Hello Everyone,

Nine people in three planes made the Sun, Sep 20th Fly-In that was scheduled
to fly to Santa Paula (SZP). However, we never landed there.

Two planes flew out of SEE. In a Skymaster was Robert Werve, Bob Ridout, Don
MacManus and Don Walker. And in a Bonanza, Curt Hardick, Denny Walker &
David Walker. And flying out of MYF was Jim Newport & Tony Tex in a C-337.

It was overcast in SAN and the Bonanza from SEE and Skymaster from MYF got
an IFR to VFR clearance. But by the time the Skymaster was ready to depart
SEE, it went VFR.

Enroute to SZP it was scattered to broken and even LAX was clear by the time
we flew over it.

SZP does not have an ATIS or AWOS and the closest WX we could get was
Camarillo (CMA) which was calling 700 broken and 4 miles. Because the clouds
were breaking up quickly we figured by the time we reached SZP it would be
VFR. WERE WE WRONG!

SZP airport is in a long deep canyon and the clouds were still solidly
settled in the canyon and of course SZP was socked in. And no one was about
to fly down into for a hole with mountains around. So all three planes make
a 180 and diverted to Riverside (RAL) our alternate. We dug out our charts
for a route around a fire TFR and the LA Bravo airspace and eventually
talked to SoCal for an extra set of eyes and make sure we avoided the TFR.

Enroute to RAL we encountered the usual haze in the LA basin and smoke from
fires north of the LA didn't make it any better. The visibility was 3-4
miles and "barely" 3 in some areas.

Anyway we all got into RAL around 1030 and did the usual hangar flying with
war stories over breakfast.

A good time was had by all, even though we went to RAL via SZP.

Next Fly-In is on Sun, Oct 18th to Flabob (RIR). If RIR is IFR, we'll stay
high and use Big Bear (L35) as an alternate.

Best of clear skies and tailwind,

Tony Tex

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