We departed El Monte Airport. Here is a site with more pictures of our departure airport. We flew a rented Cessna 172 XP. The airport at Catalina is at 1602 feet of elevation and the runway is 3250 ft long. Density altitude considerations are important when planning a trip. Information on Catalina Island can be found on Catalina's own web site that also contains information about the airport. (Click on pictures for a larger version)
En route we did a slight diversion for some sightseeing over Long Beach. Here is the Queen Mary. The dome structure used to house Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose. I am not sure what it contains now.
Another image of Long Beach. The infamous LA haze is made even worse in this picture by the reflection on the window.
Approaching Catalina.
Here we are on downwind. I was not flying, but I am sure this is the most challenging - and most beautiful - GA airport I have ever been.
Here we are on base. The cliffs surrounding the airport make for some interesting visual cues. At least for a pilot like me used to fly mostly in the flatlands of the Midwest.
Here we go on short final. The runway is actually longer than what it looks. It is higher in the middle and from one threshold you can't see the other. Not the place where I would like to meet one of those radio impaired pilots that seems to just pop out in the pattern....
Here is our Cessna on the ramp being tied down. A shuttle bus service is available to go to Avalon and the ride is almost a beautiful as the flight.
Last modified: September 6, 1999