so here's the back story...
I passed my private pilot checkride yesterday! Took my dad up as my first passenger this afternoon, Easter Sunday, April 4th. Of course we forgot the video camera in the car... we were to excited to go flying, so this video is made from the LiveATC.net feed archive from SNA.
We were just on our way back to John Wayne from Fullerton Airport, Fullerton tower handed us off to So Cal approach, and we were making our way along when the controller came on and said something like... "we ah... well, we just had a really significant earthquake right now, contact john Wayne tower and make sure they're operating." Turns out they felt it pretty good down there, Socal Tracon is in San Diego, closer to where the epicenter was.
At that point I was looking out the window waiting to see gas mains bursting into flames along with the second coming of Christ... it being Easter and all... but things looked pretty normal from 2500 feet so I gave SNA tower a call. This video picks up shortly before I checked in, earthquake in progress. it must have been an interesting ride up in the tower. I chime in about three quarters of the way through - diamond 202LS.
All in all, pretty memorable first flight as a private pilot.