Cleared for Take-Off

The old hangar at Condor Flats has been repurposed by the California Aviators, an association of pilots and aviation enthusiasts who endeavor to bring the dream of free flight to reality for anyone who chooses to come Soarin' over California with them. The faded markings on the hangar stand in contrast to the bright, modern graphics which are part of the newer operation.

Entering the hangar, we first pass through the Wings of Fame gallery, the California Aviators' tribute to some of the greatest aircraft designed and built in the state of California. Displays include everything from the Spirit of St. Louis that carried Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic in 1927 to Rutan Aircraft's Voyager, which broke the distance record by flying around the world in 1986 without stopping or refueling.

There are nods to the DC-3, Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, Jack Northrop's Flying Wing, the Bell X-1 that launched Chuck Yeager beyond the speed of sound, the SR-71 Blackbird stealth plane and the Space Shuttle Columbia.

We might catch a glimpse of brilliant blue through the skylight overhead, as we move down into the next exhibit area, Legends of Flight. Here, the walls are adorned with portraits of some of the most significant pilots and aeronautical designers who contributed to California's aviation legacy. There are names like Douglas and Lockheed, now associated more with their companies than the pioneers who founded them. Look also for John J. Montgomery, who completed the first successful glider flight near San Diego in 1883, two decades before the Wright brothers. There's also Paul MacCready, a pioneer in human-powered flight whose Gossamer Condor stayed aloft for seven minutes in the 1970s, and Amelia Earhart, the world's most famous female pilot.

Once aboard the "flying theater," our trip over the beautiful sights of California takes us from the Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay to the rapids of Redwood Creek in Northern California, from the crashing surf of Monterey Bay to a Thunderbirds flight over the Anza-Borrego Desert, all culminating in a fireworks finale in the skies above Disneyland.

For those familiar with the Soarin' attraction at Epcot, the flight experience is exactly the same as in the Disney California Adventure original, but the settings of the two attractions are quite different. At Epcot, guests board their flights from a large concourse accessible from inside The Land pavilion. The overall look is inspired by ultramodern airports, and the cast members working the attraction take on the role of flight attendants.

In Condor Flats, the Soarin' over California cast are intended to be members of California Aviators, dressed appropriately in khaki flight suits. The attraction interior helps support the story, with an industrial look accented by corrugated metal and exposed superstructure.

As our flight experience ends and we head for the exit, don't think the storytelling has stopped. At first glance, this may look like a fairly nondescript concrete exit ramp, but look more closely. The exit for Soarin' over California is actually in the vicinity of the nearby blast area. The observant will notice that the concrete walls at this subterranean level are actually scarred from that history of rocket engine testing. It's just one of the many small details that tell the story of Condor Flats.

Condor Flats

Condor Flats at Disney California Adventure pays tribute to the Golden State's aviation history. More aviation milestones occurred in California than in almost any other part of the world. While Condor Flats is a fictional locale, it takes its name from the large birds that circle over the Mojave Desert and its inspiration from Edwards Air Force Base and the dozens of airfields that once dotted that area during the heyday of flight testing.

The marquee for the land (above) is supported on an actual radar tower, acquired from a salvage yard by the Imagineering project team. Throughout Condor Flats, authentic props, landscaping of yucca and cactus, "ghost" graphics and character paint treatments help create the look of a place that has been baking in the hot, desert sun for years.

The fading exterior of the large hangar is a testament to the history-making events that once took place in Condor Flats. From the mid-40s to the late 60s, the area was a hub of rocket research and jet engine testing. "Higher, Faster, Further" was the motto in those days, as records were broken faster than they could be recorded.

As the industry got more sophisticated, they moved on to other quarters, but a group of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, known as California Aviators, have since settled into Condor Flats. They've turned it into a bit of a tourist attraction and something more... a gathering place for anyone who's ever dreamed of flying.

Along the air strip, the old motor pool garage is now Fly 'n' Buy Souvenirs, and a maintenance shed has been converted into public restrooms. The tower is still there, though, complete with windsock and a real, working anemometer to determine wind direction.

Nearby, the rocket test center is home to Taste Pilot's Grill, and hovering above the blast area is a real space shuttle main engine nozzle. Instead of propelling an orbiter into space, though, it's now deployed to cool visitors to Condor Flats with a refreshing blast of mist.

Coolant Storage Tanks in the rocket area make for one of the more finely-detailed drink vending locations in the park. Here in Condor Flats, even the popcorn stand gets with the story. At Earborne Popcorn, their slogan is "Our Ears Really Pop."

It's small details like this that really help support the story of Condor Flats and make it one of the richest areas of Disney California Adventure. From the stripes and lights in the pavement that make up the air strip to the pipe fencing, aluminum benches and debris containers, everything works together to create a sense of time and place.

Although much of the Condor Flats story is rooted in the area's past, aviation is still alive and well here today. The California Aviators have established Condor Flats Scenic Air Tours to lift visitors on inspiring flights over the desert and nearby Grizzly Peak Recreation Area.

The plane positioned here at the end of the tarmac is a genuine Cessna 195, built by Jacobs Aircraft in the late-1940s. This particular model was notable for its all-aluminum construction and single, radial engine. The plane's original owner insisted that the Imagineering team also purchase the three spare Cessna engines he had. They did so, and then were able to trade those engines to a firm in Oklahoma in exchange for a complete restoration of the plane.

The old hangar at Condor Flats has also become home to a new generation of fliers, who have a developed a sort of "flying theater" so everyone can experience the exhilaration of flight. We'll go Soarin' Over California with them in the next installment...

Food Flight

The Condor Flats district of Disney's California Adventure pays tribute to the state's legacy of aviation. The area gets its name from the great birds that circle high over the Mojave Desert (note the plane on the marquee above casts a shadow of a condor), home of Edwards Air Force Base and site of many of the greatest achievements in aviation history.

Condor Flats features the terrific Soarin' Over California attraction, but for me it's a must-visit locale for the Taste Pilots' Grill. Set in a rocket testing hangar through which is bursting a replica of Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, the craft he piloted faster than the speed of sound, this counter-service restaurant is home to none other than the Wild Blue Yonder Burger.

The delicious combination of a Disney burger with steak sauce and crumbled blue cheese is something I find irresistible. Despite multiple attempts to reproduce it at home, the real deal can only be experienced here.

Another tasty treat that just seems to be the best at Disney's California Adventure is the corn dogs at Corn Dog Castle. This little stand with the big sign, originally located in the Route 66 strip of the park, has been closed to make way for the reinvention of the entire Paradise Pier area. One can only hope that the Castle (or at least the same scrumptious corn dogs) will return at some point in the future.

The Corn Dog Castle, of course, is where "Corn Dogs Rule!" Perhaps my favorite detail of this little snack spot is the corner of the billboard, inviting us to "visit the entire Corn Dog Kingdom." The sign implies that there are other stands in the Corn Dog Castle chain. It's a great bit of story, adding another layer beyond just what we can experience in the theme park.