N291DR 3.8 Currency flight to KWVI

3 full-stop landings, uncountable touch and goes that don't "count" for a TW anyway so I didn't bother to count 'em. :)

Flew South from KRHV over the reservoirs and then cut over West to KWVI. Did masses of touch and goes, then did a full stop to rest a little bit and take a leak. Took off again and did a boatload of air work over Moss Landing. Stalls were un-eventful. My steep turns were rather bad: altitude loss and gain was quite considerable. I need to work on these.

I then decided to return to KRHV, and I had plenty of fuel but it was cutting it too close for my liking (4 or 5 gals) so I landed at KWVI again and added 8 gallons of 100LL. Then took off and made for KRHV.

By my last 2 landings, I was landing okay without eventful drama.

N291DR 2.3 Flight over Pinnacles with Melissa

2 landings this time.

Little flight with Melissa to Pinnacles to check things out. Overflew the park at plenty of height per the legal requirements, of course, but Melissa still could get lots of neat pictures and enjoyed the scenery.

Landed at KCVH on the way back, used the bathroom, etc., then made for KRHV.

N291DR 1.7 Flight to KWVI with Aden

Flew to KWVI with Aden. Aden did much of the flying over there, and flew around the Moss Landing powerplant practicing turns around a point. Landed at KWVI, used the port-a-pottie, then returned to KRHV.

N291DR 0.9 Solo takeoff and landings

5 takeoffs and landings, short field technique, with a 10 knot wind with a partial crosswind and lots of bumps. Started out very iffy, and ended up with decent landings, stopping gently on the ground, touching the upwind wheel first, and getting out on the first taxiway.

N291DR 2.3 Flight to Panoche International with Aden

 Flew to "Panoche International" -- a private glider landout field a few miles South of Mercey Hot Springs -- with Aden. He flew most of the way there. Landing was uneventful if a bit bumpy. We flew back over the Panoche hills and landed at KRHV, again uneventful.

N291DR 2.7 Solo flight to Mercey Hot Springs

I called Mercey Hot Springs to confirm it is OK to land there, since I needed to go there solo to practice the trip before going with a pax.

Took off from KRHV and went to Frasier Lake first, and did 3 practice landings. There was a crosswind from the right -- almost perpendicular but favoring runway 23 -- so it was fairly challenging. I did wheel landings and the third one was fairly decent.

I then flew off to Mercey Hot Springs, winding my way around the hills. I did one low pass and then one landing, all of which were uneventful. I floatbounced (flounced?) a little on landing because I was landing downhill. I got out and checked things out; it's a great place. Definitely coming back.

I took off and returned following Highway 5, with some low and slow flying over empty fields and one practice engine-out. I think I am finally getting my confidence back after having gotten a bit out of practice due to a COVID-19 hiatus.

As usual, when low and slow, the ONE thing I look at is Airball. AoA and yaw, with dynamic pressure just "fyi". That is all I need for maneuvering flight, and I can confirm all that with one glance. The various wiggles and jiggles waggling about all over the place are useless to me. :)

I did an uneventful landing at KRHV and called it a day.

N291DR 1.7 Solo flight to Byron

Flew KRHV C83, 3 landings in crosswinds, mostly wheel landings. Returned to KRHV, 1 landing, 3-point. Just to stay in practice while COVID-19 and the local fires and resulting TFRs have put the kibosh on us a little.