Oceano Airport Fly-In, Day Trip in the 1946 Aeronca Chief!

I flew the '46 Chief into Oceano Airport, by the sand dunes north of Santa Barbara for a fly-in and veteran's celebration. Despite a tornado(?) destroying several of the hangars earlier this year, the airport was alive and well with plenty of aircraft on display. I even got hangout with @aeroncajoe a fellow Aeronca pilot! Plenty of wind made for spirited takeoffs and landings. A fun day of flying!

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[viejoa]

Yup. My backyard. When I could still fly.. L52 was part of my lunch circuit. My home field is SMX. thanks for showing this little coastal gem off! Good to see you, Joe. (Walt)

[mikem]

The ground videos are absolutely stunning. What a beautiful place to be flying!!!

[tfabrizio]

That is one beautiful Aeronca Champ, both outside and inside! ... looked like a fun fly in.... plus you have the best music on any of the YouTube aviation channels!

[ohwell]

Flew a C-150 from Santa Monic to Oceano to go camping at Pismo Beach back in 1974-1982 sure looks different now it is a big airport now. Thanks for bringing back the memories. (Worked at Pismo as a maintenance man for State of California Parks and Recreation in the early 1970's) Did not talk to anyone back in those days, just said your intentions and took off. Just had to clear the Willow trees at the end of the airport heading out over the beach, the run way is much longer now. Just used to call and say straight in from over the Nipomo mesa, never did hear anyone else over those years. flying was not as complicated as it is today. By the way I am 80 now so do not fly anymore.

[ericmueller]

Sorry I missed your visit to the Central Coast. Enjoyed it!

[retropuffer]

Stunning views! Looks like an amazing hobby to have.

[waynemacgregor]

I grew up in Santa Maria and remember several small airports that were in the area. One at Hancock College. Another just North of Santa Maria near the river where Tony Machado operated a crop dusting business. Of course Oceano and Santa Ynez. I used to go flying with my Dad and we'd visit the various fields. I'm thinking this must have been in the mid to late 1950's. Fond memories.

[budowens]

Awesome video man.
Just found you on YouTube, glad I did and you have a really nice airplane.

[eprohoda]

hello!Super- very useful masterpeice, =)

[jp-iyhk]

Thanks Max. Tornado and Oceano are two words you don’t normally hear in the same sentence.

[capnhawk]

Your Aeronca is one sweet looking plane.

[LWJCarroll]

Cool video thanks, fyi for my PPL decades ago it was always land/take-off into wind. Even more so starting out on gliders. Laurie. NZ. 😊

[planeflyer]

What is the shimmering circle with a hexagon inside on the rear cabin wall?

[JamesGood]

Great video, Max. Good to see the Aeronca Happy Face on you in a number of those shots! I really want to get down to Oceano, I've been planning out a flight. Followed along on the chart with your approach into VNY as well. Would the controller have been able to give you the opposite runway, if you didn't want to take the tailwind landing?

[ralphstrahm]

Hey Max, I love the videos, the narrations, and the music. Are you flying with an iPad on a knee board? ForeFlight has been a great tool in my Taylorcraft.

[carsandhobbies]

Very cool video! How do you like the ufq headset btw? Thinking about getting a set for passengers.

[BasedGuitarist]

Awesome stuff man! I was wondering if you had to hand prop start your plane, but I guess my question got answered in this vid. lol

[MASTERRDEYE]

I live a mile from the Oceano airport.

[pi.actual]

Hard to imagine how some people are convinced that we're suffering out here in California.

[planeflyer]

Thanks for the trip, Max. 👍 Was that rag-wing 22 a Tigermoth?