In September 2011, I was able to fly out of Bishop in a 180 hp Cessna 172 and do a little mountain flying and experience landing at high elevation airports. At higher elevations, the air is less dense; therefore, an airplane will require a longer takeoff roll to get airborne and will have a decrease in climb performance compared to at sea level. When landing, the true airspeed will be faster than the indicated airspeed thus requiring a longer landing roll to stop. Mammoth Lakes Airport elevation is 7,135 ft. During the summer months, the air can warm up, becoming even less dense creating a density altitude of 9,000 to 10,000ft. Mammoth’s runway is 7,000 ft long, and on the warmest days that may not be adequate for some aircraft to takeoff.
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Flying California 