I learned to fly at SMO in 1986 when it was declared the busiest single runway airport in the US. This airport is close to my heart. It is a great place to sit and watch planes. It is a gem sitting in this mass called Los Angeles truly a sanctuary. It breaks my heart knowing that it is scheduled to close in 2028. I'm hoping for a miracle.
City Councils are strong armed by Lobbyists and Land Developers. The Airport was built in 1926, every one of those Homes were built long after the Airport. I guarantee there's Real Estate Developers that have "Big Plans" for the 227 Acres and there's substantial Political Campaign Funding helping to move this along.
Very SAD to have this airport CLOSED. It belongs to the most important site outside of the Wright Brothers flight. Douglas Aircraft along with Commercial Aviation has its roots at this airport. Once known as Clover Field before it was paved, was the take off and landing spot for those "First Around the World" flyers the marked the importance of Aviations impact to change the World. Aviation changed the World forever HERE like no other place in the WORLD.
you're still clinging to the idea of "we were there first, so...". That kind of fairness and logic is just in our heads. There's no actual law or common sense that prevails there- a lot of people think it's perfectly normal to say "ive been living here for 3 years, I should be able to stop you from doing something I don't like even though it's been going on for almost 100 years, just because I don't like it!". Lobbying is part of it too, though, I agree
They want to replace Santa Monica Airport with the equivalent of Downtown Century City, sky rises and a big ass mall. As I earned my Private Pilot there, where I made so many friends, its very sad to see it go.
@@confuseatronica Ummm ok so you've owned your Home for 25 years, now Developers/City Council says they are claiming Eminent Domain on your Home and they are going to Evict you and give your Home to "Migrants"..are you ok with that?
Some Santa Monica residents are starting to realize just how much traffic will increase the terrible vehicle congestion in the neighborhoods near the airport. We're having big problems in Torrance as well.
Like so many others here, I soloed at SMO in 1976. Two years later I did 20 hours in a WWII link trainer run by Charlie Gress, who taught pilots instrument procedures during the war-even then he was an old timer! I later did my instrument, multiengine, flight instructor check rides all at SMO. Literally, I lived just down the street on Centinela Ave. The airport is a bastion of aviation history, and looms large in my own. I’ve always thought of the place as an oasis of charm in a desert of urban development. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
I wish locals were more connected to the history of the airport! These days everyone just sits at home and watches Netflix, they don't even know their neighbors.
I remember when I went to watch planes takeoff for my birthday in 2016, I'm an east L.A kid and going to Santa Monica to watch the business jets and ga plane takeoff was so fun. It does sadden me despite not having visited in 8 years that the airport is closing, I will attempt to make my memories while it is still open.
This City, Santa Monica is turned down by bureaucrats, bad politics, and misleading steps down under! 😊 The wealth and glamour is gone, highest criminal rates, closing down one of the most busiest GA airports. People move to live nearby airports and cry about noise. This is all a big mess and failure down the whole line. Put it short: it’s a big shame to the responsible people. I was in Santa Monica in 1985. What a nice high quality spot. Loved to be there. Today? Never ever do I want to go to this garbage place on the beach. Sad to hear, the airport is the next victim of this crime. 😢
Col James Jabara airport in northeast Wichita (AAO) fended off a similar fate back in the late 1980s. My argument was the homeowners moving into the newly developed neighborhoods knew the airport was there when they moved in so they had no right to complain about the noise. The airport was there first. Fortunately the Wichita Airport Authority felt the same way I did and the field is still active today. Thanks for the flight, Max! 73 de WØRHP
I’m a student pilot at SM Flyers. I grew up coming to this airport with my dad. I live down the road. We are still fighting to keep it open. We are not giving up our airport!
I learned to fly at KSMO in 1965 when it was the busiest single runway airport in the country. For example, I once was number 13 to land. Times have changed, haven't they? Thanks for bringing back some memories.
Yes...I remember maybe being number 9...and building airplanes, and meetings, and schooling, and brilliant creative people, and the place as a haven for locals to relax in a much safer environment than the beach.
I gave a tour out of KSMO last night and told my passengers to take a picture of the airport because soon it will vanish. Very sad. I watched the same thing happen at Rialto Airport. Thanks for sharing. Fun to ride along in the Chief. 😎👍
@@EternalOvercomer Lol! Would have been perfect to keep a Cavalon gyroplane there to get back and forth to the river for work.....KBNG 15 min away from home, and it keeps you from having to deal with marine layer low ceilings going into the pass.........
They’re trying to close Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose too. I believe the FAA is forbidding its closing. Too bad they won’t intervene in Santa Monica’s closing.
As pilots, we have the perspective that enables us to see how much uninhabited land is out there for housing. Our airports are national treasures, and should remain open for posterity. Your youtube channel is growing.
Wow! Hey, do you recall any airports around SoCal that are gone now? I've got a sectional chart from 1964 with all kinds of airports that I've never heard of!
Clover Field was long ago bequeathed to the City of Santa Monica with the provision that it always remain a park - with aviation as an allowed use. (At that time, planes took off and landed on grassy fields.) Over the years, the aviation thing just became a more major part of its use. The airport has been home to some serious aviation history and it's sad to see it go, but if it's being turned back into a park, perhaps this is just another chapter in its story.
My uncle kept his Ryan Navion there. I got to up with him once when I was a toddler. Sat in his lap and steered. My house in Venice was in the direct flight path of planes taking off. It was always a pleasure to look up and see the planes go by. The airport was always a source of pride to oldtimers. Maybe the advent of jets caused the push for closure.
Went there last weekend and was shocked how good the conditions were at the airport. Well maintained runway, plush pilot lounge, well sorted website and procedures, broadcasting tower communications, etc etc. Really don’t understand the rationale behind shutting it down when billions of dollars have been spent on such a great facility. Such a shame to lose multiple socal ga airports in a short period of time. 😢
@@christopherpardell4418 KSMO has far less jets than KVNY though (due to shortened runway?). Comparing to its average fleet such as a bunch of piper sports, the infrastructure is in a surprisingly great shape. French Valley feels like a much busier airport but the luxury level is no where near Santa Monica. 🤔
My flying career began there in 1961 at the old Santa Monica Flyers. Left the next year and was not the airport until some forty years later. How things there have changed! Lots of memories though. A shame that the money grabbing pols are now in control. Great video and. Aeronca Chief. Thanks.
I loved hanging out at Typhoon. I was there when it opened and I was there on the last night it closed. Talked to Hal Fishman many of times always asked him "How's the Bonanza doing today?" He always made time talk. Great times!
Max, I've watched so many of your guitar videos. I watch lots of airplane content and it took years for TH-cam to put one of your airplane videos on my list! I recognized the voice and thought "I know that guy!" I'll watch more, my neighbor is trying to sell me his Aeronca. Just subscribed.
I started learning to fly there in 2003. My dad also learned to fly there before I was born. It truly is sad to see such a wonderful legacy, something that made the airport truly historic, and made LA what it is today. Boils my blood to see my airport close.
Thank you for this video. Very interesting, great video shots and I like how you blended the music with the airplane engine sound perfectly. Pilot here too but I’m on the east coast. You have a very nice Chief. I fly a Maule.
My office was 100 ft from the runway. Loved it. Use to watch when the US presidents would fly in. Once a friend got clearance to race his corvette down the runway. Many banks would fly their cash to SF via Santa Monica and do mercy flights. The city was always trying to close the airport. Thought the airport was the heart of the city. It will be missed.
Was in the CANG 146th TAW at Van Nuys from 1986-1990 as a crew chief on a C-130E 64-1799 and got engine run and taxi certified there and then the move to Mugu.
yeah, there are people here who complain about our local airport, by people new to the area who move by the airport. it's not like it's a secret that, look! there's an airport! or anything - sheesh. if you don't like noise, please don't move near the airport!
@@HeavyMetalHorizonsThe courts don't see it that way. You were there first is not an excuse to make noise. As an example, the argument that I have a garage band, and we've been practicing here every night for 30 years, we were here way before you moved in, and you knew about it, so if you don't like it, you shouldn't have moved here. That argument is not going to receive much traction. Not saying I necessarily agree with the argument, but that's generally how the courts view it.
Yup. Made many landings on RWy 21. Descending from the LAX SFRA and made the the long term onto downwind on the norht side. The main reason for the closure is the large number of biz jets that were taking off day and night. Closure is for 2028. City is going to make a park. Yes a park. The Biz jets might go to HHR instead.
In the seventies, as a kid, I saw a B-25 land there with an engine fire. The airport fire department got it extinguished and the aircraft was saved and the crew were unhurt as well. I was there because my mother was a seamstress working for a hang glider manufacturer there at the airport. It's a shame they're closing it down. Never underestimate the venality of real estate types.
@@Triple_J.1 Put a planter in front of your business to make it look nicer you get fines and threats from the city. If you and your friends put tents on the sidewalk and hoard piles of stolen garbage, the city will provide you with a porta-potty.
Great Video Max!!, As SoCal pilot myself, I have seen aviation under attack for the last couple of decades. From VNY having over 600,000 operations in 1990, to less than 300,000 a year in 2021, to SMO closing and now WHP in the crosshairs. When these airports are gone, they don't come back. It's really nothing more than a land grab by developers. And If we can't have an airport like WHP, in Pacoima, an industrial area, then where? And who can forget, Chicago's Meigs Field airport was bulldozed overnight in 2003, in violation of federal regulations. PS, I believe they will waive the landing fee at SMO if you get fuel. It used to be a decent price, Better than VNY.
Hey Randy! Thanks! The landing fees aren't even that bad at SMO anyway... not for light personal planes. For me, it's about the cost of 1 gallon of 100LL. I'm going to try and get more attention to all the important roles that these airports play in the community. Not enough people realize the value.
Actually if you include smaller airports, the distance between Brackett Field (KPOC) to Cable Airport (KCCB) is probably the shortest in the So Cal area.
Wow How old is that plane? The dash board of the cock pit is so minimalist..... I don't know anything about aircraft, but was amazed at the inside. I also stumbled on to your video/flight by accident. Loved it and your comments about the closing of the airport in Santa Monica. Subscribed. Well done.
Thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The plane is from 1946, so 78 years old as of right now. It has regular inspections of course to make sure it's in airworthy condition!
Thanks, Max. "Right turn, at the shoreline..." pretty much says NIMBYs have moved into the area, IMO, after knowing the airport was located right there. Hopefully the flying community is able to reverse the decision to close.
Makes me hate the City of Santa Monica more than I already do. Nothing to do with safety, noise abatement or lack of green space. It’s all about money and how much City Council members (Present and past) are getting paid. Usual story.
los angeles has so many former airstrips- you just drive down a street and it has a funny jog in it because it used to go around an airport. It's amazing it has lasted THIS long with residential anywhere near it. Santa Monica is just the last of the romantic 20s airplane boom strips to finally get eaten by the city. meanwhile I was just at CMA Camarillo looking at the new condos going up nearby- 30-40 years from now it will be surrounded by housing and same thing will happen there. Unless there's some special feature that helps protect it from the sprawl, it will happen everywhere. Van Nuys relies on the Sepulveda Basin flood control area to be a buffer so it will be ok.
Flew a Cessna 177 Cardinal out of Santa Monica from 1975-1982 a beautiful airport and when not flying would often go there to the observation platform just to get away and watch take off's and landings. Truly a shame general aviation is under attack thru out the country.
Looks like Jerry Seinfeld is going to have to find a new location to store his Porsche collection. He currently keeps them in multiple hangers at the airport.
You can’t fly into class C with that plane can you? I just got my ppl and I’m dreaming of getting an old taildragger like that, maybe a Luscombe. But my local airport is under a large class C and it’s nearly impossible to go anywhere without passing through it.
That's correct. Can't fly in C or B. You can fly under it though. There are plenty of old taildraggers that have been updated with modern-ish electrical systems and avionics though, granted they will costs a little more.
It's not just Santa Monica; this is happening all over the U.S. Torrance airport faces the same issue. These politicians don't understand that an airport is a way to bring supplies in case of an emergency(e.g., an earthquake) or another evacuation route. Sad.
The solution is simple. Instead of being a multi- million dollar burden on the city, the airport should generate revenue. Because it is always in the red, and the entire city is in the red, they need to dump the money pit and if they can sell the land for upward of a half a billion dollars, this puts them in a better financial situation. It is literally a no-brainer. Less than 1% of the population flies. Airports never profit. They are a money pit. It does not have t be this way. Airports can utilize their space more effectively. They should charge a market rate for hangars. A storage unit half that size rents for $1,000/mo in Santa Monica. Hangars are priced at 20-25% of their fair market value, and the citizens and non-flying public are subsidizing this luxury for aircraft owners. If they charged a fair market rate, that would generate revenue and afford them To build many more new hangars, and it would solve the hanger shortage mystery. (Because this is the reason no hangars are being built. They are an investment loser when your competition is paid for by tax money). At the outer boundaries of the airport, they could build smaller storage units for boats, power sports, etc. This is fine, because any aircraft accidents near or into those units is less life endangering than a neighborhood. Those units would generate substantial revenue off unused land that is necessary for setback distances. It would also prove beneficial to pilots, who could rent a storage unit to store aircraft parts and projects freeing up hanger space to sub-lease to other aircraft owners, reducing the cost of the higher true market rents. Airports can easily charge higher tie-down fees. Put in place large awnings like car dealerships do, for hail and storm protection. And charge a real rate for this, $300/mo per airplane, etc. (the current hanger rent, which is below market rate, for outdoor protected storage). If every 40x40 hanger generated $1,600/mo ($1/ft) and was split by 4 owners... this would be $100/wk per airplane. And the airport or investors would be able to finance and build many more hangers. Inevitably bringing the cost down slightly, and also leaving hangers available with no wait list. Most airports have a 2-10 year wait list.
How? What is an organization representing primarily the 1% going to argue in favor of diverting public funds to what amounts to an elite hobby or mode of transport that nobody else wants around them? Playing the devils advocate here. Because this philosophy of "eat the rich" pervades California and Santa Monica in particular.
Well, I guess the most expensive FBO in the country is out of business eh? Supermarine charged $7.00 / gal for Jet-A long before anyone else ever thought of it. Guess they became Atlantic? I do miss the Typhoon though with all of our tickets pasted on the walls
If you lived in the takeoff or landing pattern of Santa Monica Airport, you would not be so blase about its decommissioning. Harrison Ford famously crashed his plane in the golf course off the end of the runway.
I thought that the FEDS had told the city that the airport MUST stay open for at least another 10 years because of the many millions of federal tax dollars that had been spent not too long ago on improvements. It is also considered a "feeder" airport to take some of the traffic load off of the main airports like LAX and Burbank.
I started my GA flying life in 1967 ( age 12) in the Taylorcraft , Aeronca Champ. Later I started tricycle gear in the Ercoupe and Cessna 152 and finally Navion Ranger. My only owned airplane was the 1949 Piper Clipper ( PA16)
There is no doubt that kSMO should be an historical landmark. Douglas Aircraft Co was based here and was a principal player in the air war during WWII, and in the development of the airline industry, including its iconic DC-3. It’s hard not to be bitter at these petty, entitled jerks who move in and then try to close what they knew was there before they did so. Freedom is not their mantra; entitlement is. Fabulous museum Mike is running, I gotta get there!
I got my Instrument Ticket there at American Flyers back in 1995. They’ve been saying it’s gonna close every year for the past 30+ years so take this with a grain of salt. I doubt this guy has any new solid info.
Sad. I remember flying there from Fullerton in one of my circuits to maintain currency. That museum is nice. The city is looking at $$$$$$$ waiting to bulldoze the airfield. Just like meadowlark and the tustin blimp hanger.
A GREAT Opportunity for California to build Section Eight Housing where most advantages for the oppressed to have close access to the Money areas for Great Jobs....WIN - Win
I'm indifferent of the airport closing. I will say for 28 years I've lived 2 miles NE of the runaway. Planes flew overhead on approach. While it was not uncommon to see/hear 20-25 planes daily approach the airport, it has been peaceful the past 2-3 years (once a date was set on the closing). Those 20+ planes have trickled to less than five.
If it closes, it has to be a park according to the referendum. However, the city can’t afford a park and in order for it to be housing the residents would have to vote for this to happen. According to the latest sentiment, I doesn’t seem like the residents want to add us tater gridlock to their community. But never underestimate the foolishness of Santa Monica.
Santa Monica is running out of park space for the homeless. A new park would draw the overflow of homeless from the tourist and shopping area increasing sales tax income. Genius. What will the price be for development of a 227 acre park? How will they finance it? Will there be enough visitors for the homeless to panhandle from?
The citizens of Santa Monica voted to close the airport and it can only be replaced with parks and open space which would be enjoyed by millions of people over time and not just a few pilots. The shortening of the runway that has already been completed means less noisy jets can use the airport and that ground has already been radically reclaimed by nature but people can't use it because it's behind a fence. Historically SMA was a park, golf course and a small airport before WW2 when it was taken over and expanded for the war effort. It's time to return that precious land into a park. The war is over.
That airport was there LONG BEFORE any of those "Karens" and others moved in. You buy a house off the end of the runway, and then complain about airplanes. So flipping typical of a certain type of people. Brain dead is all I can say!! The developers want it worse than anyone I'm sure. That is such a historic airport. It's really sad!
Would not land at SMO ever again. Tired of getting landing fee bills in the mail. When they do close the airport I’ll bet the locals will be sorry when all those big buildings and big box shopping centers are built causing the traffic to be worse than it is now. And can’t wait for the big earthquake with the roads unusable and no airport to bring in supplies and move injured out to hospitals.
Most pilots and the AOPA seem to be opposed to landing fees and other such expenses. But pilots cannot expect to have the general public fund their hobby, passion, or non-standard personal transportation method. General Aviation is in full view of the public. It is noisy. It pollutes the air with not only exhaust emissions, but Tetraethyl lead. It has an air of arrogance to it (this is coming from a private pilot). To the average person, an airplane is unobtanium. It is a toy of the elite. Even though it is a great financial burden to many pilots (me included). $150-200 an hour discretionary spending for a an old Cessna on a regular occasion still places most pilots in the higher half of income earners. It makes zero sense to have the public pay for this thing that only 1% of the public partake in. This is almost like paying for the PGA tour with public tax funds. Nobody is in favor of this. As a pilot. There should be use fees. Hangars should rent for appropriate market rates. A large storage unit in a suburban area such as Santa Monica is going to run about 10x what the airport charges for hangar storage. If it was priced properly, the airport would generate revenue and there wouldn't be a 5-6 year waiting list over 200 names long to get a hangar to rent. The airports in America should generate revenue or at least break even. This isn't 1950. Everyday use of airplanes by the masses has never materialized. And never will. Public airports would probably do better to privatize. But it will never work, as long as public airports are subsidized by the non-flying public they keep the value and revenue severely in the red.
I learned to fly at SMO in 1986 when it was declared the busiest single runway airport in the US. This airport is close to my heart. It is a great place to sit and watch planes. It is a gem sitting in this mass called Los Angeles truly a sanctuary. It breaks my heart knowing that it is scheduled to close in 2028. I'm hoping for a miracle.
ditto, got my license there in 2000.
soloed off RWY 21.... good times.
that airport will be missed.
City Councils are strong armed by Lobbyists and Land Developers. The Airport was built in 1926, every one of those Homes were built long after the Airport. I guarantee there's Real Estate Developers that have "Big Plans" for the 227 Acres and there's substantial Political Campaign Funding helping to move this along.
Very SAD to have this airport CLOSED. It belongs to the most important site outside of the Wright Brothers flight. Douglas Aircraft along with Commercial Aviation has its roots at this airport. Once known as Clover Field before it was paved, was the take off and landing spot for those "First Around the World" flyers the marked the importance of Aviations impact to change the World. Aviation changed the World forever HERE like no other place in the WORLD.
you're still clinging to the idea of "we were there first, so...". That kind of fairness and logic is just in our heads. There's no actual law or common sense that prevails there- a lot of people think it's perfectly normal to say "ive been living here for 3 years, I should be able to stop you from doing something I don't like even though it's been going on for almost 100 years, just because I don't like it!".
Lobbying is part of it too, though, I agree
They want to replace Santa Monica Airport with the equivalent of Downtown Century City, sky rises and a big ass mall. As I earned my Private Pilot there, where I made so many friends, its very sad to see it go.
@@confuseatronica Ummm ok so you've owned your Home for 25 years, now Developers/City Council says they are claiming Eminent Domain on your Home and they are going to Evict you and give your Home to "Migrants"..are you ok with that?
Some Santa Monica residents are starting to realize just how much traffic will increase the terrible vehicle congestion in the neighborhoods near the airport. We're having big problems in Torrance as well.
Like so many others here, I soloed at SMO in 1976. Two years later I did 20 hours in a WWII link trainer run by Charlie Gress, who taught pilots instrument procedures during the war-even then he was an old timer! I later did my instrument, multiengine, flight instructor check rides all at SMO. Literally, I lived just down the street on Centinela Ave. The airport is a bastion of aviation history, and looms large in my own. I’ve always thought of the place as an oasis of charm in a desert of urban development. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
I wish locals were more connected to the history of the airport! These days everyone just sits at home and watches Netflix, they don't even know their neighbors.
I soloed there also.
I remember when I went to watch planes takeoff for my birthday in 2016, I'm an east L.A kid and going to Santa Monica to watch the business jets and ga plane takeoff was so fun. It does sadden me despite not having visited in 8 years that the airport is closing, I will attempt to make my memories while it is still open.
Wow. I flew in and out of there in 1965 while I was in the Navy. Wow.
This City, Santa Monica is turned down by bureaucrats, bad politics, and misleading steps down under! 😊 The wealth and glamour is gone, highest criminal rates, closing down one of the most busiest GA airports. People move to live nearby airports and cry about noise. This is all a big mess and failure down the whole line. Put it short: it’s a big shame to the responsible people. I was in Santa Monica in 1985. What a nice high quality spot. Loved to be there. Today? Never ever do I want to go to this garbage place on the beach. Sad to hear, the airport is the next victim of this crime. 😢
Col James Jabara airport in northeast Wichita (AAO) fended off a similar fate back in the late 1980s. My argument was the homeowners moving into the newly developed neighborhoods knew the airport was there when they moved in so they had no right to complain about the noise. The airport was there first. Fortunately the Wichita Airport Authority felt the same way I did and the field is still active today. Thanks for the flight, Max! 73 de WØRHP
I’m a student pilot at SM Flyers. I grew up coming to this airport with my dad. I live down the road. We are still fighting to keep it open. We are not giving up our airport!
Beautiful views for sure! I giggled at the " 1948 iphone" sign.
Thank you!
I learned to fly at KSMO in 1965 when it was the busiest single runway airport in the country. For example, I once was number 13 to land. Times have changed, haven't they? Thanks for bringing back some memories.
Yes...I remember maybe being number 9...and building airplanes, and meetings, and schooling, and brilliant creative people, and the place as a haven for locals to relax in a much safer environment than the beach.
I gave a tour out of KSMO last night and told my passengers to take a picture of the airport because soon it will vanish. Very sad. I watched the same thing happen at Rialto Airport. Thanks for sharing. Fun to ride along in the Chief. 😎👍
Yep, ticks me off that they are closing Banning airport, too! Had plans to keep something there to commute to work with.......
@@antigrav1302 I didn't know that...what a shame! You have the perfect commuter plane too.
@@EternalOvercomer Lol! Would have been perfect to keep a Cavalon gyroplane there to get back and forth to the river for work.....KBNG 15 min away from home, and it keeps you from having to deal with marine layer low ceilings going into the pass.........
They’re trying to close Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose too.
I believe the FAA is forbidding its closing. Too bad they won’t intervene in Santa Monica’s closing.
They want to make flying only available to the elite. Living in the USA is getting more like China every year.
I think the FAA did delay the closing by many years... it would have been closed long ago otherwise.
RHV is a vital airport that takes the high training load off of SJC.
As pilots, we have the perspective that enables us to see how much uninhabited land is out there for housing. Our airports are national treasures, and should remain open for posterity. Your youtube channel is growing.
As always, another great video with super content
Glad you enjoy it!
what the SMO city council has done is criminal.
They all went to the Mayor Daily school.
Excellent video, especially the music! I flew around there in the 60’s. Smog was so bad it was almost IMC!
Wow! Hey, do you recall any airports around SoCal that are gone now? I've got a sectional chart from 1964 with all kinds of airports that I've never heard of!
Clover Field was long ago bequeathed to the City of Santa Monica with the provision that it always remain a park - with aviation as an allowed use. (At that time, planes took off and landed on grassy fields.) Over the years, the aviation thing just became a more major part of its use.
The airport has been home to some serious aviation history and it's sad to see it go, but if it's being turned back into a park, perhaps this is just another chapter in its story.
That is so sad that airport will be closing. Thank you for the tour!!
Good stuff. Thanks for sharing. I've only flown in there once but I need to do that again for the reasons that you stated.
My uncle kept his Ryan Navion there. I got to up with him once when I was a toddler. Sat in his lap and steered. My house in Venice was in the direct flight path of planes taking off. It was always a pleasure to look up and see the planes go by. The airport was always a source of pride to oldtimers. Maybe the advent of jets caused the push for closure.
Went there last weekend and was shocked how good the conditions were at the airport. Well maintained runway, plush pilot lounge, well sorted website and procedures, broadcasting tower communications, etc etc. Really don’t understand the rationale behind shutting it down when billions of dollars have been spent on such a great facility. Such a shame to lose multiple socal ga airports in a short period of time. 😢
Uh..."billions"? I doubt that very much.
You were shocked that the airport where some of the richest people in America keep their private airplanes was in good shape?
@@christopherpardell4418 KSMO has far less jets than KVNY though (due to shortened runway?). Comparing to its average fleet such as a bunch of piper sports, the infrastructure is in a surprisingly great shape. French Valley feels like a much busier airport but the luxury level is no where near Santa Monica. 🤔
@@yoice. II’m thinking of Harrison Ford, Cruise, Swartzeneggar, Spielberg, a bunch of influential types who prefer the easy access of Santa Monica.
My flying career began there in 1961 at the old Santa Monica Flyers. Left the next year and was not the airport until some forty years later. How things there have changed! Lots of memories though. A shame that the money grabbing pols are now in control. Great video and. Aeronca Chief. Thanks.
New FAA directives will counter this closing, "Cloverfield" airport cannot be closed due to FAA new regulation.
Ahh, that is a bummer about Santa Monica. I need to make the trek down there before it closes!
There was a restaurant there called Typhoon years ago. The late news anchor Hal Fishman who was a pilot used to hang out there all the time.
I loved hanging out at Typhoon. I was there when it opened and I was there on the last night it closed. Talked to Hal Fishman many of times always asked him "How's the Bonanza doing today?" He always made time talk. Great times!
Max, I've watched so many of your guitar videos. I watch lots of airplane content and it took years for TH-cam to put one of your airplane videos on my list! I recognized the voice and thought "I know that guy!" I'll watch more, my neighbor is trying to sell me his Aeronca. Just subscribed.
Hey cool! Well, better late than never! Thanks for subscribing.
I started learning to fly there in 2003. My dad also learned to fly there before I was born. It truly is sad to see such a wonderful legacy, something that made the airport truly historic, and made LA what it is today. Boils my blood to see my airport close.
Thank you for this video. Very interesting, great video shots and I like how you blended the music with the airplane engine sound perfectly. Pilot here too but I’m on the east coast. You have a very nice Chief. I fly a Maule.
Thank you very much! I always try to include the natural sound of the engine.
My office was 100 ft from the runway. Loved it. Use to watch when the US presidents would fly in. Once a friend got clearance to race his corvette down the runway. Many banks would fly their cash to SF via Santa Monica and do mercy flights. The city was always trying to close the airport. Thought the airport was the heart of the city. It will be missed.
Was in the CANG 146th TAW at Van Nuys from 1986-1990 as a crew chief on a C-130E 64-1799 and got engine run and taxi certified there and then the move to Mugu.
It seems like the whole county is closing with so much negativity I don't know where to start.
double likes here excellent aviation video thank you rock on! :)
Thank you!
I learned to fly in early 2007…with Ali, at SM aviation. Sadly they closed down, as have many other businesses.
Long Live KSMO
I knew Ali. Great guy.
yeah, there are people here who complain about our local airport, by people new to the area who move by the airport. it's not like it's a secret that, look! there's an airport! or anything - sheesh. if you don't like noise, please don't move near the airport!
Totally!
@@HeavyMetalHorizonsThe courts don't see it that way. You were there first is not an excuse to make noise. As an example, the argument that I have a garage band, and we've been practicing here every night for 30 years, we were here way before you moved in, and you knew about it, so if you don't like it, you shouldn't have moved here. That argument is not going to receive much traction. Not saying I necessarily agree with the argument, but that's generally how the courts view it.
I love your guitar channel, and I just found this one! I’ll have to look you up the next time I fly my Grumman Tiger to Santa Monica!
I mean Van Nuys!
Hey there! Yes please do! I've got my email here in the About section of my channel.
I’m looking forward to it!
Yup. Made many landings on RWy 21. Descending from the LAX SFRA and made the the long term onto downwind on the norht side. The main reason for the closure is the large number of biz jets that were taking off day and night. Closure is for 2028. City is going to make a park. Yes a park. The Biz jets might go to HHR instead.
Great airport for GA. All my time in there was in jets. I won't miss it.
In the seventies, as a kid, I saw a B-25 land there with an engine fire. The airport fire department got it extinguished and the aircraft was saved and the crew were unhurt as well. I was there because my mother was a seamstress working for a hang glider manufacturer there at the airport.
It's a shame they're closing it down. Never underestimate the venality of real estate types.
Amazing! What a memory.
"Transient parking" in Santa Monica has a whole other meaning.
I should have pitched a tent!
If you pay for parking you get kicked out when the timer is up. If you don't park a car but a tent and never pay. You can stay.
@@Triple_J.1 Put a planter in front of your business to make it look nicer you get fines and threats from the city. If you and your friends put tents on the sidewalk and hoard piles of stolen garbage, the city will provide you with a porta-potty.
Great Video Max!!, As SoCal pilot myself, I have seen aviation under attack for the last couple of decades. From VNY having over 600,000 operations in 1990, to less than 300,000 a year in 2021, to SMO closing and now WHP in the crosshairs. When these airports are gone, they don't come back. It's really nothing more than a land grab by developers. And If we can't have an airport like WHP, in Pacoima, an industrial area, then where? And who can forget, Chicago's Meigs Field airport was bulldozed overnight in 2003, in violation of federal regulations. PS, I believe they will waive the landing fee at SMO if you get fuel. It used to be a decent price, Better than VNY.
Hey Randy! Thanks! The landing fees aren't even that bad at SMO anyway... not for light personal planes. For me, it's about the cost of 1 gallon of 100LL. I'm going to try and get more attention to all the important roles that these airports play in the community. Not enough people realize the value.
Cool airplane dude. Liked and Subd'
Thanks!
They have been trying to close Santa Monica for the 50 years that I have been flying. I made many a flight in and out of there.
Terrific Video, Max...Thank you, I just sub'd your channel..
Awesome, thank you!
Get it designated as an historic landmark.
The flight from Long Beach to Torrance (zap field) is the shortest flight. I've taken flying lessons at zap Airport.
I stand corrected!
Actually if you include smaller airports, the distance between Brackett Field (KPOC) to Cable Airport (KCCB) is probably the shortest in the So Cal area.
When you said In-n-Out, I was thinking Double-Double cheeseburger.
Wow How old is that plane? The dash board of the cock pit is so minimalist..... I don't know anything about aircraft, but was amazed at the inside. I also stumbled on to your video/flight by accident. Loved it and your comments about the closing of the airport in Santa Monica. Subscribed. Well done.
Thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The plane is from 1946, so 78 years old as of right now. It has regular inspections of course to make sure it's in airworthy condition!
That is a shame for sure. Thanks for sharing its story.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, Max. "Right turn, at the shoreline..." pretty much says NIMBYs have moved into the area, IMO, after knowing the airport was located right there. Hopefully the flying community is able to reverse the decision to close.
That right turn at the shoreline has been there for a very long time. Was there when I was learning back in 2003.
Hey, thanks, love it. Can you please share who the guitar music artist is. Thanks
Thanks for watching! Sorry, but the music is actually AI created, not real recordings.
Makes me hate the City of Santa Monica more than I already do. Nothing to do with safety, noise abatement or lack of green space. It’s all about money and how much City Council members (Present and past) are getting paid. Usual story.
Beautiful Chief!!!!!! Sad about Clover Field. I heard Banning (KBNG) and Corona (KAJO) were on the chopping block, too. Any updates?
Thanks! Unfortunately Banning is scheduled to be closed now. Corona hopefully not.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons Thanks!!!!!!
When the big one hits, trucks are impeeded and locals need relief, where does the airlift land?
los angeles has so many former airstrips- you just drive down a street and it has a funny jog in it because it used to go around an airport. It's amazing it has lasted THIS long with residential anywhere near it.
Santa Monica is just the last of the romantic 20s airplane boom strips to finally get eaten by the city.
meanwhile I was just at CMA Camarillo looking at the new condos going up nearby- 30-40 years from now it will be surrounded by housing and same thing will happen there. Unless there's some special feature that helps protect it from the sprawl, it will happen everywhere. Van Nuys relies on the Sepulveda Basin flood control area to be a buffer so it will be ok.
Next-level NIMBYism to get something shut down that already exists.
Same thing happened to Reid-Hillview...south of Fremont, CA. The county is looking at those 600 acres as future homes and real-estate taxes...
Flew a Cessna 177 Cardinal out of Santa Monica from 1975-1982 a beautiful airport and when not flying would often go there to the observation platform just to get away and watch take off's and landings. Truly a shame general aviation is under attack thru out the country.
Looks like Jerry Seinfeld is going to have to find a new location to store his Porsche collection. He currently keeps them in multiple hangers at the airport.
I'm sure that will be a real problem for him. Maybe we should start a Go Fund Me for him
So sad. The city will regret this some day and it won’t take long for that to happen.😢
You can’t fly into class C with that plane can you? I just got my ppl and I’m dreaming of getting an old taildragger like that, maybe a Luscombe. But my local airport is under a large class C and it’s nearly impossible to go anywhere without passing through it.
That's correct. Can't fly in C or B. You can fly under it though. There are plenty of old taildraggers that have been updated with modern-ish electrical systems and avionics though, granted they will costs a little more.
You’ve got to get an ND filter for your GoPro and fix that propellor
It's not just Santa Monica; this is happening all over the U.S. Torrance airport faces the same issue. These politicians don't understand that an airport is a way to bring supplies in case of an emergency(e.g., an earthquake) or another evacuation route. Sad.
The solution is simple. Instead of being a multi- million dollar burden on the city, the airport should generate revenue.
Because it is always in the red, and the entire city is in the red, they need to dump the money pit and if they can sell the land for upward of a half a billion dollars, this puts them in a better financial situation. It is literally a no-brainer.
Less than 1% of the population flies. Airports never profit. They are a money pit. It does not have t be this way.
Airports can utilize their space more effectively. They should charge a market rate for hangars. A storage unit half that size rents for $1,000/mo in Santa Monica. Hangars are priced at 20-25% of their fair market value, and the citizens and non-flying public are subsidizing this luxury for aircraft owners. If they charged a fair market rate, that would generate revenue and afford them
To build many more new hangars, and it would solve the hanger shortage mystery. (Because this is the reason no hangars are being built. They are an investment loser when your competition is paid for by tax money).
At the outer boundaries of the airport, they could build smaller storage units for boats, power sports, etc. This is fine, because any aircraft accidents near or into those units is less life endangering than a neighborhood. Those units would generate substantial revenue off unused land that is necessary for setback distances.
It would also prove beneficial to pilots, who could rent a storage unit to store aircraft parts and projects freeing up hanger space to sub-lease to other aircraft owners, reducing the cost of the higher true market rents.
Airports can easily charge higher tie-down fees. Put in place large awnings like car dealerships do, for hail and storm protection. And charge a real rate for this, $300/mo per airplane, etc. (the current hanger rent, which is below market rate, for outdoor protected storage).
If every 40x40 hanger generated $1,600/mo ($1/ft) and was split by 4 owners... this would be $100/wk per airplane. And the airport or investors would be able to finance and build many more hangers. Inevitably bringing the cost down slightly, and also leaving hangers available with no wait list. Most airports have a 2-10 year wait list.
I will never again be a member of AOPA again. They dropped the ball on this .
How?
What is an organization representing primarily the 1% going to argue in favor of diverting public funds to what amounts to an elite hobby or mode of transport that nobody else wants around them?
Playing the devils advocate here. Because this philosophy of "eat the rich" pervades California and Santa Monica in particular.
Well, I guess the most expensive FBO in the country is out of business eh? Supermarine charged $7.00 / gal for Jet-A long before anyone else ever thought of it. Guess they became Atlantic? I do miss the Typhoon though with all of our tickets pasted on the walls
Rialto was closed, Banning is next, and now Santa Monica. Replacing uniqueness with more sprawling city.
What if they allow only electric airplanes
That's an interesting idea! But there's so few electric planes right now, it wouldn't be enough business for the airport to sustain itself I'm sure.
If you lived in the takeoff or landing pattern of Santa Monica Airport, you would not be so blase about its decommissioning. Harrison Ford famously crashed his plane in the golf course off the end of the runway.
I thought that the FEDS had told the city that the airport MUST stay open for at least another 10 years because of the many millions of federal tax dollars that had been spent not too long ago on improvements. It is also considered a "feeder" airport to take some of the traffic load off of the main airports like LAX and Burbank.
You're right, but that was a few years ago. So 10 years from 5 or 6 years ago... it's coming to the end.
Hmmmm. What does the FAA say?
Very nice Aeronca 11ac. 1946?
Yes! And thank you.
I started my GA flying life in 1967 ( age 12) in the Taylorcraft , Aeronca Champ.
Later I started tricycle gear in the Ercoupe and Cessna 152 and finally Navion Ranger.
My only owned airplane was the 1949 Piper Clipper ( PA16)
There is no doubt that kSMO should be an historical landmark. Douglas Aircraft Co was based here and was a principal player in the air war during WWII, and in the development of the airline industry, including its iconic DC-3. It’s hard not to be bitter at these petty, entitled jerks who move in and then try to close what they knew was there before they did so. Freedom is not their mantra; entitlement is. Fabulous museum Mike is running, I gotta get there!
Santa Monica has become a S Hole.
Greed will kill us all !
I am disappointed that he didn't go over farther east, he would have flown over my house
We need more airports not fewer so that people have to travel shorter distances to travel.
I agree!
Greedy developers win again….
AOPA did not lift a finger.
I got my Instrument Ticket there at American Flyers back in 1995. They’ve been saying it’s gonna close every year for the past 30+ years so take this with a grain of salt. I doubt this guy has any new solid info.
That land is worth billions.
It is, so are some of the golf course within 5 miles for the airport that pay little to no tax.
Why would anyone put an airhorn on an airplane?
this is very scare, my cat is sad
Great, remove the airport and build 100’s of homes to add to the already horrendous traffic in that part of LA.
People who move near airports then complain of the airport need to be relocated… to another country.
You could bet the city would love the property tax, So they could give themselves a pay, raise..
Sad. I remember flying there from Fullerton in one of my circuits to maintain currency. That museum is nice.
The city is looking at $$$$$$$ waiting to bulldoze the airfield. Just like meadowlark and the tustin blimp hanger.
The NIMBY hipsters don't really care about the airport. They would much rather have another dog park.
No, CYTZ is still good.
A GREAT Opportunity for California to build Section Eight Housing where most advantages for the oppressed to have close access to the Money areas for Great Jobs....WIN - Win
This is about money period. Always was, and California’s politicians are tops at ‘Pay to Play’… from the Top Down…
Sad about the airport loss, not sad for the pain coming to a state full of idiots.
Just from a disaster relief stand point this is a crime
I'm indifferent of the airport closing. I will say for 28 years I've lived 2 miles NE of the runaway. Planes flew overhead on approach. While it was not uncommon to see/hear 20-25 planes daily approach the airport, it has been peaceful the past 2-3 years (once a date was set on the closing). Those 20+ planes have trickled to less than five.
If it closes, it has to be a park according to the referendum. However, the city can’t afford a park and in order for it to be housing the residents would have to vote for this to happen. According to the latest sentiment, I doesn’t seem like the residents want to add us tater gridlock to their community. But never underestimate the foolishness of Santa Monica.
I refuse to land at airports that charge landing fees, just another tax
You could still land, and then not pay the fee?
@@HeavyMetalHorizons
The city has your tail number, they just send a ticket in the mail.
Yes, exactly. It's not like you have to pay when you land.
Santa Monica is running out of park space for the homeless. A new park would draw the overflow of homeless from the tourist and shopping area increasing sales tax income. Genius. What will the price be for development of a 227 acre park? How will they finance it? Will there be enough visitors for the homeless to panhandle from?
The citizens of Santa Monica voted to close the airport and it can only be replaced with parks and open space which would be enjoyed by millions of people over time and not just a few pilots. The shortening of the runway that has already been completed means less noisy jets can use the airport and that ground has already been radically reclaimed by nature but people can't use it because it's behind a fence. Historically SMA was a park, golf course and a small airport before WW2 when it was taken over and expanded for the war effort. It's time to return that precious land into a park. The war is over.
okay Harris voter
Not perfect…it’s totally surrounded by CA
That airport was there LONG BEFORE any of those "Karens" and others moved in. You buy a house off the end of the runway, and then complain about airplanes. So flipping typical of a certain type of people. Brain dead is all I can say!! The developers want it worse than anyone I'm sure. That is such a historic airport. It's really sad!
Would not land at SMO ever again. Tired of getting landing fee bills in the mail. When they do close the airport I’ll bet the locals will be sorry when all those big buildings and big box shopping centers are built causing the traffic to be worse than it is now. And can’t wait for the big earthquake with the roads unusable and no airport to bring in supplies and move injured out to hospitals.
Probably to make room for a homeless encampment. That’s progress for you.
Most pilots and the AOPA seem to be opposed to landing fees and other such expenses.
But pilots cannot expect to have the general public fund their hobby, passion, or non-standard personal transportation method.
General Aviation is in full view of the public. It is noisy. It pollutes the air with not only exhaust emissions, but Tetraethyl lead.
It has an air of arrogance to it (this is coming from a private pilot). To the average person, an airplane is unobtanium. It is a toy of the elite.
Even though it is a great financial burden to many pilots (me included). $150-200 an hour discretionary spending for a an old Cessna on a regular occasion still places most pilots in the higher half of income earners.
It makes zero sense to have the public pay for this thing that only 1% of the public partake in.
This is almost like paying for the PGA tour with public tax funds. Nobody is in favor of this.
As a pilot. There should be use fees. Hangars should rent for appropriate market rates. A large storage unit in a suburban area such as Santa Monica is going to run about 10x what the airport charges for hangar storage. If it was priced properly, the airport would generate revenue and there wouldn't be a 5-6 year waiting list over 200 names long to get a hangar to rent. The airports in America should generate revenue or at least break even. This isn't 1950. Everyday use of airplanes by the masses has never materialized. And never will.
Public airports would probably do better to privatize. But it will never work, as long as public airports are subsidized by the non-flying public they keep the value and revenue severely in the red.