Flying down STAR WARS Canyon in a L-39 Fighter Jet!

Video from the channel SoCal Flying Monkey about Aero L-39 Albatros, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 17:12. Language: English. Video type: Onboard.

The channel's pilot rides along in the cockpit with a group of civilian Aero L-39 Albatros owners. They get together now and then at Mojave to practice formation and canyon flying, and this time their goal is to fly through the so-called Star Wars Canyon. At the pre-flight briefing it's noted that these are civilian flights under Part 91: safety rests with the pilot in command. Some participants are joined by former military low-level tactical flight instructors.

The aircraft taxis to runway 8 at Mojave and takes off. After checking the gear, flaps, and hydraulics, it contacts Joshua Approach to overfly restricted area R-2505. The group coordinates its position on a common frequency, 123.15, which the photographers also monitor. The holding point is at the north end of a dry lake in Panamint Valley known as the "dog bone." From there the aircraft descends to about 6,000 feet, goes around a roughly 4,700-foot peak, and enters the canyon at about 250 knots with terrain warnings switched off. Throughout the run it stays away from the south wall, where the spectators are positioned.

The canyon is a famous military training area, with a roadside viewpoint from which the aircraft are photographed. The participants compare it to Britain's Mach Loop. The instructors insist on always having an escape route ready, flying it in the direction of descending terrain, and keeping the run short.