Moving to CA

Like Dave says. Honestly if people want to choose their airport
based on the preponderance, or not, of certain makes of car,
then that's their privilege, but it strikes me as odd.

Traffic (highway variety) is definitely a factor. My office is
about equidistant from the two (237/880) but PAO is
20 mins in normal rush hour traffic, and RHV is more like
45. From home (Mountain View) PAO is 10 mins just about
any time, and RHV doesn't bear thinking about at busy times.

My experience is mainly with PAO. Things can get a bit hectic
on fine weekend mornings, but the rest of the time there are
no significant delays for VFR. Both airports have three or more
decent flying clubs (based on what I've heard anyway). Sundance
at PAO is where I trained and I would recommend it to anyone.

If you want *interesting* aircraft at your field, go to LVK - home
to numerous warbirds, for which PAO and RHV don't have
long enough runways.

John

"Dave Jacobowitz" wrote in message
om...
Wow, I thought this was a rather inocuous thread; a relatively
safe place to post, but alas, I think someone was just insinuated
to be classist and racist based solely on support of his favorite
aerodrome.

For the record, they're both fine airports. The wet rate for
your favorite airplane is higher at PAO. That's a fact. There
are restaurants near RHV that are good, and there are restaurants
near PAO that are good, too. Lunch near PAO will cost you more,
however.

Both airports can get busy, and you might wait at PAO sometimes,
though I have never waited more than 2-3 minutes unless waiting
for an IFR clearance (and that's going to be the same PAO or RHV)

Oddly enough, and worth repeating although it's been said already,
the weather at the two airports is quite a bit different. It's
hotter at RHV than PAO in the summer (note the Bay). There's
more moisture activity (fog, low clouds) at PAO than RHV (note
the Bay). Both airports have GPS approaches, and PAO has a
VOR approach which you can't get most of the time, anyway.
Some people think PAO has frequent difficult crosswinds. I
dunno... it's what I grew up with.

I have seen [nice|beater] [foreign|domesetic] [automobiles|aircraft]
at both airports.

I still stand by my statement that the traffic to get to RHV,
especially at peak and near-peak times (like cutting the afternoon
at work a little short) is the main reason I prefer PAO. I'm
starting from Santa Clara (office) and that's just how it works
out. Also, from Campbell (home), which is a good ten miles
closer to RHV than PAO, it's a faster drive on weekends.

-- dave j