So a couple days ago, I had a commercial callback. Big opportunity. One line. Just one. Except instead of memorizing my one single line, my brain went, “Yeah whatever, What’s flying into Santa Monica?” Naturally, I ignored my professional responsibilities and charged straight into 405 gridlock just to get to the holy land: the end of Clarkson Rd and post up there like the plane-hungry gremlin I am.
The weather? Classic “May Gray” — basically LA’s way of photobombing your shots with depression. it eventually cleared just enough to for my sensor to feel mildly appreciated and convince me I wasn’t completely wasting my life. I had a solid hour and fifteen minutes of action before I had to go pretend I’m excited about shampoo in a casting room full of advertisers. But hey, priorities.
Gear
Sony A6400
Sony FE 70-300mm
First offender: Kenmore Air PC-12 from Seattle Paine Field @RedWolf, @AlaskaAirfireball111.
This plane showed up like it had important emails to send and gluten-free espresso to sip. Looked like a flying LinkedIn profile.
Next: A sleek SR-22 from San Luis Obispo
All silver — probably flown by a guy named Tanner whose biggest struggle this week was picking between the Tesla or the G-Wagon.
Then: A NetJets Phenom 300 repositioning from Santa Ana
This thing came in faster than @AndrewWu could park his ahh at the buffet
Then came: a red and black Piper Arrow II returning from a 4-hour headache inducing flight around LA
Honestly, it just wanted to be seen. Four hours in the air just to show up looking like an off-brand sports car.
Up next: CSA Sport Cruiser absolutely rawdogging the pattern
No chill. Zero shame. Just lap after lap like it was getting frequent flyer points for each left turn.
Then: Piper Arrow B in blue, white, and gold inbound from Reno
Flew 3.5 hours just to roll up to SMO like, “Hey guys, miss me?” Kind of like a trifling girl hitting you up two months latter.
And finally: Another NetJets Phenom 300, this time repositioning from LAX
Because why drive from LAX to SMO when you can reposition in a jet and feel morally superior to traffic peasants. Daddy’s money strikes again.
If SMO’s dying, it’s doing it with a soft moan and a Gucci scarf. Busy GA business, bizjets flexing harder than influencers at Coachella, and enough Cirrus spam to make your camera sensor sweat. 9/10 — would spot again.
- Yes
- No