Northern California

[TimHicks]

I'll be spending the weekend of July 14 and 15th in the Oakland area. But I don't have much to do and could drive a couple of hundred miles to see any interesting aviation thing.
Any suggestions of interesting aviation things to see or explore in Northern California?

[jim cooper]

Re: Northern California

I'll be spending the weekend of July 14 and 15th in the Oakland area. But I don't have much to do and could drive a couple of hundred miles to see any interesting aviation thing.
Any suggestions of interesting aviation things to see or explore in Northern California?

how far will you be from famous Chino? VERY FAMOUS, home of Steve Hinton and son, etc etc.

[lfries]

Re: Northern California

Chino is probably about 400 miles from Oakland. There are two aviation museums at or near the Oakland Airport. The old Castle Air Force base near Merced is approximately 150 miles. There is a AC museum there. Also, the USS Hornet is open at Alameda. Travis AFB also has a nice museum.

[otrcman]

Re: Northern California

There are two small airports about 30 miles NW of Oakland with lots of old airplane activity. Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Skypark. The two airports are only about 5 miles apart.

Also, on the west side of San Francisco bay is the Hiller Museum, in San Carlos. The museum was founded by Stan Hiller, of helicopter fame, but the museum has all kinds of airplanes.

Dick

[TimHicks]

Re: Northern California

Wow. All good stuff. Thanks for the suggestions. I've actually been to Chino, in Southern California a couple of times. Very cool. But too far away for this trip. I'll stay in Northern California.
Sonoma, Alameda, Oakland, San Francisco sound like plenty enough to keep me busy.
Thanks, y'all.

[clear_prop1961]

Re: Northern California

Tim- I'll be glad to help with some suggestions since I live in the bay area. Call me 408-356-3407.
Jerry

[jim cooper]

Re: Northern California

I thought of Chino- Steve Hinton as he recently explained in an interview how he flew the B-25 in the movie "forever Young" and landed it in a field at Point Arena, on the coast. He stated that the B-25 only needed one thousand feet to operate from and in a pinch 800 feet would do. It was a great scene in the movie! JC