Tsam is getting a new spinner to go with a new prop (news of coming attractions…..), so his current spinner is off in Florida with John Stahr, along with the new one so that the painting can commence! Meanwhile, Tsam has to sit in the corner and listen to jet noises…..
But The Val is pulling at the hitching post, so maybe some piston aviating will commence as well!
Started the disassembly for my condition inspection. Its a bit different this year, as the prop headed off to the prop shop, and the governor will be headed to the governor shop. On the fun "for extra credit" side of the job....will be adding a magnetometer to my AV-30. Also, already swapped out my (rebuilt from parts of 3 starters) skytec starter for a B&C.
Its an airplane. There's ALWAYS something to do on it, besides flying.
Had my best ground speed to date on Christmas Eve, 225KTS, on my way from Tampa up to South Carolina to pickup my son Sean and bring him home for Christmas. We had freezing temps so I had to break out my Twin Hornet engine heater and cowl blanket the night before.
My 800+ hp truck was stuck in snow by the hangar. Took a while to figure out right function keys on touch screen to raise it and crawl out
Line boys were here to help.
After one hour airborne engine oil temperature finally reached 170F. With oil cooler fully blocked. Mission accomplished. The only landing was rather sporty with quartering 37 knots.
Started my Condition Inspection yesterday. Making a few changes at the same time, I replaced the oil drain-back hoses and swapped the worm-drive hose clamps for constant-tension clamps... Whew! That took several hours today! It ain't easy on a built IO-540...
Built a new harness for the Gemini autopilot as I am moving the control head from the left side of the EFIS to the right. One of those man machine interface things where it was fine for 14 years flying VFR but now I am working on an instrument rating there is a lot more AP interaction and being right handed it is somewhat awkward to operate on the left side.
Always something to tinker with to keep the brain alive
Figs
Hop around the patch and some formation in the area...
A short 12/26/22 flight around the patch. Noticed (3) RVs on the ramp warming up (Stan’s Globe Swift at the 5 o’clock from them). 4-ship practice in a bit I’m guessing.
I was back on the ground when they came in for the break.
Ross (lead) RV-6. Grabbed from a slow-mo vid.
Bill RV-8 fastback
David RV-4
Getting out of the Christmas flow and slowly back into the RV flow.
Caught a break between Oregon coastal storms to go make a quick circuit of Mt. St. Helens.
23 years flying this plane and I still have to pinch myself knowing I get to do stuff like this.
Almost went for a flight today. A combination of very icy taxiways and a 20 KT wind made for not enough traction to push my big vertical stabilizer into the wind to make the turn. Left turn and brought it back to the hangar where I confirmed that there is nothing wrong with my brakes.
Looks like rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week, so this might be it for flying in 2022. Today was beautiful with Ramona in the mid 80's. Departed west to Del Mar. Over the ocean, then inland, over the mountains and into the desert. Flew from Sea to Sea (Pacific Ocean to Salton Sea) and checked out the desert area where in years past we would be camping on the winter break and riding our motorcycles and ATV's. Did a low pass over Ocotillo Wells, then out to Salton City and then did a touch and go at Borrego Springs. 1.5 hours of aviating.
Looking south towards Ocotillo Wells.
One of the Palm Oasis in Anza-Borrego State Park.
Font's Point and the Borrego Badlands. Long final for Borrego Springs Airport.
Bad weather and family events were restricting me in flying most of the time during Xmas holiday. But at least I managed to fly out yesterday together with a buddy in his oldtimer plane and visit a close by airport. I logged 1:30 and hit the 160hr mark on my -12