The New Engine is here! The New Engine is here!

[Ironflight]

Mattituck put our new TMXIO-320 on a truck last Thursday. Lo and Behold, when I went and checked the yellow freight (YRC) web site this morning, it was in the Houston Terminal! A quick phone call confirmed that I could come by anytime before 7:00 pm to pick it up (and storage charges would accrue after 24 hours?), so as soon as I could cut myself loose from work in the afternoon, I was on my way. Of course, once I got to the terminal on the northeast side of Houston, they had to go looking for the crate (?can you tell us how big it is? What does it look like??), but in relatively short order the crate worth more than my truck was on the way home with me.

Louise was waiting for me when I pulled in, and had to pose for a photo with the most expensive ?Christmas present? either of us had ever seen:



With the help of our airpark neighbors, the crate was apart and the new jewel ensconced in the garage in short order. The ?Red/Gold? engine even comes with the signature of the builder?thank you David (I need to find out your last name?)!



A few weeks ago, we were given a gift by one of our truest local RV friends, a gentleman unsurpassed in his generosity. Part of the Bohanon crew, he has a number of wonderful contacts at the Mattituck Skunk Works. His present was a bottle of 2006 Mudd wine. The grapes for the wine were grown by Nancy and Phil Hipponic, the team that for many years built all the race engines for Mattituck.



Several years ago, when I visited Mattituck, I was surprised to find out how many vineyards there were on long island, but now I know why ? it was an excellent vintage, and very appropriate for toasting our new arrival!



It?s sure going to be hard to wait the many months before we can run this magnificent piece of machinery, but wait we must. We are most impressed with the quality of the build and of the component parts ? Lycoming has done a lot to improve their castings over the years, and even the crankcase looks custom detailed. Many thanks to Mahlon and all the folks on Long Island?we can?t wait to fly it!

Paul and Louise

[cstanley]

That's me. I'm green w/ envy. Congrats.

[Vlad]

That's one great bottle of excellent wine! What engine you were talking about Paul?

[plehrke]

Just thinking of you today Paul, and how small the avaition community is. Thanks for letting us borrow your shuttle carrier to give my plane a ride today.

[boom3]

Great looking engine Paul!

Hey Philip what the heck is that on the shuttle carrier? Looks expensive.

I hope to get a good look at the Shuttle Carrier when it brings one of the shuttles to Seattle. I hope!

[N427EF]

Sometimes you just have to kick back and enjoy the wine and count your blessings.
My 540 should arrive in a couple of weeks.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by plehrke

Just thinking of you today Paul, and how small the avaition community is. Thanks for letting us borrow your shuttle carrier to give my plane a ride today.

Oh Phil, Phil....now we're gonna have to kill you! I guess someone left the dang keys to the 747 on the pilot lounge table again....

[cjensen]

Great pics of a great Xmas present to you both!

[hydroguy2]

picking up the engine is a special day indeed. congrats

[roee]

Congrats Paul! That's a beautiful engine!

I feel your excitement. Received mine about a month ago (an IO-360-B1B from Aerosport) and had a similar moment. One can't help but be moved by such an object of functional art.

I almost sent out a post on VAF similar to yours, but for no particularly good reason I never did. I did blast out a message and photos in email form to about 100 of my closest friends, and one of them commented in his reply that I was "beaming like a father talking about his new-born child". I guess that reaction is not uncommon.

Enjoy it!