While we are waiting for Jeff to return, here is a short playful excursion that takes us over the legendary California Wine Country and then out to the Pacific Coast and Point Reyes. We start at Napa County (KAPC), fly up the Napa Valley and turn over Calistoga to land at Santa Rosa (KSTS), fly down the Sonoma Valley to Sonoma Skypark (0Q9). (Some of the famous wineries are marked in the flightplan.) Then we turn west to land in Bodega Harbor (the site of Hitchcock's The Birds). We continue down the Pacific Coast to turn over Tomales Bay to see Point Reyes National Seashore, Drakes Estero, and the famous Point Reyes Lighthouse, before returning to land in Bolinas Lagoon. Finally, a short trip down the cost leads us to Rodeo Lagoon and Fort Cronkhite before we return to Gnoss Field and its famous crosswind landing.

 

The Pacific Coast portion of the trip requires water landings, so an amphibian is appropriate here. A Cessna 185 makes sense, but other similar amphibians will be great. (Not sure that the FAA or the National Park Service would approve of our antics…)

Folks,

 

I am back from vacation, but am swamped at work and did not have time to put together the next NCA tour leg.   Very happy to see that MM and Roman are keeping everyone busy.  I was sorry to miss seeing all those lakes and dams.  I hope to see everyone on Saturday.  Here are a few vacation pics I took near MM's planned route.

 

Name that Airport :smile:  

 

 

 

View from Sterling Winery (just south of Calistoga)

 

 

 

One for Jock    :danemark-flag:

Hey, I might actually get to fly this one!  Would the stock Beaver be OK?  I don't have too many single-engine amphibs.

 

Great pics, Jeff.  I've always wanted to see Northern California.

Would the stock Beaver be OK?  I don't have too many single-engine amphibs.

 

Sure, as long as it floats...  :LMAO: Hope you can make it.

 

Mike,  I took the opportunity  to make a FSX plan which is available on TS "Casual Flights\file browser".  It's close, had to "eye" it up, hope you don't mind. Also hand edited a link for SkyVector available here & at the TS "Casual Flights" channel that matches the FSX plan.

 

Corrected the 185 to the proper "title" name.. Thanks.

 

Make sure you'all catch up on the NOAA regulations 15 CFR 922, cuz it looks like we be violating.

 

 

Sure, as long as it floats...   Hope you can make it.

 

It's not the floats I'm worried about - it's floats and wheels.  No worries, though.  I've got some twin-engined options if the Beaver isn't properly equipped.

Methinks I'll use an amphibian BirdDog. Northwind Aviation.

For those who want to know more about some of the sights, you can find a Pilots' Guide to Northern California Leg 9 at a DropBox location here. (Jeff will have personal stories to add, we hope.)

The event will be at the usual time. Some details.

 

- The expected speed is in the 120kts range or maybe slower. You will want an amphibian.
- An FSX flight plan is uploaded to the TS file browser in the "Casual Flights" channel. 
- A modifiable spreadsheet for supplying "title=" to others is available here.  
  You can see what others will be flying. And let them know your aircraft. Thanks to Roman.

- Recommended Scenery: Orbx FTX Northern California (NCA) Regional Scenery
 
Time: Saturday May 24, 19:00 UTC
Where: AVSIM RTWR Teamspeak - Casual Flights Channel
Teamspeak Server Address: ts.teamavsim.com
Multiplayer FSX Multiplayer (IP will be provided on Teamspeak)

Wow! what a leg.. Here are some screenies from another great adventure through California. 
 
Mike is in the Carenado C185  (red/white - N951LW )
Jeff is in the Realair Scout (blue/white - VH-FPL) aliased for the Sibwings 0scar 1 bird-dog amphib.
Ron is is in the Realair Scout (red/white - N103AC ) aliased for the Sibwings 0scar 1 bird-dog amphib. 
Bry is in the MS stock Beaver  (gray/green - N9766Z) aliased for the Aerosoft  DHC-2A N870BS
Craig is in the MS/OZx Goose (blue/red/yellow - N48550)
Nick is in the MS/OZx Goose (red/white - N121GL)
& I in the Carenado C185  (blue/white - N2845K)

 
Getting all ready to go @ Napa County -- oops wait,, there's one more. 



Nick rolling in to complete the gaggle of amphibs. 



It was either Nick or Craig on the radio - "You look like a Spitfire." "Cool! a Seafire, I replied." This
is what I was thinking of -



Buzzing the wine country, searching for grapes, Nick at my 10 - low. 



Ron crossing over the top. 



"We have the traffic in sight." Bry and Mike at my 2 o'clock 



Is it Gooses? or Geese.. :-) Craig and Nick powering on. 



A shimmer coming off of Mike's floats as he crosses in front. 



Just a nice day for sightseeing. 



Sliding under Craig with Nick off in the distance at 3 o'clock. 



Ron coming in shortly after Craig at our first stop. KSTS - Charles M. Shulz, Sonoma County 



Taxiing in with Mike and Craig following. 



Staggered take off,, Oshkosh style. 



Again, Oshkosh Style. 



GRAPES! I see GRAPES!. 



Playing in the water. Bodega Bay, the filming site of "The Birds".. Looks just like it! 



The gaggle getting all lined up. 



Mike powering on, next stop, Point Reyes. 



Point Reyes Lighthouse. "Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full." 



Landing in Rodeo Cove. I ended up beaching the 185 after having trouble steering. (Forgot to drop the
water rudder) Got my feet wet again, in the meantime Nick was bringing in the Goose.. This is not going to
be good....... 



It wasn't ..... :t0103:  

Ron powering up to escape Rodeo Cove.. The Geese needed a running start to get out!!!  



Another BEAUTIFUL evening in NoCal. 



Mike touching down with Jeff close behind. 



Bry coming in the Beaver with Craig following very close in the Goose. Bry was crabbing it in nicely due to
the notorious crosswinds at Gnoss Field. (KDVO) ........ 



It didn't turn out very well.. A loud "WHOAH!" was heard on the airwaves. 



We made it! Time for some wine and cheese.  :drinks:  (Should've commented out the spark effects on the aliased Scouts :wacko:  )

Roman

Great pics Roman from a fun day.  Here are a couple of mine.

 

 

Starting at KAPC,  I'm in the BirdDog

 

 

My view of the mass exodus from Rodeo Cove

Blimey! That V key took a hammering! Great stuff, great evening. Now let's see, who was missing? :Thinking:

Oh My! We have a late comer, it's a pity he forgot the galoshes...