I haven’t been flying much in X-Plane lately, averaging about 1-2 hours a week. It’s mostly just to relax and enjoy the scenery.

For example, this time I took a leisurely flight from San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley, still using the Cessna 152. Every hour or so, I’d find an Airport to stop at, hopping along the way.

First, I headed southeast into the Central Valley, then slowly continued south. When I got near Los Angeles, I decided to swing by Las Vegas. So, after resting at Edwards Air Force Base, I turned northeast.

I wasn’t using a map, just wandering around, when I stumbled upon a surprisingly long Runway. My curiosity piqued, I descended to take a look—it turned out to be the famous Area 51 (KXTA).

According to Wikipedia, Area 51 is a region in southern Lincoln County, Nevada, 150 kilometers northwest of downtown Las Vegas. An Air Force Base is located here, and the area is believed to be where the U.S. secretly develops and tests new aircraft. It’s also famous for its association with numerous UFO conspiracy theories. The Runway here is one of the longest in the world: 14L/32R, stretching 7,093 meters, though it’s currently closed.

Since I was there, I had to take some screenshots to commemorate the visit.