Sport Pilot Talk

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CTLSi wrote:No one talks about cars.

That surprises me. In our monthly hangar flying sessions, the conversation ranges from airplanes to motorcycles to sports cars to a dozen other topics -- but always comes back to airplanes.

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Did I say that?

Well, can I play too?

I owned a 1994 Miata that was just a little special under the hood:



Always a hit at car shows!

My Harley that I just sold "Midnight Angel" (Actual bike. Model sold separately.)

Nice rear end treatment!

Yeah. I later had to put a little mini sissy bar on the back to keep similar 90-pound rear ends from blowing off the back under power conditions!

Far too expensive.

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SportPilot wrote:https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/896 ... 0Large.m4v
If I did this right, it's a video of my car on track day at Montgomery, AL.

That is impressive.
148 mph . . in the 9's . . respectable in the quarter mile. . . .

Okay, guys, let's get this thread back 'on the track.' Let's see, what was the question, again? Oh yeah, Annuals!

I've had four of them now, on my Sting, two each by two mechanics. I have a good relationship with them, where I'm there with them, working (doing small stuff ahead--or following them--to keep the ball rolling, you know?) and learning, until we finally test-run or -fly it and they leave for home. I watch and monitor everything they do--and I do it in an unobtrusive manner that they don't seem to mind (at least they've said they don't). And I have never ever had any issue whatsoever shortly following one of those hands-on, learning-type of annuals. I want to learn and know everything I can about this airplane to make my flying it safer; and I think now, I know almost as much about this make/model as anybody at the US distributor's shop!

But I have caught each of my two annual mechanics (and one other) making mistakes that would have almost certainly gone un-caught, had I not been there watching from their backside!

As a result, I always feel an extra sense of confidence in my airplane for days, if not weeks, after each annual--with 1600 hours and counting, on this baby, now.

(PS--I just had that float-bulletin issue checked out on my plane (and carbs and gearbox rebuilt), and guess what? One of the floats was gas-logged--just like they cautioned. By the way, you talk about ignition modules being hard to get. Have you tried to get a float, lately? Fortunately, my current mechanic has more parts (well, at least the most common ones) than either CPS or LEAF, which he gets directly from the UK, where he is from.)

Rich

drdehave wrote:. . . "But I have caught each of my two annual mechanics (and one other) making mistakes that would have almost certainly gone un-caught, had I not been there watching from their backside!" . . .

Rich,

For our benefit . . . and if you don't mind sharing with us, what were those mistakes?
My annual is coming up in December.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm up in Lock Haven now having Paul do my annual. Absolutely meticulous attention to detail. Full document SB/AD/Advisory research. Explanations about everything as he works making it a most thorough educational expetience. It's a multi-day event. Annuals take time to properly attend to details. Fantastic experience. Photos and more details shortly.