"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
03/29/2019 at 23:28 • Filed to: None
3
14|
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
03/29/2019 at 23:28 • Filed to: None | 3
| 14 |
Today was a great day to fly. I was back in the Minion (Piper 140), so it should have been nice and familiar. But it wasn’t.
Sometime in the last two weeks, they installed new seats. I wish I’d taken a picture of them. In some ways, they are nicer, but they are covered with vinyl and not as wide as the originals. Where the old seats were like a comfy recliner, these are more like dining chairs. They suck.
Whoever has been flying the Minion recently is jacking with the GPS settings, so now I have to reset it to default and reconfigure to what I like every time I fly. I’m sure the other pilots are thinking the same thing. I blame the senior instructor who flew with me last time. He likes to fiddle with the GPS to show off some of the advanced capabilities. I’m trying to fly here. Just the basics, please.
I thought everyone might like to see the BOXER engine that’s in so many general aviation planes.
We have to check the oil before every flight. The last joker that checked it cranked the dipstick down so tight it took two hands to break it loose. I almost had to grab some tools. Those cylinder heads are air-cooled, all of the gray and orange ducts are designed to flow air across the cylinders, then down out the bottom of the cowling.
There was some chatter about oil drains recently, so I thought everyone might like to see the drain in a Lycoming engine. It’s that brass fitting. Push up on that brass rod and the oil starts flowing out. There are actually two of them, one for each side.
This is the other side. If you think you keep meticulous records, try comparing them to a decent set of airplane maintenance logs. Note the information on the oil filter. It has the plane registration, the date it was changed , the tachometer time , and it indicates that it was done during the 50-hour inspection.
I didn’t take any cool pictures from the air today because I was too busy practicing maneuvers!
In there are some stalls, an emergency landing, steep turns, and some ground-reference maneuvers like turns around a point, S-turns, and tracking straight line that isn’t either direction upwind or downwind. That last one requires the pilot to compensate for the wind in order to track a straight line.
For those who made it this far, here’s the real treat! Today was customer appreciation day at the school. The owner usually feeds us and brings in something interesting to see. This month, it was a Cirrus Vision! I never thought I’d have a chance to get near one, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to climb in this one! The photo dump follows. There’s nothing more to say.
EXPOSED FASTENERS!
V-TAIL!!!
The MONEY SHOT! VEEEEEE TAAAAAAIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLL!!!! Big engine too.
This one is set up for four, but an extra row of three seats can be added to the back.
Of course I had to sit in it!
Just in case you were wondering, yes it has supplemental oxygen on board and a whole-airplane ballistic parachute system. Soooo fancy!
Chariotoflove
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/29/2019 at 23:40 |
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Oh man, that is gorgeous! The interior even looks great. I couldn’t resist googling the price for one. Ouch!
WilliamsSW
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/29/2019 at 23:42 |
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Next time show them the fuel drains and test tube! Just don’t mention the lead.
Sweet vtail jet!!
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> WilliamsSW
03/29/2019 at 23:51 |
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Roger, Roger!
I’ve discovered I’m the only pilot who makes an effort to put the sample back in the tank. Most people just toss it on the ground.
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Chariotoflove
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/29/2019 at 23:54 |
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You put it back? I’ve never even heard of that.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> Chariotoflove
03/29/2019 at 23:58 |
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Thanks!
Wait, was that a sarcastic “bless your heart”? How do I get intonations in this forum?!?
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Chariotoflove
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/30/2019 at 00:00 |
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I just removed it when I remembered that expression is a double edged sword down here . I meant it as being a good citizen. :)
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WilliamsSW
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/30/2019 at 00:02 |
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When I started no one was putting it back. Think that there was a push to put it back around 2003 or so. So after that I put it back in Pipers, but was a hit or miss on Cessnas because lazy.
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> Chariotoflove
03/30/2019 at 00:12 |
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Ha! It’s not a common expression in NM, but when said it always has a positive connotation. I always have to remember when said by my cousin who lives in Louisiana it has a very different meaning.
PowderHound
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/30/2019 at 00:12 |
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That cirrus is beautiful
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Chariotoflove
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
03/30/2019 at 00:30 |
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It can be just as positive down here, but the well-mannered old gals can also say it in a way that lets you know you’ve just been put down hard. Etiquette would never let them say “fuck you”, but they might as well have.
shop-teacher
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/30/2019 at 09:12 |
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Cool plane!
Future Heap Owner
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/30/2019 at 11:06 |
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That is a pretty sweet plane!
imadick
> TheRealBicycleBuck
04/04/2019 at 22:08 |
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Wow, expensive toy someone has. Aren’t they around $2M?
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> imadick
04/05/2019 at 01:37 |
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I have no idea. It’s funny, the pilot community is rather small. A guy who works for the school is friends with the fellow who pilots the Cirrus. He asked and the owner was gracious enough to let the school use it as a display for their customer appreciation night.