220th fly-in, 1st February 2009: Paulo Emanuele memorial fly-in, Santa Monica, California (KSMO)



Setting off from a nearby airport in the Breguet 14. This aircraft always reminds me of "Southern Mail/Night Flight" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.




Passing over Los Angeles International (LAX)




Enjoying the great photoscenery as we head into Santa Monica airspace.






The missing-man fly-in formation needed an extra pilot..


.. so I quickly land and change to the Marchetti.


Lining up with the others on the runway. Ignore the CSL differences..


Kumiankka leads the formation as we throttle up and progress along the runway.


Soon airborne, the formation heads out towards the Pacific.




Kumi gives us airspeed directions and brings us back together.






We all turn back towards KSMO for the fly-past.


Closing in on the field, we take up positions and prepare.




After the fly-past, we turn back towards the field for a formation landing.






Taxiing to a stop.




Some shots of the Marchetti.














I switch to the Amphibious Twin Beech for my first attempt to fly a seaplane.


Throttle-up and away we go.








Flying out over Marina del Rey.




First seaplane landing. Ok, here we go...






Success!


Some close-ups of the Twin Beech.








Taxiing (aquaplaning?) back to the Marina del Rey.








High aerial shot of the Marina.


Let's see if we can take-off from the Marina. Full throttle..




.. and airborne!






Heading back to KSMO to see whether I can land the Twin Beech conventionally.


Flying out to the point where I line up with the runway.


Final approach.. This thing seems to have wheels like a supermarket trolley..




Down safely.


Taxiing towards the stand..


.. as Lunchod comes in to land.


Parked alongside an Air Canada jet, while Lunchod taxiies in.


Shutting down the Twin Beech.


Changing planes back into the Breguet 14 to leave KSMO for the last time.


Gathering speed..


Departing runway 21, KSMO.


Up, up and away.






Turning back for one last pass above KSMO.






Passing over Inglewood.


Lining up unconventionally for a landing at LAX.






Landing. I have to be careful not to brake too hard otherwise the Breguet will fall flat on it's prop.






Pulling off the runway.


Taxiing to the stand.




Wheels stop. Shutting down.