An aerial coastal hop across California
This flight plan is inspired by a 1953 Southwest Airways route found in the archives of Timetable Images, the site maintained by Björn Larsson and David Zekria. Historical information is limited, but the route feels like a superb scenic tour of the California coast, with short hops, coastal towns, valleys and Pacific approaches.
The ideal mood is simple: a light single-engine aircraft, bright summer weather, late-afternoon light and an easy pace. This is not a difficult expedition; it is a flying road trip to enjoy one stopover at a time, from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Year1953A regional California route from the local-service airline era.
AircraftTouringA light single-engine aircraft fits the short legs beautifully.
NavigationVOR / ADFGPS is useful as a backup between radio fixes.
MoodPacific coastSunshine, coastal terrain, valleys and Bay Area arrivals.
Preparing the flight
- Pick a slow or moderately fast aircraft: Cessna, Piper, light Beechcraft or any classic touring single.
- Set clear weather to enjoy the coastline, beaches and transitions between shore and inland valleys.
- Keep VOR/DME and ADF/NDB navigation available if you do not want to rely only on GPS.
- Fly the route over several sessions: the charm comes from the short hops and changing scenery.
Suggested route
Los Angeles departure and southern coast
This chapter sets the logic of the Los Angeles departure and southern coast segment: move step by step without compressing the historical progression.
KWHP → KOXR → KSBA → KSMX → KSBP
Central valleys and back to the sea
This chapter sets the logic of the Central valleys and back to the sea segment: move step by step without compressing the historical progression.
KSBP → KPRB → C80 → KMRY
Monterey Bay and San Jose area
This chapter sets the logic of the Monterey Bay and San Jose area segment: move step by step without compressing the historical progression.
KMRY → KWVI → KRHV → KSTS
Northern coast and inland California
This chapter sets the logic of the Northern coast and inland California segment: move step by step without compressing the historical progression.
KSTS → KUKI → 8Q3 → KACV → KCEC → 1O5
Down to Sacramento and San Francisco
This chapter sets the logic of the Down to Sacramento and San Francisco segment: move step by step without compressing the historical progression.
1O5 → KRDD → KRBL → KCIC → KOVE → O52 → KSAC → KAPC → KOAK → KSFO
Navigation steps
- Los Angeles departure and southern coastLos Angeles / Whiteman KWHP → Oxnard / Ventura KOXR Leave the Los Angeles area toward the northwest. Approximate time: 40 min.
Oxnard KOXR → Santa Barbara KSBA A first scenic coastal leg toward Santa Barbara Municipal. Approximate time: 34 min.
Santa Barbara KSBA → Santa Maria / Camp Cooke KSMX Continue toward Santa Maria Public / Capt Hancock, with the coast and hills in view. Approximate time: 42 min.
Santa Maria KSMX → San Luis Obispo KSBP A short hop to San Luis Obispo County Regional. Approximate time: 22 min.
- Central valleys and back to the seaSan Luis Obispo KSBP → Paso Robles / Camp Roberts KPRB Turn inland over vineyard country and rolling valleys. Approximate time: 26 min.
Paso Robles KPRB → Coalinga C80 The route leaves the ocean for a drier inland California. Approximate time: 34 min.
Coalinga C80 → Monterey / Carmel / Fort Ord KMRY A longer return toward the Pacific and Monterey Peninsula. Approximate time: 79 min.
- Monterey Bay and San Jose areaMonterey KMRY → Santa Cruz / Watsonville KWVI A short coastal hop toward Watsonville Municipal. Approximate time: 21 min.
Watsonville KWVI → Santa Clara / San Jose KRHV Transition toward Reid-Hillview, gateway to the larger Bay Area. Approximate time: 24 min.
San Jose KRHV → Santa Rosa KSTS A longer leg around the north side of the Bay toward Sonoma County. Approximate time: 106 min.
- Northern coast and inland CaliforniaSanta Rosa KSTS → Ukiah KUKI Head north between hills and valleys. Approximate time: 41 min.
Ukiah KUKI → Fort Bragg / Mendocino 8Q3 Return to the wilder Mendocino coast. Approximate time: 34 min.
Fort Bragg 8Q3 → Arcata / Eureka KACV A major leg up the northern coast. Approximate time: 91 min.
Arcata / Eureka KACV → Crescent City KCEC The last important coastal section before turning inland. Approximate time: 49 min.
Crescent City KCEC → Yreka / Montague 1O5 Leave the Pacific and head toward northern California terrain. Approximate time: 76 min.
- Down to Sacramento and San FranciscoYreka 1O5 → Redding KRDD → Red Bluff KRBL Descend into the Sacramento Valley. Approximate times: 74 min and 21 min.
Red Bluff KRBL → Chico KCIC → Oroville KOVE Short valley hops. Approximate times: 28 min and 22 min.
Oroville KOVE → Yuba City / Marysville O52 → Sacramento KSAC Approach Sacramento Executive. Approximate times: 22 min and 37 min.
Sacramento KSAC → Vallejo / Napa KAPC → Oakland KOAK Return toward the Bay through Napa County and Oakland International. Approximate times: 41 min and 30 min.
Oakland KOAK → San Francisco KSFO A very short final hop to San Francisco International. Approximate time: 10 min.
Atmosphere tips
This plan works best as a slow, visual and sunny route. Most legs are short, so use them to practise approaches, vary altitude and watch the landscape change. Stable clear weather gives the flight its postcard-like California feel.
© Michel Lagneau 2021.
