Classic Flight:

Los Angeles Intl to San Francisco Intl
United Air Lines

History:
This flight is a classic multi-stop, flying into the little towns in California's Central Valley.  United flew this route from just after WWII until the propliners were phased out in 1968.   United used DC-3's and then CV-340's on this route, which stopped at Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno, Merced, Modesto, Stockton, and Oakland.

Schedule Information
Date 1947 1950 1955 1958 1966
Equip. DC-3 DC-3 DC-3 CV-340 CV-340
Flight Number 167 171 179 279 848
Los Angeles 8:00a 7:30a 6:55a 7:20a 7:25a
Bakersfield 8:52a 8:30a 8:00a 8:20a 8:26a
Visalia -- 9:10a 8:40a 8:55a 9:03a
Fresno 9:40a 9:45a 9:15a 9:30a 9:35a
Merced -- 10:25a 9:55a 10:05a 10:13a
Modesto -- 10:50a 10:25a 10:30a 10:41a
Stockton 10:32a 11:15a 10:50 10:55a 11:08a
Oakland -- 11:50a -- -- --
San Francisco 11:20a 12:10p 11:25a 11:29a 11:40a

Flight Plan:

Set any wind to blow from the Northwest (around 290 deg); this is typical for the Central Valley.  The only turbulence would be over the Tehachapi mountains between Los Angeles and Bakersfield.  Typical weather during the summer is clear and hot with a few high clouds, while during the winter it's often a 2-6000 ft overcast sky.  Fuel values are for the CV-340.

Los Angeles Intl to Bakersfield Meadows
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                  ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                    ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Los Angeles Intl      KLAX          336      29.5    10.4   86.8
top of climb          8500ft        324      29.5    10.4   86.8
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb          8500ft        336      26.8     6.4   22.5
GORMAN                GMN    116.10 323      56.4    16.9  109.4
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
GORMAN                GMN    116.10 344      12.0     2.9   10.1
beginning of descent  8500ft        331      68.4    19.7  119.5
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent  8500ft        344      34.4     7.3    6.1
SHAFTER (BAKERSFIELD) EHF    115.40 331      98.8    27.0  125.5
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
SHAFTER (BAKERSFIELD) EHF    115.40 147       3.6     0.9    0.7
Meadows               KBFL          134     102.4    27.9  126.3
--------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

Remember, fly the Magnetic Course (the lower of the two numbers).

1. Los Angeles Intl. ATIS 135.65.
2. 4.5 NM DME from SHAFTER VOR, BFL airport will be almost directly under you.  You may alter course 15 NM before this to pass over the LOM at a heading of 301 deg for a straight in approach, or you may enter the pattern and land.  Runway 30R (alt. 507 ft., 301 deg), LOM 385, ILS 111.90, ATIS 118.6, pattern alt. 2500 ft.

Bakersfield Meadows to Visalia Mun
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                 ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                   ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Meadows              KBFL          339         15.7   5.5  46.2
top of climb         4500ft        326         15.7   5.5  46.2
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb         4500ft        339         29.5   7.1  24.8
beginning of descent 4500ft        326         45.2  12.6  71.0
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent 4500ft        339         24.5   3.5   2.9
VISALIA              VIS    109.40 326         59.7  16.1  73.9
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
VISALIA              VIS    109.40 124          5.2   1.3   1.0
Visalia Mun          KVIS          111         64.9  17.4  75.0
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

1.  4.4 NM DME from VISALIA VOR, VIS airport will be almost directly beside you on the right.  You may alter course 15 NM before this to pass over the LOM at a heading of 299 deg for a straight in approach, or you may enter the pattern and land.  Runway 30 (alt. 292 ft., 299 deg), LOM 220, ILS 108.50, pattern alt. 1800 ft.

Visalia Mun to Fresno Air Terminal
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                 ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                   ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Visalia Mun          KVIS          329         16.4   5.8  48.2
top of climb         4500ft        315         16.4   5.8  48.2
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb         4500ft        329         11.6   2.8   9.8
beginning of descent 4500ft        315         28.0   8.6  58.0
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent 4500ft        329         27.5   2.8   2.3
CLOVIS (FRESNO)      CZQ    112.90 315         39.6  11.3  60.3
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
CLOVIS (FRESNO)      CZQ    112.90 144          8.0   1.9   1.6
Fresno Air Terminal  KFAT          130         47.6  13.3  61.9
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

1.  10 NM DME from CLOVIS VOR, FAT airport will be almost directly under you.  You may alter course 15 NM before this to pass over the LOM at a heading of 290 deg for a straight in approach, or you may enter the pattern and land.  Runway 29R (alt. 333 ft., 290 deg), LOM 266, ILS 111.30, ATIS 121.35, pattern alt. 1500 ft.

Fresno Air Terminal to Merced Mun/MacReady                                
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                 ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                   ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Fresno Air Terminal  KFAT          309     16.3      5.7  47.9
top of climb         4500ft        295     16.3      5.7  47.9
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb         4500ft        309     12.4      3.0  10.4
beginning of descent 4500ft        295     28.6      8.7  58.3
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent 4500ft        309     13.6      3.3   2.7
EL NIDO (MERCED)     HYP    114.20 295     42.2     12.0  61.0
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
EL NIDO (MERCED)     HYP    114.20 305      6.7      1.6   1.3
Merced Mun/MacReady  KMCE          292     48.9     13.6  62.3
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

1.  Approaching EL NIDO VOR, alter course to land at MCE; enter the pattern and land.  Runway 30 (alt. 153 ft., 302 deg), ILS 109.30, pattern alt. 1400 ft.

Merced Mun/MacReady to Modesto City-Co-Sham
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                 ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                   ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Merced Mun/MacReady  KMCE          314         10.5   3.7  31.0
top of climb         2500ft        300         10.5   3.7  31.0
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb         2500ft        314          6.3   1.5   5.3
beginning of descent 2500ft        300         16.8   5.2  36.2
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent 2500ft        314         12.7   3.0   2.5
MODESTO              MOD    114.60 300         29.5   8.3  38.8
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
MODESTO              MOD    114.60 119          0.2   0.0   0.0
Modesto City-Co-Sham KMOD          105         29.7   8.3  38.8
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

1.  MODESTO VOR is at the airport.  You may alter course 15 NM before this to pass over the LOM at a heading of 288 deg for a straight in approach, or you may enter the pattern and land.  Runway 28R (alt. 97 ft., 288 deg), LOM 367, ILS 111.90, ATIS 127.70, pattern alt. 1300 ft.

Modesto City-Co-Sham to Stockton Mun
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                 ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                   ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Modesto City-Co-Sham KMOD          320          4.4   1.6  13.0
top of climb         1500ft        306          4.4   1.6  13.0
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb         1500ft        320         11.0   2.6   9.2
beginning of descent 1500ft        306         15.4   4.2  22.2
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent 1500ft        320          0.8   0.2   0.2
MANTECA (STOCKTON)   ECA    116.00 306         16.2   4.4  22.4
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
MANTECA (STOCKTON)   ECA    116.00 318          4.8   1.2   1.0
Stockton Mun         KSCK          304         21.0   5.5  23.4
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

1.  Approaching MANTECA VOR, alter course to land at MCE.  You may alter course 15 NM before this to pass over the LOM at a heading of 291 deg for a straight in approach, or you may enter the pattern and land.  Runway 29R (alt. 30 ft., 291 deg), LOM 271, ILS 109.10, ATIS 118.25, pattern alt. 1200 ft.

Stockton Mun to Oakland Mun
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
From                 ID     Freq   Course  Distance ETE   Fuel
To                   ID     Freq   Mag-Crs Total    Total Total
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
Stockton Mun         KSCK          258         14.1   5.0  41.4
top of climb         4500ft        244         14.1   5.0  41.4
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
top of climb         4500ft        258         17.1   4.1  14.3
beginning of descent 4500ft        243         31.1   9.1  55.7
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
beginning of descent 4500ft        257         16.7   4.0   3.3
OAKLAND              OAK    116.80 243         47.9  13.1  59.1
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----
OAKLAND              OAK    116.80 153          0.3   0.1   0.1
Oakland Mun          KOAK          139         48.2  13.2  59.1
-------------------- ------ ------ ------- -------- ----- -----

1.  The heading in FS2000 seems to be 255 magnetic, not 239.
2.  Do not descend too soon or you will hit the mountains!  Once over the mountains, descend, enter the pattern, and land; OAKLAND VOR is at the airport.  Runway 27R (alt. 6 ft., 275 deg.), LOM 341, ILS 109.90, ATIS 128.50, pattern alt. 1200 ft.
3.  If not landing at Oakland but are continuing to San Francisco, fly the Bridge Visual Approach:  Over the OAKLAND VOR, turn left to fly along the coast, descend to 1900 feet, turn right base at the bridge.  Turn right final at the opposite coastline (over the LOM), cleared to land.  Runway 28R (alt. 11 ft., 282 deg), LOM 379, ILS 111.70, ATIS 135.45.

Oakland Mun to San Francisco Intl.

1.  Depart Oakland using runway 28R, turn right to head south along the coast, climb to 1900 ft.  Fly the Bridge Visual Approach:  Turn right base at the bridge.  Turn right final at the opposite coastline (over the LOM), cleared to land.  Runway 28R (alt. 11 ft., 282 deg), LOM 379, ILS 111.70, ATIS 135.45.

Welcome to San Francisco!