Interesting aviation/sim sites in Los Angeles?

[Tronso]

Hi all, fairly new poster here.

Guessing this is the right section for this!

I'm a pretty new simmer (about a year since I tried FSX for the first time), but the interest in continually growing and I have a pretty decent setup which I'm continually expanding.

Next week I'll be following the wife for a conference in LA for 5 days before we head off for 4 weeks vacation in Mexico. That is, she's going to the conference and I'll be strolling Santa Monica beach all day :icon_lol:

Besides strolling the beach, I was hoping to get around and maybe find some interesting sites/shops to support my sim-hobby, and I was wondering if anyone have some tips for that? Could be stores with software/hardware/books etc., advanced simulators to try, perhaps aviation museums, you get the idea! I'm also thinking about taking about going on a heli (or cessna) sightseeing tour, not so much for the seeing as for the flying :-)

Any tips welcome!

-T

[Toastmaker]

Stay out of Watts and all of Southeast L.A. or the simulations you may encounter will be of a game you don't want to play. I know, I used to work there (LAPD).

Welcome to SOH. You've come to the right place with the right stuff. For a bit of controversial debate, feel free to visit the Quarter Moon Saloon where politics, and high octane current events are the currency - but not here please.

:applause:

[Daveroo]

not aviation but if yer in los angeles...go hit the Peterson car colection..thats a must see..

[srgalahad]

A few of my regular stops
Santa Monica http://www.museumofflying.com/ -- and the home of the original Douglas plant.

a bit far but can be done in a day if you start early Palm Springs http://www.air-museum.org/

Planes of Fame - Chino http://www.planesoffame.org/
also at Chino YANKS Air Museum http://www.yanksair.com/
Torrance http://www.wmof.com/

Van Nuys Airport!
Hawthorne - just a drive around the home of Northrop can be interesting - minutes from LAX

A little-known spot -what now seems to be called the Proud Bird Restaurant http://www.theproudbird.com/... a very short drive down Aviation Blvd from the LAX terminal. Some/all(?) of the aircraft are not original but fiberglass replicas but still a nice wander around the grounds ( free) or stop in for a beverage -no idea what the food's like. Might even set a tone for the wife :icon_lol:

That should fill up the times when the beach is boring

Rob

[NoNewMessages]

Nice timing? The past couple of weeks have been hovering around 80 degrees, slight wind. Rather boring after a while. Next week there is rain coming into the basin... :kilroy:

Besides what's been mentioned, about 90 minutes east of La-la land is March ARB and the museum adjacent to the base. Very easy to get to. But as always it may take a little over an hour, or it could take three hours to get there.

And no visit to Los Angeles is complete without sampling the food. Find a Tommy's hamburger stand and order a double cheeseburger and tamale "con todo". Wash down with your favorite soft drink. Nothing better! :applause:

[jmig]

Welcome Tronso to SOH! We are glad to have you. What don't you sit a visit for a spell.

[TARPSBird]

Tronso, welcome to the Outhouse! :wavey:
The Chino air museums have already been mentioned. If your Mexico vacation takes you through San Diego (or you'd like to make a side trip) I highly recommend the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park.
http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/

[Tronso]

Thanks for the welcome and great tips guys!

It's going to be a nice 5 week break from the -15 below here in Oslo, rain or no rain in LA!
It's not going to rain in Mexico :icon_lol:

"What don't you sit a visit for a spell." I must admit I had to google that one, never heard that expression before lol

Anyway, keep the tips coming, but I'm slowly beginning to realize that my plan on not renting a car will get me nowhere, so I guess it's time to browse Itunes for LA Gps-maps. The one thing my iPhone won't help me with though, is experience in driving in a laaaarge city packed with cars! As I live downtown Oslo I haven't even driven a car here... Well, it's a first time for everything!

Time for a flight!

-T

[GT182]

Welcome to the Outhouse Tronso. :salute:

One tip for LA.... do not drive into the city after 6am in the morning or try and drive out after 3pm. You will get nowhere in a hurry. Remember, as people are driving in during the morning rush hour you want to be driving out of the city. Just the opposite for the afternoon rush hour.

[Piglet]

In the suburb of Burbank, is the Auto-Aviation book store. Right next to the Hollywood Way/Magnolia intersection. Just might see me in there!
Up Hollywood Way, right by KBUR, is a Fry's Electronics. Home Depot for geeks!
There are a few hobby shops here and there, just score a L.A./Valley phonebook, and look up stuff. Don't know what transport you will have, so don't know what you can get to..
P.S. Can always come out to KWHP and watch me break airplanes!

[srgalahad]

A bi tout of the way for a tourist, but worth a visit sometime when you're motivated to drive up the coast to beautiful Santa Bawbwa...

http://www.collectair.com/
I'd bet most Outhouse types would feel right at home :icon_lol: (and possibly more impoverished than they now are)

[strikehawk]

Try the Western Museum of Flight in Hawthorn, it's near LAX the link is here...
http://www.wmof.com/


If you are going to San Diego don't miss the USS Midway Museum. A lot of the boat is open to the public and the aircraft collection covers Naval aviation from WWII to the present.

For a real good hobby shop try Brookhurst Hobbies in Garden Grove, you can find a lot of good stuff there.
http://www.brookhursthobbies.com/

And if you do go up to Santa Barbara take Pacific Coast Highway and stop at NAWS Point Mugu. Just outside of the gate is the "petting zoo", it's a little park that has missiles that were developed there, along with an F-4 and F-14.

[Piglet]

Brookhurst Hobbies in Garden Grove

Now THAT"S a hobby shop!! We used to have Valley Plaza Hobbies out here in the Valley, which was the closest thing to Brookurst. Now it's a lonnng drive...

[Tronso]

Thanks for all the great tips, much appreciated!

Two days to go and I'm off :ernae:

-T

[srgalahad]

Tronso,
Have a great trip, and yes, we expect copious reports :icon_lol:

Q. Where are you going in Mexico and how?

Rob

[strikehawk]

Now THAT"S a hobby shop!! We used to have Valley Plaza Hobbies out here in the Valley, which was the closest thing to Brookurst. Now it's a lonnng drive...

Piglet, I live in Bakersfield now and all the hobby shops except one have closed, so for me Brookhurst, Allied Trains and Smith Brothers are all a long drive but worth it.:icon_lol:

[cheezyflier]

when you get done with your trip, maybe you could post something about it. it would be cool to hear how it went.

[Piglet]

Smith Brothers

That the Smith Brothers shop out in Northridge, on Reseda? Just up from Black Watch Hobbies?

[strikehawk]

That the Smith Brothers shop out in Northridge, on Reseda? Just up from Black Watch Hobbies?

Yes, that one, first time I went in there was summer of '76, I still go there about once or twice a year.

BTW, check my avatar, can't you tell I'm from SoCal?

[Piglet]

BTW, check my avatar, can't you tell I'm from SoCal?

I remember KMET back in the '70's! So long ago.

[ColoKent]

....I echo what the others say about Brookhurst...been going there since I was in high school....now it's the first place I hit when I'm out to LA (I'm assigned there as a reservist).

Military Hobbies in Orange isn't bad either (although Brookhurst has more than they do).


Have fun!

Kent