Got a last minute invite to go overnight plane-camping (to So. CA). Taking a trip in a small plane was in fact still on my bucket list.

Cessna 182:

N123TZ by kpkina, on Flickr

Crazy Flight Engineer:

Aviators by kpkina, on Flickr

Lake Isabella:

Lake Isabella by kpkina, on Flickr

Sign outside the airport cafe:

Shotshell Sign by kpkina, on Flickr

Flying is great. I went for an hour today in my Cessna 170B which is a little smaller than the 182.

It’s therapeutic for me from the rigors of work and other distractions. I encourage everyone to take an opportunity to fly general aviation should it present itself.

Small planes have always been my best joy in flight. Jet airliners are no fun, anymore than a train.

I barely remember the name of the first girl.

I still remember the tail number of the Cessna I took my solo in.

Never heard of plane camping. Sounds fun.

I'll never forget being a teen and taking the controls of Mom's boss' Cessna.

You don’t remember the name of the first girl?

I’ve only had one flight in a Cessna 182.
Took off but never landed in it.
I was young then.

Good on you ..

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Never heard of plane camping. Sounds fun.

Neither had I before this weekend. Also called "flamping" (flying and camping) and "in-out camping".

Apparently it's fairly popular. You fly in, and the campsite is right at the airport. Ours even had a cafe and showers.

Sounds like you had a wonderful experience, my friend.

I'm very happy for you and thank you for sharing

Good on you for enjoying flying in a small plane and experiencing flight in a manner that more truly conveys the feeling.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:
Small planes have always been my best joy in flight. Jet airliners are no fun, anymore than a train.

Hey! I love train trips!

I've flown at least 10 times in a Cessna, most of the time while at the controls but the most fun I've had was when a friend took me up in a fabric covered plane that was similar to a crop duster. It had no doors, so when the plane rolled and turned all I had was the seat belt to keep me from falling out. It was an exhilarating ride for sure.

It was pretty gusty up and down California over the weekend, so the landing was fairly technical. My friend did a go-around on the first attempt, as there were heavy cross-winds and helicopter traffic nearby, and he didn't feel the approach was stabilized enough as we came down through the narrow canyon. On the second attempt he found the groove and set us right down.

First time in a plane, Doctor Galazkiewicz?
In a plane this small.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:
Jet airliners are no fun, anymore than a train.

Probably depends what you do with that jet airliner.

Large airplanes and fast airplanes are work. Light general aviation airplanes are fun. And sometimes work.

And a hell of a lot more expensive than they used to be.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
I barely remember the name of the first girl.

I still remember the tail number of the Cessna I took my solo in.

I can’t remember either, but I still have a photo of me with the aircraft I took my check ride in and the N number is visible.

I like the wind chime. I may go flying today, do a little on the side. My biggest light plane trip was MS to AK, with the wife to be. That was a while back, was a 10+ on the scale.

I’ll be at Oshkosh later July, don’t camp there to often though.

Well, I remember the tail number of my first girl.

I remember the tail of my first girl, but I can't seem to recall it having any numbers on it.

I was fascinated with planes and flying when I was a kid. When I finished college and moved out here to start my career, one of the first things I did was take flying lessons. I got my ticket in early 1980 and went up as often as I could afford to. I loved it. Then prices started going up and a couple of years later I found that I could no longer afford to go up often enough to stay proficient. So I made the decision to ground myself until I could afford to do it right. By the time I could, I'd developed other interests and didn't seem to have the time. Or maybe the itch had just been scratched enough. In either case I never did get back to it. I'd still like to, but between finances and time demands, it may have to remain a bucket list item.

There's a small airport next to the 9 hole golf course I used to go to in Concord. Several times I was playing with people who just flew in to play golf and visit.

I thought that was a cool life.