Working on trailer again!

I went out to the airport today, I have been keeping the trailer frame in my hangar while the plane is in Texas. It has finally warmed up enough for me to finish painting it. I finished putting the primer coat on today. Just two coats of Rustoleum gloss black and I can put the floor on and start the walls. 1

Well, it's Christmas. I decided to go to the mountains for Christmas day. I took my dutch ovens and went to Green ridge state forest for the day. Green ridge has primitive camp sites scattered all over the park, on dirt roads. Very nice and very primitive! Temps were 18 degrees when I arrived but climbed to 30. It was sunny, and very little wind so nice. I cooked Christmas dinner, ate cleaned up and came home. A good day!

Diving again!

Been working weekends, so haven't done much on the trailer. I have started diving again, I went down to Rawlings last weekend. I dove with Dori's crew, it was good to see a lot of old friends and get wet with them. I will be going to Bainbridge next Sunday, some tech review with Dori.

More work on the Tear

I was gone for three weeks getting the engine back on the plane. I met Jess and picked up the engine, he rebuilt the cylinder with a new head, and piston, and other items. I rented a compact hatch back and met Marshall in Waverly Tn. We hung the engine, and after a few complications test flew it and after about 4 days started for Texas. I made it to Arkedelphia Arkansas, and weather grounded us for 2 days. Sunday morning I left Arkansas with Marshall driving and following along and made it to Burleson. I spent a week in Texas and then came home.. Weather has been bad, but I managed to get the last 2 coats of por15 on the trailer today. Now, 1 coat of etching primer, and 2 coats of rustoleum glossy black and the painting will be done. I also got the battery box welded on.

Progress

Well it rained on Saturday, so I didn't get to work on the trailer. However Sunday was sunny, so I built the floor. It is 1/4" Ply on the bottom with 2x2 framing . There is 1" thermax insulation between the framing, with 1/2" plywood on the top. I got the first coat of paint on the top, I am going to put paint on truck bedliner on the bottom to protect the 1/4" from water and road salts in the winter.

Teardrop trailer

Well it's been a while! The plane is sitting in Waverly Tennessee, the new engine threw a valve and knocked a hole in the piston. The engine is in the shop in Pa. When the weather clears he will be able to test run it. But for now we are just waiting. Corrine gave me a set of plans for a teardrop trailer for Christmas about 2 years before her accident. And I decided to start building it. A teardrop is a small travel trailer, inexpensive to build and maintain. It can be pulled by a small tow vehicle, although I will be pulling it with the chevy. It has room inside to sleep and sit up. the galley is under a back hatch. Here some pictures of the frame I just welded up.

Flying again!

Well the new engine is in, and the annual is complete. I flew the plane for an hour and a half on friday, it performed well. Was great to get up again. Bad weather this weekend meant no flying, but will try this week.

new engine

Well it ends up that I had to buy a new engine for the plane. It is a miracle that I made it back from Ca.,the A&Ps that did the work on the plane and did the annual inspection either blew it or lied! I had the man who holds the licence on the engine check it out, and he told me that it was shot, and should not have ran in the condition it was in. They new I was going to fly across the U.S.,but I guess just didn't care. But, I have a new engine, and hopefully will have it installed in a couple of wees.

Summer

It's been a while and a lot has happened! The plane flew for about 2 weeks after i got it back, and has been down since then. I have had a lot of work done on it, but still don't know what is wrong. I have done some diving, been to Millbrook a few times, and went to South Carolina diving with Blue Marble divers. Had a great time, did 6 dives, 2 on the civil war wreck, 2 on the Hebe,and two on the Goldfinch reef. I stayed at a condo with Dave and several guys from Blue Marble. All in all a good trip, really enjoyed getting out diving again. I have started backpacking, Have managed to make it out 3 times over the past month. The 1st time was just a day hike, up to Rocky run shelter on the A.T.. Corrine and I went up there, so it was good to go back. Memories!! Next I went from Gapland to the Ed Garvey shelter, about 4 miles, spent the night, and hiked out to Weverton. Marvin picked me up here and took me back to my car. The next weekend, I flew to ca. for my brother in laws wedding in Reno. It was a very nice wedding on the banks of the Truckee river. On the way back to San Jose Mom and I went soaring at Truckee soaring. It was great, we soared over Lake Tahoe, and got Great views of the sierra's. This past weekend Katy{my dog} and I went hiking in Green Ridge state forest. We did the pine lick and twin oaks loop, 13 miles as an overnight. Tried my new tent, and stove. Love both!
It was a strenuous hike, but fun. Did not see anyone, so it was great.

Well on my way!

Well I'm in a motel in Danville Kentucky. I left Ft. Worth at 05:00 this morning. Since then I have flown for 10 hours, and ov 700 miles! A long day, but I'm only 400 miles from home, just two legs. I got to see the flood rivers, the Arkansas river, and the Mississippi river. Both swollen and flooding a lot of farm land.

On my way home

I flew a little over an hour Wednesday with a friend who is a great pilot. He checked me out in the Luscombe after being out of it for so long. As he said my landings were safe, but not pretty, but they are getting better. I flew wed. Night with Marshall, we went to Cleburne and fueled up. Today we flew and had breakfast, and then changed the oil in the plane, and did some maintenance. We met my sister for lunch, and packed the plane. I will be flying out at 05:00 in the morning.

Away again!

I'm at BWI, headed to tx. To pick up the plane. Weather has been bad along my flight route, tornadoes, and hail. So, inhad to wait till now to pick it up. Hopefully weather will cooperate now!!

Flying home

Well I'm at the airport ready to fly home. On southwest airlines! Look forward to getting home.

Weather wins!

I started for home yesterday, but the weather closed in at Paris Texas. I spent the night, then tried to fly back to Ft. Worth this morning. I had to wait for the frost to thaw off the wings, and the ceilings to raise. They said it was clear 30 miles south of me and would be clear all the way back. When I took off, I headed south toward Commerce. But, the ceilings kept getting lower, down to 600' above the ground! I was able to land at Commerce, in a terrible cross wind. There was no one at the airport, but there was a warm pilot's lounge. I enjoyed they're couch, and went out and started the plane about every 45" or so to keep the engine warm. It starts much better when it is warm, and I was alone so I didn' t have help. Finally the ceilings lifted to 800' agl and they said that it was 1400' gal about 20 miles northeast. I needed to go south, but I needed to get out of the clouds more. It turns out I had to fly around 40 miles at less than 800' gal before the ceilings lifted. Another 10 miles and the skies were clear! I landed in Gainesville for fuel, the winds were blowing 16 knots down the runway, gusting to 22. Very interesting. From there back to Sphinks, I was doing 45 mph over the ground because of a headwind. The last landing was particularly interesting!! The wind was blowing 16 knots with gusts to 21 knots at 40 degrees to the runway. A stiff cross wind! But, I got it on the ground, and tied down safe and sound.

Burleson

Well, I woke up Friday morning and the weather forecast was wrong! Clouds everywhere, and low ceilings. I was able to leave about 10:00. The clouds got lower the further I went. I stopped at Breckenridge for fuel, winds were blowing 13 mph, gusting to 22. Luckily straight down the runway! The last hour and a half of the trip to Ft. Worth was spent at 1500' above ground level. It was very choppy, and beating me up bouncing around. But, I made it to Sphinks, finally. I have been spending some time with friends and family.

Texas!

Well I left Apple Valley around 09:00 Wednesday morning. I was hoping to make it to Deming New Mexico, but the president came to Tucson so I had to make a detour. This cost me some time, and it started to get dark. So I turned around and back tracked 30 miles to Cochise county airport, in Wilcox Arizona. Luckily the manager lived on site, there is no taxi service in Wilcox, population 3000. But, the manager ran me in to a motel, and picked up this morning. He also helped me get the plane started this morning. I flew a short leg to Deming and got fuel, I didn't need a lot, but I needed full tanks for the next leg to winkler county airport, near Odessa Texas. At this point it was obvious that I wouldn't be able to make Burleson before dark, so I decided to stop at Big Springs for the night. I called the teminal in the air and ask about motels. She told me she would leave a key to the terminal in a lockbox, and gave me the combo. She also said they had a courtesy car, and she would leave a key and the paperwork on the counter. So, just come on in to the terminal, she was going home, take the car keys and go to a motel. Oh, be sure to return tomorrow! I have found everyone at the airports to be helpful, and friendly. I have a 3 hour flight to burleson, so I'm going to sleep in.

A good day!

I left San Jose about 09:30 this morning. I made my first stop at Reedy municipal for fuel. Can you believe, I met a man On the apron who is from Hagerstown. He moved out here in 1962. I made it over the siera's on I 40. Climbed to 8000', and when I saw that I had made tahachapi airport on the summit. I dropped down into the valley on the other side. I stopped for fuel at victoville airport. A lot of big jets, very few small planes. And, the fuel was $6.00 a gallon. I flew a few more miles, to Apple valley airport. I decided to stop here, and made arrangements to get the engine preheated in the morning. It starts a lot better if it is warm.

Back in San Jose

I flew the plane back to San Jose today. My first solo, and my first solo landing. I made it in one piece, as did the plane! Mom drove back, she came to the airport when she arrived and we took a flight over mt. Hamilton. Then down to Morgan Hill to south county airport to fuel up. Then back to Reid Hillview. Three good landings, a good start. We climbed to 7000' so we could see the Pacific and San Francisco Bay. A good flight.

Done!

I'm checked off and ready to go. Flew 5 1/2 hours today. I will fly to San Jose tomorrow, and hopefully leave there on Wednesday. All depends on weather now!!

Flying again!

Well it's back in the air. We flew for an hour and forty six minutes doing wheel landings. It runs great now!!