3 of Mohave Spaceport, Edwards Airforce Base (where the space shuttle could land, and X planes are tested), and the unassuming Victorville which has a great collection in its airliner graveyard.

fly by Moffett

I don't think it was LA smog, I avoided the LA Basin

Mohave Spaceport

those plane bodies were stripped for parts/skin

A cool little racetrack and dragrace strip nearby:

that got me excited :)

Then I made it to Edwards, which is usually closed airspace, but was open during thanksgiving:

the runways on the lakebed are my favourite part

Left, Center, Right, really? :)

Then, I made it to Victorvillle, which I circled once at lower altitude to picture all of the many planes parked there:

southest planes having fun :)

I then finished my flight to San Bernardino, arrived a bit late, but it was well worth it :)

sadly the airport is pretty deserted

The flight back was less scenic, the weather got worse (low-ish overcast and rain) as I got closer to Palo Alto. Got to land on runway 13, and no one else was flying with that low overcast and bad weather:

Apple's saucer :)

Home, sweet home...