"And, in Other News..."
By Brian Gilomen -- (Cribbed from stuff I've received via email)
(Just after I finalized the last newsletter that I put together, Rich Wild sent me some interesting tidbits...)
Brian,
I used my Kolb to find a lost parachute for a Hinckley Sky-diver recently. Those GA planes just fly toooo fast to look down in that tall corn. Another $100.00 finders fee.
I also helped search for a skydiver who had hit the high-power lines West of the Hinckley Airport. I actually saw the person HIT the bottom wire, pause and drop to the ground. Somehow, she walked away from the incident.
About 12 of us showed up at Cushing Saturday to consume the Clow Picnic leftovers. Weather was gloomy but the flying was smooth.
Ask Paul S. about someone who landed off-field near Cushing. The person had to replace his landing gear before he could take off.
(So, Paul, exactly what is the story here???)
My hangar remodeling is nearing its completion. I can now fit 3 planes. I also have a 1000 sq. ft. second floor in the hangar which will later serve as rec-room.
Jim's plane is experiencing excessive engine blow-by. After flying to the Hinckley Pancake Breakfast he noticed his plane's belly was covered with oil. He was 4 Quarts low (I think). I drove him to Bill Wade's Airport in Waterman to get some AV Oil. He flew back to Clow and lost another 2 quarts. Looks like he will be replacing all four cylinders an heads on his engine. a.k.a the Jugs. You can verify the details with Jim.
(I was at Hinckley that day when Jim showed up with oil streaming out of his cowling; Brad Wolf and I had just flown in from our overnight at Erie. We later questioned Jim about the prognosis, and this is what he had to say...)
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Wolak
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 4:30 PM
Subject: ERCOUPE ENGINE
IT LOOKS AS IF THE OIL BLOW OUT PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN AS SIMPLE AS A BAD GASKET IN MY OIL FILLER CAP. WE ALSO FOUND THAT MY EXHAUST VALVE IN ONE CYLINDER IS NOT SEATING PROPERLY. IT IS THE CYLINDER I HAD THE VALVE PROBLEM 2 YEARS AGO. I AM THINKING OF REPLACING ALL 4 CYLINDERS. BRAND NEW COMPLETE CYLINDERS (INCLUDES EVERYTHING, VALVES, SPRINGS, PISTON,RINGS, ETC. COST $850.00 EACH. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER (REBUILT) YELLOW TAG ITEM FOR MY AIRPLANE AGAIN! THE CYLINDER THAT WENT OUT WAS REBUILT 45 HOURS AGO FOR $345.00.
(Jim later added the following...)
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Wolak
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 9:17 AM
Subject: Re: ERCOUPE CYLINDERS
MATTITUCK CYLINDERS ARE REBUILT - THEY DO MAKE AFTERMARKET FOR LYCOMING. I COULD NOT GET A GOOD ANSWER FOR MY PROBLEM FROM ANY A+P. I TALKED WITH CONTINENTAL ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT IS MOST LIKELY IN THE CYLINDERS. WHEN YOU DO A COMPRESSION CHECK ,THEY PUT 100LBS (AT A SPECIFIC C.F.M.) OF PRESSURE IN A CYLINDER. THE BLOW-BY PAST THE RINGS IN A PERFECT SEAL IS 20 LBS, SO THE HIGHEST READING IN A PERFECT SITUATION IS 80 LBS. I HAVE ONE CYLINDER 42. THE A+P SAID THAT'S LOW BUT SHOULD NOT CAUSE MY PROBLEM. CONTINENTAL EXPLAINED HE IS PUTTING 100LBS. IN THE CYLINDER. WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THE PRESSURE IS AROUND 1000 LBS IN THE CYLINDER. SO THE PRESSURE COULD BE 10 TIMES HIGHER AND CAUSE THE BLOW-BY PROBLEM. IT IS THE MOST LOGICAL EXPLANATION I HAVE HEARD!
(John Matula forwarded a handy spreadsheet. I have made a link to it, and inserted the link in his email below. You can either access it here, or -- if you are clever with the right button of your mouse -- you can download it to your own computer...)
----- Original Message -----
From: John Matula
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 11:28 AM
Subject: weight & balance chart
Hi Brian, I came across this weight and balance chart, you just plug in your numbers and it automatically calculates the CG. I thought it might be helpful to put the link on the next Newsletter? Hope to see you at the club Christmas party.
John
(I've been hanging on to some info that Mick Pahnke sent me a while back. He's made a lot of progress on his RV since then, but I think one of the pictures that he attached to his email is priceless...)
----- Original Message -----
From: Mick Pahnke
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 7:41 AM
Subject: finish kit
The finish kit has the canopy, wheels and brakes, nose gear, parts to make the canopy open, wheel pants, nose bowl, fairings for the gear legs, vertical tail and other parts I haven't figured out. Plus a big roll of plans which means I have a long way to go yet. The parts are all first rate and I am especially impressed with the fiberglass parts.I have enclosed a few pictures.
(My favorite of the pictures Mick attached...)
(Neal McCann sent an email with some EXCELLENT pictures of the last Concord flight out of Canada, escorted by the Snowbirds. I've attached three of the nicer shots that he included...)
----- Original Message -----
From: NealMcCann@aol.com
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 2:12 PM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: Concorde's last flight out of Toronto
Mick and Gang,
Here's some photos my other bro in Seattle (4 bro's in Seattle) sent me.
(Ken Swassas sent a link that we all might enjoy...)
----- Original Message -----
From: kswasas
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 11:01 PM
Subject: [FVFC] Neat site
You may have seen this site but just in case.
http://www.aviationpics.de/
Where to now?:
For Sale: One Airport, Low Miles!