I just finished what could have been a nasty, expensive ordeal but instead turned into an interesting learning experience...and I made a couple of new RV-friends to boot.
I flew down to Lubbock TX on Sunday for an airport management conference. There was a bit of wind out of the north so I tied down my RV4 pointed into the wind. I had asked about hangar fees but the forecast was beautiful for the time I was to be in Lubbock. Monday morning I came out of a meeting to find the wind blowing hard out of the southwest (gusts to 30kts). I made a quick call to Lubbock Aero and they agreed to turn the RV around. The wind had already been blowing for awhile and I don't know just how quick they got around to turning it. I was already wishing I had opted for the hangar.
Today I returned to the airport for departure and had planned to pay extra close attention to the controls in case there had been some damage. Sure enough when I moved the ailerons there was serious friction and some squeeky/grind noise toward the throw limits. Uh oh. I start trying to accept my predicament, grab a screw driver and crawl under the wing to remove the access plates for a closer look. In my head I was already composing my VAF request for help. I didn't even get the first plate off before feet appeared and someone was asking "how's it going?" "Not so hot" was my response. He introduced himself as Dana (didn't catch his last name but I bet someone on here can help). He said he's got an RV4 as well and helps me look things over for anything obvious. Neither of us built our planes so we agreed a better set of eyes and knowledge was in order. Dana was preflighting a Citation for a trip when he spotted me but he took the time to call a friend and explain my predicament.
An hour later, my savior of the day shows up in the form of Rick Liles. It turns out Rick is a multi-repeat offender/engineer/machinist/all around great guy. In minutes Rick has played with the controls, removed a pushrod, identified the problem, and says "lets go to my shop". Twenty minutes later I enter a wonderland of RVation. There's wings at the front entrance, a machine shop, two RV fuselages with engines hung, and a Maule fuselage in his paint shop. A head pokes out of an RV9A fuselage and I'm introduced to another Dana (sorry I'm lousy with last names). Dana shows me around the shop while Rick works some magic mostly in the form of cleaning, lubing, and readjusting the ends on the pushrod. It is immediately evident that he is a true craftsman and he gives Dana and I a quick lesson on maintaining pushrods and hinges. Thirty minutes later we are on our way back to the airport. We have a nice discussion about fuel prices, FBO economics, the future of GA, and soon are back at at Lubbock Aero. After refitting the pushrod a couple of times, everything is reassembled and moving freely. Relief sets in.
There's not enough daylight to get home in the sunshine and I figure my good luck may have been maxed out for one day, so I am now back at the hotel looking forward to an early trip home in the morning.
As is very common in this fantastic community, Rick refused payment for the help. However he made one mis-step in that part of the plan and mentioned that he frequents VAF (no surprise). I'm not sure if this is paying it back or paying it forward, but I'm making a donation to VAF as my "thank you" to Rick Liles and the two Dana's in Lubbock. The RV/VAF community is the best.
Note to self....quit being cheap and pay for the hangar AND make some good control locks rather than strapping down the stick with the belts.
Lessons learned. Time for a beer.
I flew down to Lubbock TX on Sunday for an airport management conference. There was a bit of wind out of the north so I tied down my RV4 pointed into the wind. I had asked about hangar fees but the forecast was beautiful for the time I was to be in Lubbock. Monday morning I came out of a meeting to find the wind blowing hard out of the southwest (gusts to 30kts). I made a quick call to Lubbock Aero and they agreed to turn the RV around. The wind had already been blowing for awhile and I don't know just how quick they got around to turning it. I was already wishing I had opted for the hangar.
Today I returned to the airport for departure and had planned to pay extra close attention to the controls in case there had been some damage. Sure enough when I moved the ailerons there was serious friction and some squeeky/grind noise toward the throw limits. Uh oh. I start trying to accept my predicament, grab a screw driver and crawl under the wing to remove the access plates for a closer look. In my head I was already composing my VAF request for help. I didn't even get the first plate off before feet appeared and someone was asking "how's it going?" "Not so hot" was my response. He introduced himself as Dana (didn't catch his last name but I bet someone on here can help). He said he's got an RV4 as well and helps me look things over for anything obvious. Neither of us built our planes so we agreed a better set of eyes and knowledge was in order. Dana was preflighting a Citation for a trip when he spotted me but he took the time to call a friend and explain my predicament.
An hour later, my savior of the day shows up in the form of Rick Liles. It turns out Rick is a multi-repeat offender/engineer/machinist/all around great guy. In minutes Rick has played with the controls, removed a pushrod, identified the problem, and says "lets go to my shop". Twenty minutes later I enter a wonderland of RVation. There's wings at the front entrance, a machine shop, two RV fuselages with engines hung, and a Maule fuselage in his paint shop. A head pokes out of an RV9A fuselage and I'm introduced to another Dana (sorry I'm lousy with last names). Dana shows me around the shop while Rick works some magic mostly in the form of cleaning, lubing, and readjusting the ends on the pushrod. It is immediately evident that he is a true craftsman and he gives Dana and I a quick lesson on maintaining pushrods and hinges. Thirty minutes later we are on our way back to the airport. We have a nice discussion about fuel prices, FBO economics, the future of GA, and soon are back at at Lubbock Aero. After refitting the pushrod a couple of times, everything is reassembled and moving freely. Relief sets in.
There's not enough daylight to get home in the sunshine and I figure my good luck may have been maxed out for one day, so I am now back at the hotel looking forward to an early trip home in the morning.
As is very common in this fantastic community, Rick refused payment for the help. However he made one mis-step in that part of the plan and mentioned that he frequents VAF (no surprise). I'm not sure if this is paying it back or paying it forward, but I'm making a donation to VAF as my "thank you" to Rick Liles and the two Dana's in Lubbock. The RV/VAF community is the best.
Note to self....quit being cheap and pay for the hangar AND make some good control locks rather than strapping down the stick with the belts.
Lessons learned. Time for a beer.
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turbo ps been to lubocks EAA chapter meeting before. HUGE CLUB. AMEN!!!!!!!!
