World Tour 012-Los Angeles to Tucson - Western USA-Mexico

Stage 12 takes us through the desert landscapes of southern California, the Baja peninsula in northwestern Mexico, and Arizona back in the USA. Highlights include the beautiful Santa Catalina Island and the city of San Diego in California, the Baja Peninsula, Gulf of California and the volcanic landscape of the Pinacate Peaks in Mexico, and the desert and mountain regions around Phoexix and Tucson in Arizona.

See trip in Skyvector

Total Legs: 12     Total Distance: 686     Total Time(125kts): 5 hours 29 minutes

 

Leg 1

Flying from KLAX

Leg Distance: 39.25     Approximate time at 125kts: 19 minutes.

 

See leg in Skyvector

KLAX(KLAX) to Jack Northrop Field(POI1)

Distance: 3.97NM     Bearing: 98°     2 minutes

 

After takeoff, head east over the airport that sits just a few miles from LAX. Hawthorne Municipal Airport sits just south of the 105 freeway and is also an aerospace hub and home of SpaceX

 

Jack Northrop Field(POI1) to Blimp Base(POI2)

Distance: 4.87NM     Bearing: 133°     2 minutes

 

Head southeast from Hawthorne to the double interchanges of the 405, 110 and 91 freeways, and you'll find the home base of the Goodyear Blimp. The "airport" is the large round concrete pad next to Victoria Golf Course

 

Blimp Base(POI2) to Los Angeles Harbour(POI3)

Distance: 6.68NM     Bearing: 154°     3 minutes

 

Head southeast to the adjoining port facilities of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, which are the two busiest container ports in the USA. The city of Long Beach is at the eastern edge of the port. Once you reach the ocean, turn south

 

Los Angeles Harbour(POI3) to Catalina Island(POI4)

Distance: 18.62NM     Bearing: 182°     9 minutes

 

Heading south to Santa Catalina Island, aim for the tallest peak of the southern half of the island

 

Catalina Island(POI4) to KAVX(KAVX)

Distance: 5.11NM     Bearing: 231°     2 minutes

 

As you approach the island, you should see the airport sitting on high ground just north of the island's highest peak, Mount Orizaba

 

Leg 2

Flying from KAVX

Leg Distance: 60.16     Approximate time at 125kts: 29 minutes.

 

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KAVX(KAVX) to Avalon(POI5)

Distance: 6.25NM     Bearing: 119°     3 minutes

 

Fly southeast along the island and over the town of Avalon, then turn east

 

Avalon(POI5) to Carlsbad(POI6)

Distance: 49.34NM     Bearing: 91°     24 minutes

 

Head east to the mainland, where you should meet the coast near Oceanside or Carlsbad, then follow the coast southeast

 

Carlsbad(POI6) to KCRQ(KCRQ)

Distance: 4.57NM     Bearing: 108°     2 minutes

 

Once you spot the Agua Hedionda lagoon just south of Carlsbad, turn east to Palomar Airport

 

Leg 3

Flying from KCRQ

Leg Distance: 29.29     Approximate time at 125kts: 14 minutes.

 

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KCRQ(KCRQ) to I-5(POI7)

Distance: 14.23NM     Bearing: 157°     7 minutes

 

Head south after takeoff and meet up with Interstate 5 as it follows the coast, before turning inland as it nears Torrey Pines Golf Course which overlooks the Pacific Ocean

 

I-5(POI7) to Miramar(POI8)

Distance: 4.43NM     Bearing: 98°     2 minutes

 

As the interstate turns southeast, you should see Miramar Marina Corps Air Station, the former home of TOPGUN. Do a flyover of the airfield, and feel free to "Buzz the Tower"

 

Miramar(POI8) to San Diego(POI9)

Distance: 8.84NM     Bearing: 175°     4 minutes

 

Head south from Miramar towards downtown San Diego

 

San Diego(POI9) to KSAN(KSAN)

Distance: 1.79NM     Bearing: 274°     1 minutes

 

As you approach the downtown area, the airport will line up to your right

 

Leg 4

Flying from KSAN

Leg Distance: 65.55     Approximate time at 125kts: 31 minutes.

 

See leg in Skyvector

KSAN(KSAN) to Coronado(POI10)

Distance: 3.18NM     Bearing: 141°     2 minutes

 

Fly southeast after takeoff and head along the harbor past downtown San Diego and towards the Coronado Bridge

 

Coronado(POI10) to MEX-1D(POI11)

Distance: 12.05NM     Bearing: 160°     6 minutes

 

From the bridge, head south to the coast and follow it. On the coast east of the bridge is the historical red roofed Hotel Del Coronado. Just after crossing the border in to Mexico, you'll meet up with the 1D highway heading south along the coast

 

MEX-1D(POI11) to Punta El Descanso(POI12)

Distance: 14.02NM     Bearing: 149°     7 minutes

 

Continue southeast along the coast

 

Punta El Descanso(POI12) to Baja Mar(POI13)

Distance: 17.9NM     Bearing: 142°     9 minutes

 

From Punta El Descanso, cut across the bay southeast to Baja Mar

 

Baja Mar(POI13) to MMES(MMES)

Distance: 18.4NM     Bearing: 122°     9 minutes

 

From Baja Mar, head southeast across the bay to Ensenada Airport, which is just south of the city

 

Leg 5

Flying from MMES

Leg Distance: 60.86     Approximate time at 125kts: 29 minutes.

 

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MMES(MMES) to La Bufadora(POI14)

Distance: 7.76NM     Bearing: 223°     4 minutes

 

After takeoff, head southwest over the Punta Banda Peninsula, which features a popular tourist attraction, La Bufadora, a marine blowhole

 

La Bufadora(POI14) to Punta Santo Tomas(POI15)

Distance: 10.02NM     Bearing: 158°     5 minutes

 

Turn southeast and head down the coast to Punta Santo Tomas

 

Punta Santo Tomas(POI15) to San Antonio Del Mar(POI16)

Distance: 30.55NM     Bearing: 131°     15 minutes

 

Continue southeast along the coast

 

San Antonio Del Mar(POI16) to MMLB(MMLB)

Distance: 12.53NM     Bearing: 151°     6 minutes

 

Where the coast turns to the south in a straight line, cut across the land towards the bay at the south end of Punta Colonet, and you will find the airstrip a couple of miles southeast of the bay

 

Leg 6

Flying from MMLB

Leg Distance: 74.63     Approximate time at 125kts: 36 minutes.

 

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MMLB(MMLB) to Sierra de San Pedro Martir(POI17)

Distance: 48.08NM     Bearing: 87°     23 minutes

 

After takeoff, head east over the mountains of San Pedro Mártir, passing Picacho del Diablo, the highest peak on the Baja peninsula

 

Sierra de San Pedro Martir(POI17) to MMSF(MMSF)

Distance: 26.55NM     Bearing: 70°     13 minutes

 

After crossing the mountains, head for the coast. San Felipe airport is 8 miles south of the town, on the plain a couple of miles inland

 

Leg 7

Flying from MMSF

Leg Distance: 84.69     Approximate time at 125kts: 41 minutes.

 

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MMSF(MMSF) to Gulf of California(POI18)

Distance: 51.78NM     Bearing: 49°     25 minutes

 

After takeoff, head northeast across the Gulf of California, in the direction of the distant volcanic peaks of Picos del Pinacate

 

Gulf of California(POI18) to Puerto Penasco(POI19)

Distance: 15.42NM     Bearing: 87°     7 minutes

 

Once you are closer to land, head east for the town of Puerto Penasco

 

Puerto Penasco(POI19) to MMPE(MMPE)

Distance: 17.49NM     Bearing: 79°     8 minutes

 

Continue east past the town to Mar de Cortés International Airport

 

Leg 8

Flying from MMPE

Leg Distance: 76.87     Approximate time at 125kts: 37 minutes.

 

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MMPE(MMPE) to Crater el Elegante(POI20)

Distance: 30.08NM     Bearing: 345°     14 minutes

 

Head north after takeoff to the dark, volcanic biosphere reserve of El Pinacate. The distinct Crater el Elegante is a few miles northwest of the Pinacate Peaks

 

Crater el Elegante(POI20) to USA Border(POI21)

Distance: 14.64NM     Bearing: 33°     7 minutes

 

From the crater, turn northeast to another volcanic crater, Cerro Colorado, then continue northwest back into the USA and the small mountain range just over the border

 

USA Border(POI21) to Scarface Mountain(POI22)

Distance: 16.76NM     Bearing: 43°     8 minutes

 

Head northeast between the two mountain ranges in the distance, past the prominent peak of Scarface Mountain

 

Scarface Mountain(POI22) to Ajo(POI23)

Distance: 10.47NM     Bearing: 0°     5 minutes

 

After passing Scarface Mountain, head north over the large open-pit New Cornelia copper mine and the town of Ajo

 

Ajo(POI23) to P01(P01)

Distance: 4.92NM     Bearing: 356°     2 minutes

 

Ajo airport is 5 miles north of the town

 

Leg 9

Flying from P01

Leg Distance: 47.38     Approximate time at 125kts: 23 minutes.

 

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P01(P01) to I-8(POI24)

Distance: 28.23NM     Bearing: 349°     14 minutes

 

After takeoff, head north in the direction of the tallest peak in the distance, Woolsey Peak. About two-thirds of the way there, you should meet irrigated land and Interstate 8 heading east to Gila Bend

 

I-8(POI24) to Gila Bend(POI25)

Distance: 9.67NM     Bearing: 69°     5 minutes

 

Follow the highway east to the town of Gila Bend, then the smaller state highway 85 north from the town

 

Gila Bend(POI25) to AZ05(AZ05)

Distance: 9.48NM     Bearing: 358°     5 minutes

 

Following the highway north, you will see two small lakes of Lakeside Ski village, with the airstrip at their eastern edge about a mile west of the highway

 

Leg 10

Flying from AZ05

Leg Distance: 45.56     Approximate time at 125kts: 22 minutes.

 

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AZ05(AZ05) to AZ-85(POI26)

Distance: 5.1NM     Bearing: 357°     2 minutes

 

After takeoff, continue following the highway north

 

AZ-85(POI26) to Estrella Mountains(POI27)

Distance: 17.53NM     Bearing: 49°     8 minutes

 

Where the highway makes a slight turn right near the large correctional facility, head northeast to the Sierra Estrella mountains ahead

 

Estrella Mountains(POI27) to I-10(POI28)

Distance: 6.85NM     Bearing: 2°     3 minutes

 

After reaching the western end of the mountain range, head north to meet Interstate 10

 

I-10(POI28) to Phoenix(POI29)

Distance: 12.97NM     Bearing: 79°     6 minutes

 

Follow the highway east to downtown Phoenix

 

Phoenix(POI29) to KPHX(KPHX)

Distance: 3.11NM     Bearing: 113°     1 minutes

 

After a close look a the city, head to the international airport a few miles to the city's southeast

 

Leg 11

Flying from KPHX

Leg Distance: 46.49     Approximate time at 125kts: 22 minutes.

 

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KPHX(KPHX) to I-10(POI30)

Distance: 9.02NM     Bearing: 158°     4 minutes

 

After takeoff, follow interstate 10 as it heads south past the eastern edge of South Mountain

 

I-10(POI30) to I-10(POI31)

Distance: 26.43NM     Bearing: 137°     13 minutes

 

Stay with I-10 as it turns northeast

 

I-10(POI31) to I-8 Interchange(POI32)

Distance: 6.05NM     Bearing: 170°     3 minutes

 

Follow the highway as it turns south and meets up with Interstate 8 heading southeast

 

I-8 Interchange(POI32) to E60(E60)

Distance: 4.99NM     Bearing: 88°     2 minutes

 

Head east from the interchange, over the large gated community and Eloy Municipal Airport a few miles beyond

 

Leg 12

Flying from E60

Leg Distance: 55.18     Approximate time at 125kts: 26 minutes.

 

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E60(E60) to Picacho Peak(POI33)

Distance: 14.92NM     Bearing: 124°     7 minutes

 

After takeoff, head southeast and follow I-10 between the two mountains of Newman Peak and Picacho Peak

 

Picacho Peak(POI33) to Pinal Airpark(POI34)

Distance: 8.03NM     Bearing: 154°     4 minutes

 

After passing Picacho Peak, head south and overfly the aircraft "boneyard" at Pinal Airpark

 

Pinal Airpark(POI34) to Saguaro National Park(POI35)

Distance: 15.93NM     Bearing: 150°     8 minutes

 

After passing the airport, turn southeast and head towards the western side of the Tucson Mountains

 

Saguaro National Park(POI35) to Tucson Mountains(POI36)

Distance: 8.32NM     Bearing: 117°     4 minutes

 

Fly southeast along the western edge of the Tucson Mountains, and the prominent peak of Golden Gate Mountain near the southern end of the range

 

Tucson Mountains(POI36) to KTUS(KTUS)

Distance: 7.98NM     Bearing: 108°     4 minutes

 

From the southern end of the range, Tucson airport should come into view just to the left, on the city's southern outskirts