N291DR 2.8 Fun and practice flight to C83

Off to Byron (C83) to do some takeoffs and landings. 6 full stop (i.e., tailwheel currency countable) landings total today. All were no-flap "conventional" takeoffs and no-flap wheel landings.

Departed KRHV on a very clear day with quite a bit of turbulence near Calaveras. Flew at 5,500' then did a left 270 into C83 rwy 30. There was a moderate crosswind. I did a rather embarrassing attempt at a wheel landing, then stopped, tied down, ate some lunch, and took a leak in the dirt somewhere (because the bathroom was closed due to COVID).

I took off again and did a boatload of patterns, all of them wheel landings with crosswind correction. First I was flaring too high (but this is a wheel landing, why are you even flaring?). Then I was doing too much crosswind correction and sliding off to the upwind side of the runway (who knew?). Then I finally got it when I reminded myself to "dance" on the rudder pedals, and was able to roll down the runway on one wheel like I should. I still have to get more confident with planting the nose forward; I'm sort of worried about stuffing the propeller into the asphalt. But oh well.

I shut down and took another leak and a swig of water, then took off and returned to KRHV. The landing there was pretty easy since there was almost no crosswind. I did a wheel landing again. Woo hoo.

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.