P3D v4 A VFR Flight to Sonoma

[ryanbatc 12,803]

Leaving Redding, CA in the Mooney Ovation I headed south towards Charles Schulz Sonoma County.  I planned on 7500' cruise but the weather was broken to overcast leaving Redding.  I stayed low and once the clouds broke up I climbed to 9500 with a pretty decent ground speed averaging 180 kts.  I used the Reality XP GTN 750 with some personal mods I've been working on (they don't work 100% yet but they work pretty well for me).  The clouds and skies are default with some tiny HDR post tweaks.  Approaching STS I had to divert more south easterly to avoid low hanging clouds over the mountain range.  Around the eastern tip of Clear Lake I turned back SW, past Mt St Helena, and then a left base for Ry 14 STS.  On the last cockpit shot you can see the RXP GTN is setup to provide a psuedo lateral and vertical path for a visual approach Ry 14 - kinda neat!

Anyway hope everyone likes them...

Untitled-1 by ryan b, on Flickr

Untitled-2 by ryan b, on Flickr

Untitled-4 by ryan b, on Flickr

I really like the lighting in this shot - sort of a broken layer with sunny spots poking through

Untitled-6 by ryan b, on Flickr

Now climbing above the SCT layer

Untitled-8 by ryan b, on Flickr

Untitled-12 by ryan b, on Flickr

The Ovation is a real looker!

Untitled-11 by ryan b, on Flickr

Found a hole for descent

Untitled-14 by ryan b, on Flickr

At this point I was feeling a little squished by the clouds and the mountain ranges but was able to maintain VFR

Untitled-15 by ryan b, on Flickr

Untitled-16 by ryan b, on Flickr

Untitled-18 by ryan b, on Flickr

Just north of Clear Lake where I had to turn SE - you can make out the scuddy layer around that mountain - that's where my original course left me

Untitled-19 by ryan b, on Flickr

They look older lol

Untitled-20 by ryan b, on Flickr

Leaving the murk behind

Untitled-21 by ryan b, on Flickr

One more ridge then I should have Sonoma in sight - Mt St Helena in the frame

Untitled-22 by ryan b, on Flickr

Untitled-24 by ryan b, on Flickr

A change in scenery

Untitled-25 by ryan b, on Flickr

A little high on final

Untitled-27 by ryan b, on Flickr

Over the numbers

Untitled-28 by ryan b, on Flickr

Off to enjoy a wine (or adult beverage lol)

Untitled-30 by ryan b, on Flickr

[HLJames 2,568]

Great shots of the Mooney...and a couple of very nice airports!

HLJAMES

[ryanbatc 12,803]

Yes, RDD is my fav Orbx of all.  I like that little strip, Benton I think it's called.

[John F 2,403]

Love the terrain sharpness and detail.

John

[Carlton1971 146]

Outstanding airports...very nice airplane!

 

[Anxu00 176]

On 11/2/2017 at 8:59 PM, ryanbatcund said:

I used the Reality XP GTN 750

Nice shots.  Just curious, what's the difference between RXP GTN and the Flight1 version, and why did you choose RXP? Thx

[Anxu00 176]

On 11/2/2017 at 8:59 PM, ryanbatcund said:

Mooney Ovation

Also which one is that? Carenado?

[ryanbatc 12,803]

41 minutes ago, Anxu00 said:

Also which one is that? Carenado?

Yeah it's the Alabeo Ovation

Well, I was using their GTN in XP11 and I liked it a lot.

[Anxu00 176]

8 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

Yeah it's the Alabeo Ovation

Well, I was using their GTN in XP11 and I liked it a lot.

So these shots are from XP11? The tag says P3Dv4 and you mentioned RXP GTN, so that's why I asked. I know you use the Flight1 GTN in P3D, so the switch surprised me, just want to know why.  Thx

[ryanbatc 12,803]

No these are P3D - I also have the rxp GTN in XP11