Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Brackett Field Airport, La Verne California


Brackett Tower
Brackett Field Airport is an excellent destination airport for a lot of reasons. First, it is strategically placed in the Los Angeles basin, but out of the LAX airspace. The weather is typically sunny, with some coastal low clouds and fog. Summer can have hazy (smoggy) skies. Brackett has ILS, VOR and GPS-A approaches for low visibility conditions.

There are lots of things to do within walking distance of the airport. If you are hungry, Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop is on the field for breakfast and lunch (7-3) every day. Every seat has a runway view. Feel like Mexican food? Walk along McKinley Ave. to the end of the runway and turn left on Fairplex. On the right is El Merendero No. 1. You can get breakfast (chorizo and eggs for me, huevos rancheros for Wayne), lunch and dinner. It's a little walk, but WELL worth it.

El Merendero No. 1 - Yum!
Activities within walking distance include Bonelli Regional Park. Exit the transient ramp, turn right and follow the access road that leads to the East Shore RV Park. Walk through the RV park to get to the other sections of Bonelli Park. Things to do include: picnicking, hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, and just being lazy under a tree. You pass over the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds on final to Runway 26 R/L. The County Fair is each September and there’s lots of other events year-round. Also on final you cross the Pomona Raceway, home of NHRA racing. During race weekends, you can see some “heavy metal” in transient parking as well. The University of La Verne and downtown La Verne are just north of the airport and within extended walking distance.

Mt. San Antonio College flightline.
Want to spend the night? The Sheraton Fairplex just down the street will pick you up (walking distance if you are energetic). Like to camp, there are sites at Bonelli’s East Shore RV Park.

Need fuel or maintenance? Self-serve fuel is at the transient ramp. NAI Aircraft Services is a full service maintenance and repair shop. Howard Aviation provides maintenance and avionics services. Brackett is also the home base for the Mt. San Antonio College Aeronautics Program fleet and the Mt. San Antonio College

Wayne has two aviation related books, Up the Airway about flying along the Pacific Coast and across Canada, and Flying the Pacific Northwest about destination airports. Go to www.PowellRiverBooks.com for details for click the links for print and Kindle versions on Amazon.com. -- Margy

10 comments :

  1. Neat! Do they have commercial flights? We used to live in Bryce Resort and their airport was tiny, for small private planes only.

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    1. Even through there are two runways and a tower, it only has private and charter operations. This is where I learned to fly and got my license. - Margy

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  2. This is a good post for anyone in the area.

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  3. It looks like a lot to do within a short distance of the airfield.

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  4. Hi Margy! There is so much to see and so little time in this world and in this lifetime! I should like to see it all, but....

    Thanks anyway for telling about your world. Have a great time with your new ship.
    Wil, ABCW Team

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  5. I have never flown in such a small plane - it looks like fun.

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  6. Sounds like a great place to hang out for a while. Just watching planes flying around would be great entertainment.

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    1. Norm's Hangar cafe is a great spot for breakfast on weekends to watch takeoff and landings. Because there are no commercial operations, you are still able to get near the planes and enjoy aviation like the old days. - Margy

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  7. What a great place to spend time exploring. So many things to do in a short walking distance. I love watching planes and people come and go.

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  8. Thanks everyone for stopping by and commenting on My World this week. - Margy

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Thanks for stopping by. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome. - Margy