Bay Area Sunset Flights

Posted on Jun 2, 2009

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Come one, come all! California is an absolutely gorgeous place to fly and it’s doesn’t get any better than flying around the SF Bay Area around sunset. I’ve been fortunate to fly the skies a few times when the sun sliding below the horizon. The air is smooth and the sky has a beautiful hue. This time of year is great for me as well, since I work only 5 min away from the airport and can fly right after work, if my wallet can permit it.

 

Recently, I took a couple of peeps up for an amazing flight. We left Palo Alto at 7:15p and flew east towards Livermore and then up along I-680. Receiving a Class B transition over SFO is sometimes challenging, so I was sure to request clearance to each and every controller that I spoke with during the flight. I was essentially cleared into Class B 30 minutes before I even reached the airspace. After reaching 4500 ft, we flew north along I-680 and over Walnut Creek. I was then cleared to fly due west and head straight to the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge. As we neared Alcatraz, I was cleared below 2000 ft and instructed to stay west of the Bayshore Freeway. I made a left turn directly over Alcatraz and headed over SF. 

 

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We flew along the 101 highway and even took the 101 curve right behind the airport. Flying above SFO at 1800 ft while airliners are taking off and the sun is setting is definitely a memorable moment. After passing SFO, we flew along the 101 through SQL airspace and down to 1500 ft before receiving our landing clearance at PAO.

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As soon as we turned final, the sun was just barely peeking above the mountains. We seemed to kiss the ground at the same time the sun bowed for the evening, and my passengers gave me a compliment that all pilots wish for…”that landing was awesome – the flight was amazing.”

It surely was….who’s next?

1 Comment

  1. Jarard.com - The Pilot » A Cruel Summer…
    August 10, 2009

    […] to Cali and took another friend on a Bay Tour flight and it, again, was magnificent (see “Bay Area Sunset Flights“). Then the following week, I tried to take another friend on her first ride only to discover […]