Landing on CATALINA ISLAND with CFI Alicia 

So that is the island I see on my MacBook Pro!

0:37 Louis Zamperini was an US Olympic runner in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and met Hitler. In 1943, the B-24 he was the bombardier on crashed in the Pacific ocean. He was adrift for 47 days, then a POW and was tortured by the Japanese until war's end. He is the subject of the book and movie, "Unbroken." So yes, you can respectfully call it Zamperini Field.

This was one of my favorite destinations after I got my license years ago - before the USMC came in and fixed-up the runway recently (thank you Marines!) I had a shirt that I wore until it was threads that said, "I'd rather be flying to Catalina." A meal at the "Airport in the Sky" was a rite of passage. Lovely video and thanks for sharing.

Ok, you both seemed positively giddy together. I see at least one other person saw it too. I love Catalina island. Nice video.

Fun Catalina story: I'm a lawyer and I live in San Diego. Had to meet with opposing counsel and the guy insisted we had to meet in Santa Monica at 8:30am on a Friday morning. Sure, I thought, I'll just fly to KSMO. When we met he gleefully asked me how the traffic was coming up from San Diego. "Well" I responded, "looked like it sucked. I could see that the 405 North was packed and barely moving." He looked puzzled, "You didn't take the 405 to get here." "Nope" I said, "I flew, took barely an hour and was super relaxing." Now he looked visibly upset. Clearly he meant for me to get up early and spend about 3.5 hours driving through bumper to bumper traffic. I ruined that plan. So, just to F with him, I said "Do you know what the toughest decision I have to make today is?--whether or not I go to Catalina for lunch on my way home." It hit home. He was now pissed. I didn't have any plans to go to Catalina that morning. But it was worth it just to get back at him. BUT . . . . About an hour later, I was sitting in my plane ready to radio tower . . . and for about 10 minutes I argued with myself as to whether or not I have the time to fly to Catalina for lunch. LOL, in the end, jokes on me because it really was the toughest decision I had to make that day.

You can always slip to lose a little altitude, though I haven't flown in years. Great vids.

ive been in socal since 1959 i love catalina landed there dozens of times its my backyard for flying my family moved here in 59 from ohio my dad got a job at piper at the riverside muciple airport i grew up 1 block from the airport my dad had a stearman and a j3 cub this is some of the best flying in the country great video thanks

It is always a joy to fly to Catalina island, hopefully you can go to Avalon next time, it's very scenic.I have flown to the island several hundred times in the last 25 years mostly from Santa Monica airport my home base , only once i was stranded on the island due to failed prop governor on my Seneca....glad you enjoyed the experience of landing on top of a mountain.

aw man! I live in San Diego and fly into Catalina almost every week, I must have just missed you!

Very nice... good color from those cameras. My Catalina story: I flew a rented Grumman Tiger out of KFUL to Catalina with my GF, a friend and his pregnant fiancee. The plan was to have dinner, video my friend proposing to his fiancee, get in the plane and takeoff before official dark - at which time the airport closes. We had a great time. My friend came up to me a few times saying he was losing his guts & might not propose. I told him to keep calm & do or not do whatever he felt was right... but that we had to be in the plane, engine running NLT 1800 local. He hemmed and hawed... I started loading the plane. My GF asked if I'd leave them there. I said I'd remind them of our departure, but yes, I wasn't going to pay for the plane overnigh, plus hotel... if we could get a room, which was doubtful. The airport building also closed at sunset, so there was no sleeping indoors there. I started the engine at 1755, amid a radio announcement the airport would close right at 1800, since clouds were rolling in right at runway altitude. We started to taxi with the canopy open, just in case. I let a Bonanza taxi around us. He took off. The cloud whisps floated in. I waved at my friend, he waved back, came over, then got down on one knee before his fiancee... right next to the plane. He proposed, she pulled him up, kissed and hugged him, we stopped and they piled into the plane. I gunned it, closed the canopy, did a runup as we taxied to the runway. I nade the radio call on the roll and we accelerated down 22. The radio said the airport was closed just as my wheels lifted off the concrete. We reached the spot where the runway starts downhill.... it really looked short. We lifted off just before the end... I let the aircraft settle over the cliff to accelerate further... the flaps were up! We went through a few wisps of cloud... call it fog. I got onto the instruments just to be safe. That's about where my friend put the ring on his fiancee's finger. They jabbered happily all the way back to Fullerton. That was in 1988. Last I heard, my friend and the woman were still married & had two kids.

Just landed there this past weekend. Loved the experience and your video really helped me land well at this beautiful airport.

Beautiful island - living in a 25 sq mile county with only 56,000 people. I could never live in a big city. Thank you for the video.

Wow, absolutely stunning. I want to add this to bucket list.

Love Catalina Island, I've sailed to it a number of times, hiked the Trans Catalina Trail twice - a great backpacking trip, one highlight is lunch on the second day at the airport - Buffalo Burgers! Looking forward to flying in - hopefully this summer!

What a beautiful place; thanks for sharing! Adventure is only 25 miles away.

Brings back memories. My wife and I flew into Catalina for our honeymoon in 1967. Nice airport, but have to pay attention to the wind when landing on 22. A strong wind causes a downdraft as you approach the threshold, and if you are too low you might go into the east end drop off on the approach. One week after we left a twin did exactly that.

What a gorgeous place to visit. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Josh, I am insanely jealous! What beautiful vistas! And that landing was perfect!

another nice video THANKS

I live in Palos Verdes (the peninsula you flew over) and i can confirm that there are tons of trails here that are great for hiking! You should try them out!

Nice vid! I enjoyed the landing audio from the wing cam. Great landing too!

Josh, they just keep getting better. Thanks once again for the ride!

Awesome video, awesome job Josh! Thank you!

Alicia indeed it's JURASSIC PARK !!!!!!

Nice one Josh. I was there in January but the lighting wasn't as nice when I filmed.There's a few good campgrounds on the island that I've always thought would make an awesome fly-in trip.

Outstanding. Seems I am following you around the country. Flew out to Page AZ and down into Marble canyon then down the Marble Canyon and Zuni corridors through the Grand Canyon. Headed out to Las Vegas and Whitman Field in Pasadena to see my sister and meet up with my brother in-law and his friends for a formation flight out to Catalina. One more off my bucket list. Thanks for all the inspiration Josh. Hope to cross paths with you some day.

Amazing! I landed on Catalina when I was a student pilot back in 1999. Beautiful place 😀👍

"Doing good......so far" LMAO Having been to Avalon on Catalina Island for a long weekend via the ferry from Long Beach which is beautiful, though nothing like the gorgeous views you had from N80991. Incredible just incredible. Thanks for taking the time showing us your videos.

I know nothing about flying, but I sure enjoy your videos. Thumbs up! 👍

Josh, the scenery is unbelievable !!

This is on my bucket list! And wow! Amazing scenery. Your camera is awesome.

Oh my goodness do I ever like your videos!

That is definitely an airport and location on the bucket list. Such an awesome approach. Great job, dude!

I love Catalina

You land in some of the coolest places. Thanks for taking us along

Great flight to Catalina!

I truly miss Catalina, nothing like Jet sking' while following the sailboat that has our spare fuel. Can't imagine how cool it is to flyin!

Love that I found this. Such a bang place to be. Still here even with everything going on. But yea it's such an escape. Taking the ferry or helicopter so lit

WOW!! Spooky Runway! Great landing!

We used to go to Catalina Island in 1980's when I was getting my CPL (H) at Long Beach LGB , for lunch ( Buffalo burgers) hopping straight over usually in a Piper Warrior 161 . Was always a good test of judgement hitting the numbers as the runway wasn't that long . Unfortunately in those days there were no iPhones or small digital cameras to record one's adventures. We also used to practice landing on the unmanned oil rigs off the coast

TOA. I used own a C172 and parked there for years. ILS 29R app in use. Great memories. Made some landing at Catalina as well. Don’t forget landing fee at Catalina.

0:42 goodyear blimp

Cool! Been there by boat but never by air. Thanks Josh.

Ahhh yes, how many remember the old AOPA and "traffic is tough in Avalon Bay"? Though I do not hear much about it, for me snorkling aroung Catalina Isl. great.

I went to SOCAL about a year ago and I flew to Catalina. We took off out of SNA-AVX and though it was a short flight (20 minutes) the approach is unforgettable. And the food there was amazing not going to lie. I find it very cool that your from Texas as I am too. The approach into AVX is amazing. It’s like you look low but your not(coming into runway 4). I love the video Josh keep up the good work!!!

Great to see you in my neck of the woods. At Torrance as a student pilot I made three consecutive landings. The first one there was a deer near the runway. The second had a fox, and the third had a skunk!

Ahh, after watching your excellent video, Catalina is now on my must fly to list! Thanks' for sharing. from my PA 24 250

My brother-in-law lives in Newport Beach, few miles to John Wayne Airport(KSNA)... it’s nice, the whole California. I hope one day to fly around the region. Great video and advices, as usual!

Josh, come visit Tehachapi, CA just 120 miles north of Los Angeles and I will take you up for glider flight.

Nice 👍 flight over a beautiful island !

Very awesome

I had a 182 and we used to fly to Catalina for lunch about once a month. Sometimes we would go down to Avalon. The ride in the VW buss was worse than the landing. Only problem landing at Catalina was when the wind was blowing as it would create rollers at the approach end which would then create a down draft. Just had to come in a little higher and steeper. Always enjoyed the takeoff. Just hold it on the ground and lift off just before the end. I think the airport at Big Bear Lake was more difficult than Catalina. High altitude and kind of short. Take off over the lake and then over the dam. Always kind of bumpy when you went over the dam.

awesome

Nice landing

Flew right seat from Montgomery field to Airport in the sky. Closest I'll ever come to a carrier landing! Cheers!

The new runway and taxiway looks great! I remember some of the bumpy landings there on the old runway, however it was really my fault. One time I made plans to fly over and when we arrived there was just a bad enough crosswind where I chose to visit another destination.

She seems competent and fun.

One of my dreams for along time is to fly the CA to Catalina trip, thanks for this

I can’t believe i was part of the construction of that runway:.. I’m only 23 and in the marines and we built that. And it’s the greatest accomplishment of my life so far!

A friend of mine, who is a wildlife biologist who specializes in Mule Deer, spent about a month on Catalina doing a study on the impact of the herd on native flora and fauna. He said it was one of the most unique places he had ever been.

Yeah, I can see that runway is in much better condition since the last time I was there. Flew there on Cherokee about 4-5 years ago, and that runway was like after a war. Left there just about that IFR weather was coming in, not a really good place to be stuck for long.

Nice

“Positive rate , gear up”😂😂

Great landing Josh , cool location

Josh, you should check out Santa Paula Airport on your next trip to So Cal ... Nice video

The approach plates - they will always tell you the name of the tower, which is sometimes different than the airport name. McCellan-Palomar airport (KCRQ) is "Palomar Tower", for example.

One of my favorite places to fly into. The only place to get a Buffalo Burger. Common Traffic and AWOS. No petrol services and night landings and take offs.

JOSH -- You should have had the song, "26 Miles", by the Four Preps, playing while you were flying over the island.

You should come out to Chino airport (KCNO). I volunteer at an air Museum there. I also have your 172 painted into my flight simulator.

Beautiful footage! Love it!

That was fun....went there by boat about 65 years ago!

I've always wanted to fly to Catalina. One day!

Catalina is much greener w/ preserved scrub and plant growth these days than in any time in the prior 2 generations. No digital video exists of anything like its recently been this past 2 years.

Welcome to California Josh, i'm a proud owner of a 172 also, i'm in KCXL, (california Border) I'll be more than glad to shake hand one day with you!! by the way , Blue Angels 2020 season will start this Mar/14/20 in KNJK and there is an airport KIPL where you can land your famous 991. i hope your agenda allow you to join us.... best wishes and the best for you always.

*NICE video JOSH did u land with flaps 10 or 20* !?

0:38 - I was checked out at Torrance after relocating to the west coast. I've always heard it as "Torrance..." 2:33 - Yes, but did you see 29R on the ground. Mind you... it's the freakin' widest of the two! I think I was this giddy when I landed there as well. 8:29 - That landing was annoyingly awesome!

Pretty cool. Been thinking of taking my hawk over there from FFZ.

Im working on my Instrument right now, with the G1000. Im out in Addison. I did my private in the sport Cruiser can't wait to fly the Cessna.

my name is catalina!!!!!! how crazy is that

Airport in the Sky was always a fun stop. Looks like they have upgraded the runway. Did you get the buffalo burger?

Those non precision approaches going into Catalina look interesting.

Looked like a pretty flight. Just a heads up, on runways like that that sit with a significant downslope (terrain sloping below runway, if that makes sense?) in front of them can be really tricky. With a significant headwind, visualize the wind coming down the runway, then making a dive over the overrun and down the incline, causing a rush of descending air. What this causes is a potential to sink towards the runway just a few hundred feet out. As you adjust for this, your nose comes up and that can leave you in a low airspeed sinking condition, at the same time the wind off your nose is increasing. That should change as your aircraft gets closer to the runway (not as much space for the air to escape beneath you). Higher winds and higher slopes lead to this effect being more significant. This slope looked pretty significant. Opposite of this happens taking off over a cliff. You are going to tend to get a big push up as you cross the departure end of the runway, which is fine, but let the airspeed drift a little high as this effect won't be long lived. If you pull the nose right up into the updraft, then the updraft suddenly goes away, you can be left nose high and slow, which unattended can cause further problems. Zamperini was an amazing American Hero. Awesome that came up.

Oh yeah, Catalina Island. I fly there a lot from Van Nuys or L. B It's a interesting airport for sure. Nice isn't it Josh?!

How much longer are you in California for? I’d like to meet up and get to meet you. I live in so cal and you’ve flown into a nearby airport here.

Can you fly to different countries with that

First time I flew into Torrance I called it Zamperini when picking up flight following. Controller had me verify the identifier

Stop by NORCAL for a bay tour

How much is the landing fee and where did you pay it?

The runway is longer than it looks because of the hump in the middle.

Speaking of water, what would your procedure be for a water landing in a C172?

Was it just coincidence that AOPA Live did this last week?????

Like totally.

That Blimp at :40 lol

Are you still in Torrance Josh?

next time I'm in town I want alicia to take me and my wife to Catalina. I was born in Hollywood, grew up 6 blocks away from Hawthorne airport and I dream of flying into Catalina in a seaplane. Be way cool to visit the Airport in the sky.

Wow! Love this! Had no idea you could fly into Catalina. That approach... wow. And those views -- absolutely stunning! Fly into Santa Barbara!

Got to go to Avalon there’s a restaurant there can’t remember the name but they have dollar bills stapled to the walls and people draw on the bills

Flying to Jurassic Park...lol!

Wait, is that “Otto Pilot” in the right hand seat at 00:50?? Seriously, that’s gotta be Otto! He didn’t look like he needed any, uh, re-inflating. ;-)

3:23 why is that bad weather?