Aerial Photographs of Brown Field and Tijuana International Airport

June 1, 2022 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography, Historical Aerial Photography
historical aerial photograph of Brown Field Airport (SDM), Otay Mesa, California and Tijuana Airport (TIJ), Tijuana, Mexico, 1955
historical aerial photograph of Brown Field Airport (SDM), Otay Mesa, San Diego County, California and Tijuana Airport (TIJ), Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, 1955.
Image ID: AHLV4726

This 1955 historical aerial photograph of Brown Field and Tijuana International Airport shows both airports during important periods of their development. It is part of a collection of aerial photographs of Brown Field and Tijuana International Airport available from Aerial Archives.

Brown Field is one of the oldest airports in the United States, originally named East Field and opened in 1918 when the U.S. Army established an aerial gunnery and aerobatics school to relieve congestion at North Island. From 1918 and 1919 pilots trained in the Curtis JN-4D at East Field.

In 1943 the Navy changed the name of the airport to NAAS Otay Mesa. From 1943 through 1946 NAAS Otay Mesa was used to train pilots in the Lockheed P-38 Lightening, the Grumman F4 F Wildcat, the Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger and the Grumman F6F Hellcat.

The Navy turned the airport over to the City of San Diego in 1946. Chula Vista High School was established on the airfield with a temporary campus and an enrollment of 650 students in 1947.

The Navy reopened the airport as NALF Brown Field in 1951, and by the time this photograph was taken in 1955, Brown Field had been commissioned as a Naval Auxiliary Air Station to support fleet aircraft and field carrier landing practice. The F6F Hellcat, the F9F Cougar, the JD-1 Invader, the P2V Neptune and the FJ Fury were among the aircraft using the airport at this time.

In 1962 the airport was again transferred to the City of San Diego. Lufthansa moved its pilot training program from Phoenix to Brown Field in 1970 and still uses the airport for its training today.

Because Brown Field has a relatively long runway (Runway 08L/26R is 7972′ long), it is still used today by Navy C-130s and F/A-18s.

The Tijuana International Airport, seen at the bottom center of this photograph, is at the edge of the Mexican American border, just over one nautical mile south of Brown Field.

Tijuana Airport opened in 1951 and Mexicana de Aviacion began direct flights to and from Mexico City in 1954, one year before this aerial photograph was taken.

Mexico agreed to reorient the airport’s main runway from 10/28 to 09/27 to avoid airspace incursions into US airspace as part of its expansion. This reorientation increased the glide slope of the east approach, favored because the prevailing wind, above 3 degrees, preventing a full ILS approach because of a 2600′ obstacle, Cerro San Isidro. The expansion in 1970 included construction of a new terminal building. The old terminal became an air base for the Mexican Armed Forces.

Tijuana International Airport became a private concession in 1995, part of a total of 12 airports operated by Guadalajara based Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (Pacific Airport Group), a consortium of Spanish investors.

The airport has continued to expand over time and now has a 23 gate main terminal with two concourses and one of the tallest control towers in Mexico. The Old Airport Terminal is still dedicated to military aviation.

In 2015, Tijuana International Airport opened the Cross Border Xpress (“CBX”), the world’s third cross-border passenger terminal. That terminal is located in the United States. A bridge connects it to the Tijuana International Airport.

For additional aerial photographs of Brown Field and Tijuana International Airport, please visit the links below, or, if you need additional imagery not shown on the site, please contact Aerial Archives directly.

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More aerial photographs of airports

More aerial photographs of San Diego County

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Aerial Photo Maps of San Francisco

January 31, 2022 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography, Historical Aerial Photography, Satellite Imagery
aerial photo map of San Francisco, California, 2020
aerial photo map of San Francisco, California, 2020
Image ID: AHLV4666

Aerial Archives provides current and historical aerial photo maps of San Francisco, California.

The aerial photograph shown above is a composite of many aerial photos and is suitable for enlargement to 14′ wide.

Higher resolution imagery which will enlarge to 30′ wide of the same view is also available on a custom basis.

In addition to aerial photography, Aerial Archives provides very recent satellite imagery of San Francisco.

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More information about aerial photo maps of San Francisco

Aerial maps of San Francisco available for immediate license or prints

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Aerial Photographs of Albuquerque, New Mexico

November 8, 2021 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography
aerial photograph of Al Hurricane Pavilion stage at the Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, New Mexico
This aerial photograph shows the Al Hurricane Pavilion stage at the Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Image ID: AHLE0980
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

An extensive selection of aerial photographs of Albuquerque, New Mexico is available from Aerial Archives.

Included in the collection are detailed aerial views of Albuquerque including its buildings, plazas, stadiums and airport, and overviews of the city.

Among the featured locations are Sandia National Labs, the Kirtland Airforce Base, the Albuquerque International Sunport, the Albuquerque Biological Park, the University of New Mexico stadium, Isotopes baseball park, the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse, the Downs Racetrack and Casino, the Presbyterian Hospital, the Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts and the Canyon Club at Four Hills golf course.

The collection of aerial photographs of Albuquerque, New Mexico also includes views of the Rio Grande river as it passes through Albuquerque.

Also available are current and historical aerial maps of Albuquerque.

The Al Hurricane Pavilion stage is one of the highlights of the Albuquerque Civic Plaza. The Plaza is in the center of the city directly adjacent to the Albuquerque Convention Center.

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Clear Lake Splash In 2021: September 16-19

April 7, 2021 / By / Events, Seaplanes
ICON A-5 at Clear Lake Splash In
ICON Aircraft chief pilot, Rich Bookbinder, demonstrates the ICON A5 amphibious light sport aircraft at the Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In, Lakeport, Lake County, California
Image ID: AHLC3945
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

Please mark your calendars, Clear Lake Splash In dates for 2021 have been set. The 41st annual Clear Lake Splash In is scheduled to take place from Thursday, September 16, through Sunday, September 19, 2021 in Lakeport, California (provided that there are no unexpected pandemic related developments).

The 41st annual Clear Lake Splash in was originally scheduled to take place in September of 2020. The cancellation of the event in 2020 because of pandemic considerations marked the first time in the event’s history that the annual event was cancelled since its inception.

The Clear Lake Splash In carries on the long tradition of seaplane operations at Clear Lake.

The Pan American Airlines Clipper flying boats which operated a Trans Pacific service in the 1920s and 1930s used Clear Lake as a back up landing location when the San Francisco Bay Area was too foggy for operations into the the Pan American seaplane harbor at Treasure Island. The Pan Am Clear Lake ramp was in Lakeport not far from the location of the Splash In.

Over the years, the Clear Lake Splash In has evolved into the largest seaplane fly-in event in the western United States.

The event has hosted a wide variety of seaplanes over the years including some of the largest seaplanes in the world, such as the Grumman Albatross (one year two Albatrosses participated), impeccably restored seaplanes of unique historical significance, rare seaplanes, and some of the latest innovations in the field of seaplane flying.

The event has also featured seminars about aviation and seaplane flying which impart unique information, sometimes difficult to obtain elsewhere.

The 2019 event featured three presentations by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) ambassador Kay Sundaram.

The seminar entitled Career Opportunities In Aviation outlined the bright opportunities for young people in aviation. The seminar supported efforts by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and others in northern California to build interest in the adoption of the AOPA High School aviation curriculum by Lake County High schools. AOPA makes this comprehensive curriculum available at no cost to high schools who apply and are accepted to participate in the program.

Kay also presented two other seminars, one entitled Maximum Fun, Minimum Cost: How to Start and Run a Flying Club and You Can Be a Pilot a fast paced, inspiring video presentation for prospective flyers.

As has been the tradition each year, Splash In volunteers provided a free shuttle service between Lampson Field (102), the closest general aviation airport to the event (only 4 miles away), and the former Natural High School grounds where the event takes place for those who choose to fly land planes to the event.

This year’s Splash In takes place at the former Natural High School property in Lakeport, which has been the traditional venue for the event each year. This will be the last event on the property before the City begins the construction of the Lakefront Park project, which is currently scheduled for October of 2021.

The State of California awarded the City of Lakeport a grant of $5,947,621 to fund the City’s purchase of the 6.9 acre property located at 800 N. Main Street from the Lakeport Unified School District for the Lakefront Park project. Funds also cover the construction of a new amphitheater, an exercise circuit, a skate park, a splash pad, a basketball court, and five picnic areas with shade structures and restrooms. The plan also envisions preserving the area that has traditionally been used as the ramp area for seaplanes at the Splash In for continued use for seaplanes.

Volunteers from the community have been essential to producing this event. In addition, members of community organizations have volunteered to help produce the event. The Lake County chapter of the Sea Scouts, for example, provided ramp safety services. Volunteers from the Lake County Amateur Radio Society provided communication services and shuttle services from Lampson Field.

If you’re interested in this event and would like to participate as a pilot, volunteer or sponsor for the 2021 Clear Lake Splash In, please get in touch. You can use the contact link on the top right of this page or the contacts available at the web pages referenced in the links below.

Areas where volunteers would be invaluable for this year’s event include help with event planning and fund raising, social media, seminar planning and event marketing.

If you’re a seaplane pilot and have ideas for this year’s event, please pass those along.

To view photographs of the 2019 and previous Splash In events, please visit Clear Lake Splash In photographs.

To follow the Clear Lake Splash In on Facebook, please visit Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In on Facebook.

For details about Lampson Field (1O2), the closest general aviation airport to the event, please visit Lampson Field Airport.

To plan your trip to Lake County, please visit Lake County | Clearly Different! and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

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Aerial Photographs of Big Sur Landslides

March 31, 2021 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography
aerial photograph of repair of Highway 1, Big Sur, Monterey County, California after a landslide
This aerial photograph of shows the repair of Highway 1, Big Sur, Monterey County, California after a landslide in 2021.
Image ID: AHLE0980
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

Aerial photographs of Big Sur landslides are invaluable in monitoring erosion along Highway One and in planning repairs.

Landslides have caused the collapse of portions of Highway One along Big Sur numerous times.

Highway One, officially known as California State Route 1, is a major north south highway most of which runs along the Pacific coastline. It’s the longest state highway in California and is over 650 long from its southern terminus near Dana Point in Orange County to its northern terminus near Leggett in Mendocino County.

Highway One was built in various pieces. The first section opened in the Big Sur area in the 1930s. Highway One in the Big Sur region covers a little over 70 miles from San Carpóforo Creek to Malpaso Creek.

Much of the highway winds along the cliffs of the Santa Lucia Mountains and passes over bridges. Notable Highway One bridges in the Big Sur region include the Bixby Creek Bridge, the Big Creek Bridge and the Rocky Creek Bridge.

Big Sur is a scenic, rugged and mountainous part of the California Central Coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. It is protected by the Big Sur Local Coastal Plan which was approved in the 1980s. The plan places extensive restrictions on development and population density. In addition, about 60% of the coastal region is owned by either private parties or government entities which prohibit development.

Before the construction of Highway One, Big Sur was one of the most remote parts of California.

Erosion and landslides affect various portions of Highway One along the California coast, but they are more frequent in the Big Sur area.

Highway One in the Big Sur area has been closed over 50 times because of land and mud slides.

Aerial photographs of these Big Sur landslides have been critical to highway repairs and erosion analysis.

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Aerial Photographs of San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds

October 2, 2020 / By / Aerial Photography
aerial photograph of a red salt evaporating pond in San Francisco bay
This aerial photograph of a red salt evaporating pond in Newark, California shows a pond in the San Francisco Bay salt pond network with intense colors resulting from Halobacteria, Duniella and tiny brine shrimp.
Image ID: AHLB2957
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

Aerial photographs show the vibrant colors of San Francisco Bay salt ponds better than any view from the ground.

The colors of the ponds range from bright reds, to green, yellow and brown. The colors depend primarily on the salinity of the pond.

The Ohlone were already producing salt in San Francisco Bay when Spanish explorers arrived.

Industrial production began in the 1850s. At that time, numerous small family operations created salt ponds from wetlands in Redwood City, Newark, Hayward and other portions of San Francisco Bay. Over the years, those small businesses were replaced by several companies. Eventually Cargill purchased these companies and built a network of salt ponds that covered over 16,000 acres.

In order to restore salt ponds back into wetlands, Cargill sold most of its San Francisco Bay salt pond holdings to the California Coastal Conservancy, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and private foundations in 2003. The project, known as the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, is the largest wetland restoration project on the West Coast of the United States.

Aerial Archives’ collection of aerial photographs of San Francisco Bay salt ponds includes aerial overviews of the entire network of salt ponds and numerous detailed aerial views.

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Details about salt pond aerial photography

Aerial photographs of wetlands

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Aerial Photographs of Natural Gas Flares in Wyoming

October 5, 2020 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography

aerial photograph of natural gas flare Wyoming
This aerial photograph shows a flare stack burning natural gas in southern Wyoming. It illustrates the large amount of black carbon that can be released into the atmosphere by some flares.Flaring has increased significantly in the United States in recent years. According to the World Bank, flaring in the US increased 48% between 2017 and 2018. Fracking has resulted in the production of large amounts of natural gas along with oil production. With the oversupply of natural gas, some operators are flaring gas. A study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics indicates that gas flares have contributed to over 40% of the black carbon deposited in the Arctic. Black carbon deposits contribute to the rates of snow and ice melt. Flaring also contributes substantially to the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere and is an important contributor to global warming. Properly operated flares convert methane to CO2. Methane’s global warming impact is 34 times greater than that of CO2. Improperly operated flares may emit methane, sulfur dioxide and a variety of carcinogenic hydrocarbons. There are more natural gas flares in the United States at this time than any other portion of the globe. Both satellite imagery and aerial photography are useful tools to identify the location and density of natural gas flares.
Image ID: AHLB9621
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

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More aerial photographs of gas flares.

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Information about aerial photography of the oil and gas industry.

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Aerial Photography of Napa Valley in the Spring

October 5, 2020 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography
aerial photograph of Napa Valley in spring
This aerial photograph of Napa Valley in the spring shows a view of California Highway 29 toward Mount Saint Helena.
Image ID: AHLB4117
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

The yellow areas visible in this aerial photograph of Napa Valley are blooming mustard fields. Numerous vineyards in Napa Valley plant mustard. Mustard serves as a bio-fumigator that suppresses pests and diseases. It is also rich in nitrogen and has long been used as a cover crop.

The Oakville AVA is in the foreground of this aerial photograph. The AVA is known for its success with Bordeaux varietals. It extends from the Mayacamas mountains on the west to the Vaca mountains on the east. Over 50 wineries source their grapes from vineyards in the Oakville AVA. The AVA covers approximately 5000 acres of planted vineyards.

The tracks of the Napa Valley Wine train which run along highway 29 are visible in the photograph.

The Opus and Mondavi wineries are located slightly above the middle ground of the photograph. Trees growing along the Napa River show the course of the river beginning in the middle ground right of the photograph.

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More aerial photographs of the Napa Valley.

More aerial photography of vineyards.

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Aerial Photographs of Olympic Park in Montreal

October 5, 2020 / By / Aerial Photographs, Aerial Photography
=" Olympic Park, Montreal, Quebec, Canada viewed from across the Saint Lawrence river
Aerial photograph of Olympic Park (Parc Olympique), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, home to the 1976 Summer Olympics as viewed from Longueuil across the Saint Lawrence river.
Image ID: AHLB4150
© Herb Lingl/aerialarchives.com

Numerous aerial photographs of Olympic Park and the Olympic Stadium (Stade Olympique) in Montreal are available from Aerial Archives. The Olympic Stadium is a multi purpose stadium with the largest seating capacity of any stadium in Canada. It was designed by French architect Roger Taillibert.

The design incorporated a retractable roof opened and closed by cables suspended from the 175-meter (574 ft) Olympic Tower. The Olympic Tower is the tallest inclined structure in the world.

The Olympic Tower includes a multi-story observatory which opened in 1987. It’s accessible via an elevator that can carry up to 76 people per trip. Panoramic views available to elevator passengers include views of the Olympic Village, and the Botanical Gardens.

One of the twin Olympic Village structures is at right. The Olympic Village towers housed all of the 1976 summer Olympics athletes except the sailors and equestrian competitors. The Olympic Village was designed by architects Roger D’Astous and Luc Durand.

Maisonneuve Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Montreal Insectarium are visible in the background of this aerial photograph.

Additional aerial photographs Olympic Park in Montreal include detailed views of the Olympic Tower and Olympic Stadium.

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More aerial photographs of Montreal.

Description of the collection of aerial photography of Montreal.

Description de la collection de photographies aériennes de Montréal.

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Free Airplane Rides For Kids Ages 8-17 at Lampson Field, Lakeport, CA

November 21, 2019 / By / Aircraft, Events

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Chapter 124 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) based at the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport are teaming up to raise awareness of outstanding career opportunities for young people in aviation. The centerpiece of the effort will be free flights for young people at Lampson Field airport in Lakeport, CA on Saturday, November 23 provided by EAA Chapter 124 as part of the EAA’s Young Eagles Program. Any interested individuals between the ages of 8-17 are invited to participate in this EAA Young Eagles rally.

Registration for the event by young people aged 8-17 has been strong.

There are currently 12 pilots providing free flights scheduled for 54 young people, with another 58 young people on the waiting list. Volunteer pilots are a diverse group that includes a senior aviation executive and flight instructor, a practicing attorney, a retired airline pilot, aircraft builders and an aerial photographer.

Volunteer pilots provide the free rides in their own aircraft as part of an EAA program that has provided free rides to over 2 million young people. Among the aircraft that volunteer pilot owners are making available for the event are a Cessna 340, a Cessna 195, a Mooney, a Piper Arrow, an Aeronca Champ, a Taylorcraft, an RV6 and an RV12.

The Lake County Chamber of Commerce and EAA Chapter 124 organized the event as part of an effort to make members of the Lake County community aware of the outstanding career opportunities for young people in aviation. In addition, participants will learn about opportunities for Lake County high schools to obtain a high quality aviation curriculum developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) at no cost.

Unlike many fields where jobs are disappearing, career prospects in aviation are bright. Boeing’s CEO, Dennis Muilinberg noted at the Paris Air Show in July, 2019 that there will be a need for 800,000 new pilots in the next 20 years, and that there will be a severe pilot shortage. Each of the major US airlines has already begun investing capital to deal with this shortage.

As Lake County Chamber of Commerce CEO Melissa Fulton notes that “It’s important that students and parents in Lake County become aware of the career opportunities in aviation, including jobs as aviation mechanics, avionics technicians, corporate, airline and military pilots and aerial photographers.”

The Young Eagles rally begins at 9 am in the hangar of LASAR (Lake Aero Styling and Repair). LASAR is one of the world’s largest Mooney Service Centers.

LASAR is located at:

900 F Sky Park Dr.
Lakeport, CA 95453

During the rally, pilot John Swanstrom, a member of EAA Chapter 124, will present his visually dynamic seminar about the basic principles of flight and aviation. The ground school also includes a presentation entitled Career Opportunities in Aviation, an overview for students and parents produced by Clear Lake Flying Club director of education Herb Lingl.

A number of aviation professionals will be available to answer questions about careers in aviation that the young people and their parents may have. These include, in addition to the aviation professionals providing rides in their aircraft, employees of REACH Air Medical Services, which provides helicopter transportation services from Lampson Field and mechanics and pilots based at Lampson Field, Sonoma County airport and elsewhere, including a retired United Airlines mechanic that spent 35 years working for the airline.

The Clearlake Modelers will also have on display a number of model aircraft. Members of the model aviation flying club will be available to answer questions about their aircraft and how to become involved in flying model aircraft. Building and flying model aircraft is a great way for young people to learn more about aviation.

After receiving their ground briefing, participants will be assigned to an aircraft and take their FREE aircraft flight! Afterwards, participants will receive a certificate and a starter logbook to record their flight time.

“Ín addition to getting young people excited about flying and about the career opportunities in aviation, we hope the event will help us identify individuals who might be interested in teaching the AOPA curriculum”, says Lingl. The members of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce are working with Lake County schools to encourage them to submit applications to AOPA to teach the curriculum in the coming 2020/2021 school year.

To register for a November 23 Young Eagles Flight (wait list only available at this time, but even if you don’t get a flight this time you’ll get an invite to our future events) please visit:

Register for a Free Flight.

To learn more about Lampson Field airport, please visit:

Lampson Field.

To learn more about the AOPA High School Curriculum please visit:

AOPA High School Curriculum.

To learn more about the EAA Young Eagles program, please visit:

Young Eagles Flights.

A pdf file to help promote the event is available for download at:

Young Eagles Rally Poster.

A pdf file in Spanish to help promote the event is available for download at:

Águilas Jóvenes.

If you are interested in teaching the AOPA High School Curriculum or donating aviation related items for use by the Clear Lake Flying Club for its youth initiative, please visit:

Clear Lake Flying Club Youth Initiative.

The participation of businesses, trade organizations and local government has been essential to producing this event.

Participating organizations providing resources for the event include:

Aerial Archives,
the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association,
the Clear Lake Flying Club,
the Clearlake Modelers,
the Experimental Aircraft Association,
EAA Chapter 124,
the Lake County Airmans Association,
the Lake County Chamber of Commerce,
the Lake County Office of Education,
the Lake County Department of Public Works,
Lake County Aero Styling and Repair (LASAR),
REACH Air Medical Services,
the Sonoma Jet Center
and Tom’s Aircraft Enterprises.

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