Mojave -- Plane Crazy

Sure, let's be honest. Mojave seems like just a little crossroads town with a prominent display of lycra leggings (and now masks), billboards you don't want your kids to read, and tons of questionably-safe options for cheap gas.

But Mojave is also home to an international test pilot school, some of the most exciting space and aviation test going on, an eerie airplane boneyard, a bank of Tesla superchargers, and a fantastic Thai restaurant. It also happens to be where, in 2017 and 16 years old, my son did his first solo in an airplane built by his grandfather in the 1970s.

Driving through Mojave can be tricky ... traffic is usually pretty heavy with tired travelers, dusty trucks, and impatient aviation employees. It is also a well-known speed trap. So slow down and take a minute to look around at the interesting and somewhat bizarre sights along the way. 

The airport is open to traffic, but most aerospace hangars and offices are not accessible and not open to visitors. You can see the boneyard from the 14 as you pass to the north of the airport.

There are a couple of decent options for dining in Mojave. Mojave Thai Cuisine is a favorite of the test community who work in the area, and the airport also has a traditional diner called the Voyager, which is fun for adults and kids alike and offers a ring side seat for the flightline.

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