South Coast Aeronautics
When Mike was growing up in Mobile, his Dad would take him up flying when they were supposed to be doing yard work. So I thought he'd enjoy a flight class from the Torrance Airport. Well, it turned out that Mike's head was too tall for the plane's hatch to close over the student's seat, so guess who got to take his place?
I'm not nervous! Well, maybe a little. Mike said that he was less nervous to be flying with me (with an instructor pilot, of course) than driving in the car. I wonder why?
Single engine, non-pressurized, four-seat plane. There are no stairs to get in - you have to climb in on a wing and the glass top door lifts up. The pilot's side door was malfuntioning, but that didn't stop us...
Flying over Dodger Stadium...
...and Griffith Observatory
...and the Getty Center.
We even flew over LAX!
It was a beautiful day, clear day. As we were flying towards downtown, the instructor let me take over the controls and steer the plane. It was a little freaky. We could see the Hollywood sign from the air, and Manhattan Beach all the way down to Palos Verdes. After a 45 minute flight, our pilot instructor (also named Mike) landed us safe and sound back at the Torrance airport. Phew!