2026 Biennial Flight Review

On June 9, 2026 By The Flying DutchmanIn AviationLeave a comment

Every two years a pilot must complete a flight review with a certified flight instructor. Now, there are many different kinds of these reviews or proficiency checks but for an old private pilot like me, I just get my 2 year review and call it good. I called the instructor who did it 2 years ago and he told me he is still doing them and would be happy to go fly with me. I won’t name him but the nice thing about him is that he knows I don’t want to be a professional pilot when I grow up. I’m just trying to fly to Los Banos and back for breakfast so that’s how he conducts his training for me. We don’t do flying on instruments or unusual attitude recovery. The Champ I fly doesn’t have instruments and it would be VERY hard to get it into an unusual attitude so no point.

He showed up at Oakdale at 8am and I had the airplane pre-flighted and ready to go at 8:30. Pilot and instructor were all loaded up so off we went. My friend Tommy was gracious enough to give me a prop so we could just go. That means he swung the prop until the engine started, by the way. My CFI guided me southward towards Turlock until we found a road that was straight, long, and the (fairly stiff) wind was blowing across it. He had me do some S turns across that road while we chatted about flying, fly-ins, and which one of those we would and would not go to. Finally he have me a heading to fly (straight toward the Purina Feed Mill, and keep going) so I rolled out on-course.

He guided me toward his family’s ranch airstrip and talked me through the approach and what to expect on landing. We shot two landings. Even in the wind both of them were greasers. He must have been pleased with both my airmanship and my landmanship because he invited me to their yearly fly-in. Even sent my a web link via text while I was climbing out after the second landing.

I was too busy to take pictures but here is a Google earth image of the strip. It is a beauty. Grass strips make even bad tailwheel pilots look good.

He then had me fly over to the east side of Turlock near Denair. He told me that next we were going to practice some cross-wind landings at his home strip. Told me about all the rotors I could expect coming off the almond trees upwind of the runway, and the redwood trees on the downwind side of the runway. I asked if the redwood trees were in the runway, he said no. So I said, “What redwood trees?” It was a pretty sporty approach and I would lie and tell you I wasn’t worried because I’m a steely-eyed flyin’ man. The rotors were right where he said they would be so I landed a little long so I would be just above the runway when I encountered them. I still set down in the first 1/3 of the runway and was stopped well before the last 2/3. I taxied back and took off again and expected him to tell me to go around the pattern and do it again. To my relief he told me, “Alright, let’s head back to Oakdale.” He either didn’t want me balling up James’ airplane at his home runway or he thought I had a pretty good handle on this flying stuff. Turned out to be the latter.

That building with the blue roof is his home. The white roofed building is his hangar. That dirt road right about where the Google marker is, is his crosswind runway. Must be nice. Oakdale doesn’t even have a crosswind runway. I suspect we landed at his runway so he can just tell me to come pick him up next time I need a BFR.

We headed back to Oakdale, landed and filled out our paperwork. His paperwork largely involved writing in my logbook. My paperwork involved writing a check. All in all it was really a great BFR. It stretched me just enough to show me that I can still land at unfamiliar runways, that are not paved, in sporty conditions. Good to go for another two years!

Red Hills Fly-In 2026

On May 30, 2026 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Travel2 Comments

RIGHT AFTER we got back from Paso Robles I just had time to drop Cristy off, get some fresh clothes, some food, a decent shower, and a comfy night’s sleep in my bed at home before jumping back in the trailer the very next day and heading up to the Red Hills to my friends’ ranch. Every year on the weekend leading up to Memorial Day I put on a fly-in and Jack and Myrna Moyle’s ranch just outside of Chinese Camp in the Sierra Foothills. If you’ve ever driven to Yosemite on Hwy 120 you will come to Yosemite Junction where you have to make a right turn to continue up to Yosemite. Just as you get to the railroad tracks and over the hills to your right is my friend’s ranch.

Attendance was low last year because two years ago Jack and Myrna said they didn’t want to host any more fly-ins, as it had become too difficult for them to manage the cleanup. So everyone made other plans for last year. At the last minute they told me that Hannah and Tanner, their grandson and his wife, had offered to take over set up and tear down for the fly-in. A few were able to change their plans and show up. It was disappointing to them. But they understood after I explained to them that people simply made other plans because they had said, “no more!”

This year they made sure that I understood that the fly-in was back and and to be sure to get the word out. We still had lower turnout than in previous years but it was better than last year. We had over 20 people show up and 10-15 airplanes either fly-in to camp, or just visit for a while and then leave. As usual I took my travel trailer up there because I’m done sleeping in tents. There were also more people this year because I extended the invitation to the guys up at Lincoln Powered Parachute Field just north of Sacramento. Many expressed interest but only three showed up. However, the photos and trip reports they shared on Facebook with the rest of their group will ensure that more show up next year. I know them because I went to LPPF to have my powered parachute inspected and for some flying tips.

I show up Friday and set up camp as did the powered parachute guys. I greeted everyone but spent much of the afternoon up at my trailer setting up Star Link and the antenna my friend had loaned me for my POTA activations. I got the highest number of activations ever because I was able to work far into the night. Using my friend’s antenna I also got some of my most distant contacts; two in Ukraine, one in France, and one in Russia.

More folks flew in on Saturday with the intention of staying for Saturday night’s potluck and to camp overnight. Unlike last year there was too much food this year! We could have easily fed double our number. The next morning, Sunday, Hannah and Tanner invited everyone to the house they are building on Jack’s property. It’s already mostly built but with their new addition, Brinley, they are adding more bedrooms. Tanner assured me he’s only adding TWO bedrooms, one for each child. I joking said he could always buy bunk beds. He unjokingly told me Hannah had already said that to him! 🙂 Hannah made us her delicious sourdough pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Again, too much food!

After breakfast folks started packing up and heading home to celebrate Memorial Day with their families. The last one to leave was myself, around 2pm or so. This year I got a question about Red Hills merchandise so I developed some. Here is the logo I came up with for this year’s fly in.

Initially, I’m going to offer two or three hat colors and a men’s and women’s T shirt. We’ll think about mugs in the future.

All in all a great fly-in. Looking forward to 2027.

Here are this year’s highlights:

First REAL Day of Retirement

On March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aeronca Champ, retirement1 Comment

Flying is a big part of who I am. So what makes more sense than to go flying on my first REAL day of retirement? I mean, it’s Monday. I should be at work at my desk answering email, ignoring email, checking on the hospital computer network. But I wasn’t there, I was tying the airplane down at Los Banos Airport.

It suddenly hit me that I truly was retired. Last Monday, I was outstanding in the field of network engineering. This Monday, today, I was out standing in a field between the Los Banos Airport tie-down area, and Highway 152 as it runs through town. I wasn’t walking to the hospital coffee shop, I was walking to Jack-in-the-Box. On a Monday! The only way I can describe the feeling was weird. It was good. But it was weird.

I jaywalked across the highway, it’s a right of passage for pilots flying into Los Banos. One I long since partook in many years ago. But it was fun to relive that first flight to this airport to get my $100 hamburger. The McDonalds I remember being there was now replaced by Weinerschintzel. Nah, they don’t do breakfast. Walked a little farther past a Black Bear Diner. Nah, not looking to sit down. I just want something to go. Jack-In-The-Box was next. Got a breakfast burrito and a coffee to go. That’s more like it. I walked back up the highway with my coffee cup and to-go bag trying to time the traffic just right. Finally did and made it back to the airport.

Had to stop and pause and just take it all in. Monday. I’m at an airport. Yeah. I could get used to this. Found a picnic table just outside the airport and had breakfast. Nothing was going on at the airport. It’s Monday morning. No students, no weekenders coming out for their $100 hamburger. Just me and the cool humid wind that was being blown by whatever storm system is currently passing by.

I didn’t linger too long after breakfast. This picnic table wasn’t the point of this morning’s flight. The flight was the point of the flight. Literally, it was all about the journey. It’s only 40 minutes from Oakdale to Los Banos but I was up. Above the Monday traffic, above the emails, above the projects, above the budgets. They say you have to stay busy in retirement. Yeah, I think I can do that. Cruising along under a warm stable weather system at 1500 feet MSL at 80-ish MPH. Yeah, I definitely think I can do that.

It’s not all fun a games though. Next job is repacking my travel trailer’s wheel bearings. No wait, when there is no time table, that is fun! I like this job!

See you next time when I’m elbow deep (hope not) in bearing grease.

Red Hills Fly-In 2025

On May 31, 2025 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation1 Comment

This year’s Red Hills Fly-In saw a much lower turnout than in previous years. This was primarily due to 2 factors. The first is that last year Jack Moyle told me that it had to be the last year. It was just too tiring for he and his wife Myrna to host the fly-in. I sadly relayed the news to the other pilots. Less than a week later I got word from Tanner and Hannah, Jack’s grandchildren, that they wanted the fly-in to continue and would take over duties for hosting the fly-in. But I think the pilots all made other plans for the next year. The second factor was a lot of last-minute cancellations. We even had one that didn’t want to show up because Donald Trump won the Presidential election. True story. That being said we did have a bunch of drop-by’s and one other camper aside from Cristy and myself.

On Saturday, Charlie took his PPC flying in the early morning before it got too bumpy and windy.

Saturday evening we had a nice little pot-luck with Charlie’s paella as the center piece. Never knew Charlie was a retired chef! We know now!

Sunday morning Charlie took another flight and this time took Tanner flying with him. Then we had a home-cooked breakfast and home tour next door at Tanner and Hannah’s house. They built it next door to their grandparents. When I say they built it I mean THEY BUILT IT. All on their own. And now they are getting ready to add on an extra room… for the baby Hannah is expecting! They will be welcoming their little girl to the world in October.

**Our new hosts and expectant parents; Hannah and Tanner Moyle!**

All in all for me it was a very enjoyable weekend. It was nice seeing the few people who did stop in. It was really nice camping in a super peaceful setting. Looking forward to next year!

Here are a few of the drop-ins:

See you all next year!

10th Annual Red Hills Fly-in

On May 28, 2024 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Boondocking, Lance, RV Life2 Comments

Ten years ago my friend Joey Myers and I were sitting in the living room of our dear friends Jack and Myrna Moyle. They have a 110 acre ranch near Jamestown in the Red Hills Area of Environmental Concern which is managed by the BLM. Joey and I had flown in to say hello. After a bit I mentioned that his ranch would be a beautiful place to host a fly-in and campout. Without hesitation Jack said, “Well you should put something like that together.” So I did.

But before I tell that story, I need to tell the story of this ranch. Jack and his wife Myrna bouth the ranch over 50 years ago. There was one small shack on the property, no trees, no electricity, no utilities of any kind. Jack and Myrna were raising their family of 7 in a one room shack. When they weren’t working Jack and Myrna disassembled some chicken houses on another property they had purchased. Myrna pulled the nails out of the wood and straightened them while Jack was hammering those same nails back into those same boards to expand their small home. They added on three more rooms, a barn, some other makeshift outbuildings and planted a bunch of trees to keep their house cool in the summer. No utilities remember?

One day a mutual friend named Jim Hembree landed on a dirt road that ran through Jack’s property to stop for a visit. Jack was enthralled and wanted to learn to fly too. He firgured that dirt road would make a great runway to fly from. Being a heavy equipment operator by trade he expanded that dirt road and graded it and then had a runway! He bought a Piper Cub up at Columbia Airport and began getting flight training in it. He had the instructor fly him down to his runway on his ranch and teach him how to land there. After that Jack completed his pilot training by taking off from his runway, flying up to Columbia, taking his lessons, then flying back home to his runway.

Fast forward a few years and a few months and we had our first annual Red Hills Fly-in on Memorial Day weekend. This past weekend was our 10th annual and likely last fly-in. So much could be written about it but I like pictures so I will let the pictures tell the story.