N291DR 1.1 Currency flight

We had a clear day today, but I didn't have too much time after work, so I snuck out for a quick flight. Did 2 landings and flew over the hills South of Livermore for fun. The smoke needs to get better soon!

N291DR 0.5 Flight with Taygan in the smoke

Tried to go to CA66 (Monterey Bay Academy) with my friend Taygan. We had what was reported as 10 statute miles visibility with lots of smoke. I took off and climbed on a Southbound downwind, and then realized I was drifting off to the right towards KSJC airspace. I turned away and flew some more, and found myself again drifting off to the right. Basically I was used to flying by a "sight picture" and the lack of visibility on the horizon was throwing me off. We made it to 5,500' MSL and the sky started getting more blue; if we had pushed to 7,500' MSL we would probably have been clear of the smoke, but with very poor ground visibility. I didn't want to fly low over the urban areas, which is why I punched it and climbed on my way outbound. All things considered, lesson learned in flying through hazy visibility, but I figured we'd had enough excitement for one day and we turned around and came home.

N291DR 1.4 Flight with Melissa to Frasier Lake

Intended to fly to the coast and maybe land at the Monterey Bay Academy, but the coast was clouded over when we got there. Instead toured the Hollister Hills, did 2 landings at Frasier Lake, flew up the reservoirs, and landed at KRHV. Nice, calm evening flight.

My spot landings were mostly okay. At Frasier Lake, I did two power-off 180s, and came maybe 50 feet short of my landing spot. There was a stiff wind, so I was under-compensating for that. My first one was super smooth; the second one I hit a gust and came down a bit bumpily. For my landing at KRHV, I "called it" at some point then cut power and glided in. I crossed the threshold and touched down and made it off at Twy B, but I was skimming the ground a bit fast and then micro-jerked the stick back and floated up and had to settle back down with a bit of a bump. I need to get the jerkies out of my stick during my flare!

N291DR 1.7 Solo flight to Frasier Lake

Flew to Frasier Lake (1C9) for practice. Did 3 landings. 4 landings total today, counting the one at KRHV.

The air was mildly bumpy, but not too bad. At 1C9, I had 3 short approach attempts. On one, I chickened out and added power, when I could have just slowed to glide speed and glid in. On another, I was a bit too fast but I managed to stop before the first taxiway. The best one was a perfect landing from abeam the windsock, turning back and landing between the windsock and the first taxiway.

I flew around the hills and checked stuff out and took some pictures.

On my way inbound KRHV I was asked for "best forward speed" -- so I flew about 100 knots indicated and dived down, slowing down just in time and making it off Taxiway Bravo. I touched down a bit too fast and had some tailwheel shimmy, but otherwise I'd call that good.