We had planned to fly up to Torrance, CA (TOA) to get some Indian food tomorrow. But due to a number of factors, I decided to head up there alone this afternoon and get the food to go, and eat it for dinner at home.
The marine layer was supposed to clear up around noon, but when I was ready to go, it was still overcast at TOA. I filed a quick IFR flight plan, but departed VFR, planning to pick up the flight plan in the air, if needed. That plan worked fine, and near Orange County, I received my clearance to TOA. I did the GPS 29R approach into TOA and then parked at transient parking, and walked over to the restaurant, calling them to place my order on the way there...
The food was ready when I arrived, so I picked it up, and walked back to the airport. Back in the plane, and by this time the marine layer had pulled away from the airport, but was still hugging the coast. I did a right downwind departure from 29R, and headed south over the Queen Mary, continued along the coast, and then landed back home...
Pretty nice to have an airplane to pick up dinner with. . Whether the food to go is any good is still TBD.
I've said it before, but it's worth saying it again... for those that are looking for somewhere in the SoCal area to fly, TOA is a good spot. Plenty of transient parking, a nice GA terminal to relax in, clean restrooms, and an easy walk (10 minutes or less) to probably 20+ restaurants. In addition, it's quite easy to fly VFR in/out of.
The marine layer was supposed to clear up around noon, but when I was ready to go, it was still overcast at TOA. I filed a quick IFR flight plan, but departed VFR, planning to pick up the flight plan in the air, if needed. That plan worked fine, and near Orange County, I received my clearance to TOA. I did the GPS 29R approach into TOA and then parked at transient parking, and walked over to the restaurant, calling them to place my order on the way there...
The food was ready when I arrived, so I picked it up, and walked back to the airport. Back in the plane, and by this time the marine layer had pulled away from the airport, but was still hugging the coast. I did a right downwind departure from 29R, and headed south over the Queen Mary, continued along the coast, and then landed back home...
Pretty nice to have an airplane to pick up dinner with. . Whether the food to go is any good is still TBD.
I've said it before, but it's worth saying it again... for those that are looking for somewhere in the SoCal area to fly, TOA is a good spot. Plenty of transient parking, a nice GA terminal to relax in, clean restrooms, and an easy walk (10 minutes or less) to probably 20+ restaurants. In addition, it's quite easy to fly VFR in/out of.