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2015-10-15 01:01
in Flying, Nflying
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It had been 3 years since I flew to Palm Springs for AOPA Aviation Expo. Back then, the flight had turned ugly half way and I ended up IMC half way during the flight.
This time, I only had a crappy C172SP with no in flight weather, so it was a bit more challenging. Sure enough the weather was interesting too, and while we made it there VFR, I had to take a very non direct route to avoid weather, and the flight took 3.5H in the end, but we made it.
The non aviation parts of Palm Springs are here.
![cute :) cute :)](/blogimg/10/thumb1024_110_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
cute :)
![](/blogimg/11/thumb1024_111_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![the plowing started ok, and then the guy started drinking the plowing started ok, and then the guy started drinking](/blogimg/19/thumb1024_119_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
the plowing started ok, and then the guy started drinking
![another interesting one another interesting one](/blogimg/20/thumb1024_120_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
another interesting one
![](/blogimg/23/thumb1024_123_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![](/blogimg/25/thumb1024_125_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![](/blogimg/32/thumb1024_132_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![nice racetrack nice racetrack](/blogimg/40/thumb1024_140_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
nice racetrack
![](/blogimg/48/thumb1024_148_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![weather got a bit more interesting as I got closer to Palm Springs weather got a bit more interesting as I got closer to Palm Springs](/blogimg/56/thumb1024_156_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
weather got a bit more interesting as I got closer to Palm Springs
![](/blogimg/64/thumb1024_164_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![](/blogimg/74/thumb1024_174_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
![](/blogimg/76/thumb1024_176_20151015_PAO_PSP.jpg)
The aviation expo was a bit small and no frills (nothing to rival what AOPA used to do), but still nice to attend. I went to a bunch of talks on various aviation topics and got to see a few planes up for show:
![](/blogimg/00/thumb1024_200_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/02/thumb1024_202_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/11/thumb1024_211_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/16/thumb1024_216_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/25/thumb1024_225_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/29/thumb1024_229_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/33/thumb1024_233_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/42/thumb1024_242_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/21/thumb1024_221_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/49/thumb1024_249_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/56/thumb1024_256_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
![](/blogimg/64/thumb1024_264_20151015_Palm_Springs_Aviation_Expo.jpg)
The flight back on sunday late afternoon was interesting too as we had to escape before thunderstorms started getting in, and dodge weather visually while sun was setting. Thankfully I made it across the Sierras before it got 100% dark, and while I had to get below clouds to land at Palo Alto which turned IMC just after I landed.
![](/blogimg/08/thumb1024_308_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/09/thumb1024_309_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/18/thumb1024_318_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/21/thumb1024_321_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/24/thumb1024_324_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/25/thumb1024_325_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
![](/blogimg/37/thumb1024_337_20151018_PSP_PAO.jpg)
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