From Palo Alto to Lancaster

Rene and Laurence visited Hans and Babette in their Palo Alto home.

We planned to make a flying trip to Las Vegas in a Piper Warrior. For a direct route from Palo Alto to Las Vegas we would have to deal with mountains, rather desolate desert area's and military airspace. We planned a southern route through the San Joaquin Valley and roughly along interstate 15 over the Mojave Desert.

The next morning we had to wait for a while before the cloud layer was cleared. Then we departed into the direction of Fremont. We crossed the Tehachapi Mountains north west of Lancaster.

From Lancaster to Henderson, Las Vegas

We fueled and had lunch in Lancaster. After a turbulent flight, in which Laurence disposed his greasy lunch from Lancaster, we arrived in Henderson.

Trip over Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon

The next morning, after receiving a long briefing from a local and professional tour pilot who suggested a route through the Grand Canyon we could fly, we took off for our Grand Canyon tour.

First we passed the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

From Henderson to Palo Alto via Lancaster

After refueling in Henderson, we set-off for our flight back to Palo Alto. We took the same route as on the way-up.

We logged 7:40 hours flight time for the day.