For me the sad day at Santa Monica Cloverfield was when my dad's friend invited us down to the Douglas hanger for the surplus sale before Douglas closed the operation that made the DC3 and C47. His mom lived in house just west of Cloverfield under the flight path.
Thank you so much for covering this. I’m a student pilot out of KSMO. This hits home. We are still fighting to save our airport. The other day I was at the observation deck when a family walked onto the platform. A father, a wife, and 2 kids. I heard the dad say “I can’t wait until this place is gone. Why do we need this airport? The city is going to make much better use of this land with a big park.” I wanted to respectfully debate with him, but I held back, shrugged to my wife and kept eating my Bay Cities sandwich and watching takeoffs. All day I kept thinking about that jerk. What the hell is wrong with these people? They all arrived in SM post-airport construction. P.s. I think I saw you at Douglas Day ✈️
Please know that I fully support you and if there is ever a ballot that comes out stating a candidate's intention to close the airport, I will not vote for them.
There might be a small park as a bone, thrown to the "activists" (spoiled, sad, troublemakers). It it's sold, it'll be to some kind of public/private "partnership" which will provide lots of plunder for the politicians and their cronies. Somehow, though, I think those who fly their jets into there will have enough clout to keep it open. People have been trying to get that land since I worked there and I got my commercial/instrument tickets in 1976.
Hey Max, I admire the enthusiasm for keeping Santa Monica open to general aviation. With such a positive attitude, that may happen. I noted the windsock on your takeoff, and I am glad you explained your good decision. The air pollution in the LA Basin is so much better than when I first flew my Cessna 140 to Pomona in 1977.
Excellent video thank you Max, Heavy Metal Horizons! PS awesome background music, crystal clear video. Yes this rocks indeed especially the Santa Monica Airport staying open! :)
hell yea dude heavy metal and airplanes! I just sim but live near march airforce base and see all kinds of cool aircraft everyday and just dream! awesome video!
“Who wants this place to close and why?” You know who does, private real estate investors, the land the airport sits on is worth millions. Additionally the city could generate extra tax revenue/income from it being developed. It’s all about money unfortunately. I will say, I always thought this airport was private as a kid, I was wrong.
I think Santa Monica airport should be classified as historical and never be allowed to close. With that being said, I am confident the city will close the airport in 2028. Thank you for providing the video and the gentleman that you interviewed has a great insight and I hope he changes things. Historically, Los Angeles has closed many many airports and I don’t see them stopping now.
The regulations for transponders and ADSB have exemptions for aircraft which were originally certified without an electrical system, and this is one of those aircraft.
No local or state government should be allowed to interfere with a national transportation system. Imagine if Santa Monica decided to close and remove 3 Miles of the interstate highway so they could give it to real estate development for more tax revenue.
It looked like some of the cars were out-running you, but I saw a bunch that were barely moving on the on-ramps. I'd shorten the initial call to ATC. Just tell them who you are to get their attention and then tell them what you need. Thanks for the ride..
yeah when an airport is gone and houses are built there you are not getting it back. Why do they want it closed? does FAA have a lot of running costs? maybe it could be unmanned with automated ATC. It could also be reduced in size and have sound limits. A lot of planes can take off with a fraction of that runway. But reducing it would rule out chubsters like Gulfstream G650
They already shortened it for that reason, just some operators make the Numbers work by leveraging the wind and dry only conditions. Shortening it more just reduces safety and use(thus justifying it's future Demise)
I refuse to land at airports that charge landing fees when federal dollars have supported the airport. It is double taxation. It will be sad to see it close
You have to call "non-electric?" I worked at SMO from 1976 - 1977, did avionics installations out of Cloverleaf/Duke Aviation. Also got my commercial & instrument tickets there. Jane Fonda and her gang of rich leftists were just starting to ruin Santa Monica. They got a sign put up at the approach end of 27: "NO JETS!" I'm glad some of the "old" Santa Monica still remains. Hopefully - that will include the airport. So many rich and connected folks use it, I doubt it'll go away. Where else are they going to land? Hawthorne? Redondo? Whiteman? LAX? PS You have a most pleasant voice and manner.
Thanks very much! I don't have to call "non-electric" but it just simplifies things, usually. Otherwise controllers will try to give me a transponder code.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons Ohhhh! I thought it referred to the engine! Isn't there a "slash" code you could use, like "slash-Alpha" to show how you're equipped? After all, you have an electric radio, right? Maybe this? /OV: VHF COM receiver only (no ILS)
I’m not. They just don’t make sense, too long to charge, and batteries don’t lose weight as you fly. Also It’s a huge bomb that is near impossible to firefight.
For me the sad day at Santa Monica Cloverfield was when my dad's friend invited us down to the Douglas hanger for the surplus sale before Douglas closed the operation that made the DC3 and C47.
His mom lived in house just west of Cloverfield under the flight path.
Thank you so much for covering this. I’m a student pilot out of KSMO. This hits home. We are still fighting to save our airport. The other day I was at the observation deck when a family walked onto the platform. A father, a wife, and 2 kids. I heard the dad say “I can’t wait until this place is gone. Why do we need this airport? The city is going to make much better use of this land with a big park.” I wanted to respectfully debate with him, but I held back, shrugged to my wife and kept eating my Bay Cities sandwich and watching takeoffs. All day I kept thinking about that jerk. What the hell is wrong with these people? They all arrived in SM post-airport construction.
P.s. I think I saw you at Douglas Day ✈️
Agree with u 100 percent! If people dont like the airport,..then, they can move out of SM
Please know that I fully support you and if there is ever a ballot that comes out stating a candidate's intention to close the airport, I will not vote for them.
There might be a small park as a bone, thrown to the "activists" (spoiled, sad, troublemakers). It it's sold, it'll be to some kind of public/private "partnership" which will provide lots of plunder for the politicians and their cronies. Somehow, though, I think those who fly their jets into there will have enough clout to keep it open.
People have been trying to get that land since I worked there and I got my commercial/instrument tickets in 1976.
Hey Max, I admire the enthusiasm for keeping Santa Monica open to general aviation. With such a positive attitude, that may happen. I noted the windsock on your takeoff, and I am glad you explained your good decision. The air pollution in the LA Basin is so much better than when I first flew my Cessna 140 to Pomona in 1977.
Hey! Glad you enjoyed the video. It's really tough to see the old airports disappearing...
Thanks, Max. That looks like a good time. I'll have to remember Douglas Day.
Little wooden airplane putt-putting along in the sky. So cool.
Thanks!
Very cool! I’m working towards my Sport Pilot license there at Santa Monica. Thanks for the clarification that it’s not closing!
Excellent! Good luck in your training!
Excellent video thank you Max, Heavy Metal Horizons! PS awesome background music, crystal clear video. Yes this rocks indeed especially the Santa Monica Airport staying open! :)
Thank you!
Enjoyed the vid Max. Hopefully they will keep the airport going long into the future.
Very cool video. Glad the airport has more life.
hell yea dude heavy metal and airplanes! I just sim but live near march airforce base and see all kinds of cool aircraft everyday and just dream! awesome video!
Excellent! Thank you!
Loved this! Please do some more scenic adventures around SoCal.
Thank you. There's more coming!
“Who wants this place to close and why?” You know who does, private real estate investors, the land the airport sits on is worth millions. Additionally the city could generate extra tax revenue/income from it being developed. It’s all about money unfortunately. I will say, I always thought this airport was private as a kid, I was wrong.
I think Santa Monica airport should be classified as historical and never be allowed to close. With that being said, I am confident the city will close the airport in 2028. Thank you for providing the video and the gentleman that you interviewed has a great insight and I hope he changes things. Historically, Los Angeles has closed many many airports and I don’t see them stopping now.
Awesome, can you give us a hanger tour as well, I’d love to see what you have there! Thanks and 73s
Sure! I'm in the process of setting up a new hangar and I'll do a tour once it's put together.
Long Live KSMO!! I really hope the politicians do the right thing..and keep ksmo open for future generations to come!!
How do you legally fly a plane without a transponder inside the LAX mode-C veil?
The regulations for transponders and ADSB have exemptions for aircraft which were originally certified without an electrical system, and this is one of those aircraft.
Imagine when Evtol Ubers start using all those rooftops...
No local or state government should be allowed to interfere with a national transportation system. Imagine if Santa Monica decided to close and remove 3 Miles of the interstate highway so they could give it to real estate development for more tax revenue.
Excellent argument - send that to AOPA so they can use it.
It looked like some of the cars were out-running you, but I saw a bunch that were barely moving on the on-ramps. I'd shorten the initial call to ATC. Just tell them who you are to get their attention and then tell them what you need. Thanks for the ride..
Oh man, I've had semi trucks pass me!
yeah when an airport is gone and houses are built there you are not getting it back. Why do they want it closed? does FAA have a lot of running costs? maybe it could be unmanned with automated ATC. It could also be reduced in size and have sound limits. A lot of planes can take off with a fraction of that runway. But reducing it would rule out chubsters like Gulfstream G650
They already shortened it for that reason, just some operators make the Numbers work by leveraging the wind and dry only conditions. Shortening it more just reduces safety and use(thus justifying it's future Demise)
I refuse to land at airports that charge landing fees when federal dollars have supported the airport. It is double taxation. It will be sad to see it close
You have to call "non-electric?"
I worked at SMO from 1976 - 1977, did avionics installations out of Cloverleaf/Duke Aviation. Also got my commercial & instrument tickets there. Jane Fonda and her gang of rich leftists were just starting to ruin Santa Monica. They got a sign put up at the approach end of 27: "NO JETS!"
I'm glad some of the "old" Santa Monica still remains. Hopefully - that will include the airport. So many rich and connected folks use it, I doubt it'll go away. Where else are they going to land? Hawthorne? Redondo? Whiteman? LAX?
PS You have a most pleasant voice and manner.
Thanks very much! I don't have to call "non-electric" but it just simplifies things, usually. Otherwise controllers will try to give me a transponder code.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons Ohhhh! I thought it referred to the engine!
Isn't there a "slash" code you could use, like "slash-Alpha" to show how you're equipped? After all, you have an electric radio, right?
Maybe this?
/OV: VHF COM receiver only (no ILS)
I'm excited about what EVTOLs can do for aviation
I’m not. They just don’t make sense, too long to charge, and batteries don’t lose weight as you fly. Also It’s a huge bomb that is near impossible to firefight.
Me too!