DeBaun Flying Service

OK, Here we go - again!

2012-01-28T05:54:00.001-08:00

I have determined that my Pitts will take standard C wings. I am NOT going to spend hundreds of dollars on wing rib jigs from the commercial markets - I'll make my own low-tech rib jigs - after all, we did so on the Miniplane, the Hatz and the Acroduster - so it's not a big deal for us. I used a partially broken rib from the Pitts and outlined it on paper, duck taped it (clear duct tape) to a 3/4 sheet of plywood and nailed blocks in the appropriate locations - Wala! my low-tech Pitts Wing Jig.

Currently I am cutting out all the gussets from 1/16 spruce ply (I got plenty of this stuff left over from other wing projects). On payday I'll order a bunch of capstrip and start putting ribs together - this will take a couple months.

On the Aeronca - Katie and I have removed and replaced the main gear tires/tubes and repacked the wheel bearings. We also fabricated and installed a new magneto harness. Now we are just waiting on new engine cylineders so I can put the engine back together. Spring is comming quick - but we should have her done by June.

Sometime in early JUN Chrissy and I will be packing our motorcycles and heading North towards Alaska for a couple months. Over & Out!

2012-01-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

Katie and I have finished the Aeronca wings (stored in brown paper in the background) - until spring when the weather is warm enough for us to spray the silver and color coats. All control surfaces are also done. Next up - landing gear refurbishment.

The Pitts wing (only one not totally destroyed in the crash) is on the saw horses. It is one bay longer than standard Pitts wings. The fuselage is 13 inches longer than the standard Pitts. I believe this Pitts was built as more of a fast Sport Plane rather than a competition style Pitts. The paint was really thick - adding about 20 or more pounds to this Pitts - it was a beautiful paint job - and she was FAST! Would have made a good candidate for the Reno Air Races. So the question becomes - will standard Pitts C wings work with this stretched fuselage? What would be the effect on stability? Center of Pressure? Stalling and Landing speeds? There are several C wings for sale on Barnstormers - but I am hesitate to buy any of those wings until I find out from someone who REALLY knows the answer. OK, back to the shop to tear down the Aeronca wheels and brakes. Over and Out!

Some Updates

2012-01-17T05:23:00.000-08:00

I have dropped off the Pitts engine at Bolduc's Aircraft Engines at Anoka County Airport - they will do a crank run-out check and let me know if it is OK or not. I have also dropped off the propeller at Maxwell's Propeller Shop in Crystal MN. It is repairable so they will refurbish it.

Now - back to work on the Aeronca. Bolduc says they now have 2 good cylinders for me and still looking for the third - this is welcome news. Katie and I are working on the left wing and should have it finished by the end of this month.

Target date for test flight is May 15th. Over & Out.

2012-01-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

FAA is finished with their inspection. Found water and contaminates in the PS5C carb. Exactly what I had expected. I was a little suprised not to find water in the sump.

This weekend I will remove the engine and transport to our engine shop in Minny for a crank run-out check. I'm pretty sure there was no damage to the engine since it was not running when I landed.

In the following weeks I will continue to remove components from the airframe and evaluate. At the moment it appears the only damage to the fuselage is the right gear attach mount and the rudder post. I think it will be a few years before she flys again. Over & Out!

Crash Landing

2012-01-08T04:01:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Jan 4th, I crash landed my new Pitts S1C on highway 14 in Southwestern MN. I had taken off from Madison SD just 30 minutes prior. Flying East towards Lakeville MN at 2000 feet and 180 MPH everything was going great - engine running like a fine Swiss watch, the weather was 100 miles visibility and light winds. I switched the center wing tank on to let fuel drain down into the main tank so I could make it all the way to Lakeville (KLVN). five minutes later the engine surged and quit. It continued to surge and quit for several minutes. I was going down fast. After checking all switches, trying the wobble pump and anything else I could think of I decided it was time to switch my focus to landing. I picked highway 14 which only had one truck on it - comming my way. I was NOT going to try any of the farm fields as they were freshly plowed and that would have been REAL bad. I set up my dead-stick approach at 90MPH - and made a perfect wheel landing (so I could see the narrow highway) I bleed off airspeed to around 50 and the tailwheel came down, nose up and I lost all sight of the road. My right wheel caught some soft ground and pulled me down to the right into a ditch where I ran over a BIG bush which then tossed the Pitts and me upside down. I quickly shut off all electrical switches and tried to reach the fuel valve but could not as I was hanging upside down in my harness. I slid back the cockpit canopy, released my seat and shoulder harness but was still hung up in my parachute. I finally released all my parachute straps and exited the cockpit. I had a bruse on my left arm and a scratch on the top of my head - that was it. The Pitts is pretty much a total loss.

So... what caused the engine to quit? At the moment I am blaming bad fuel or water in the wing tank. In the comming days I will assess damage and find the cause. Over & Out..

2012-01-04T01:35:00.000-08:00

Work on the left wing has been going very well - the leading edge is smooth as a babys ass on this one. It's ready for the hold down screws then tapes to finish.
Tomarrow (JAN 4th) Chrissy and I are driving to Madison SD to pick up my Pitts. I'll fly her home on THU.
I am a die-hard country music fan - but recently I discovered a pop singer I really like - ADELE - she's kind of a smoky-blues type singer - I really like "Someone Like You", "Set Fire to the Rain" and "Rolling in the Deep". I think I will have to adjust my "I-POD TOP TEN list".

Hey ! I know this aeroplane...

2011-12-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

This is the Pitts S1S featured in the documentry film "Barnstorming". Back in 2001 my flying buddy Pat Wright and I drove my truck and trailer out to Brackett Field in California to buy her. We took the wings off, loaded her up in the trailer and tied her down. It was the day after Thanksgiving - everyone in LA decided to drive up to Las Vegas. 14 hours in bumper to bumper traffic we finally passed Las Vegas. A day and half later we were home in Lakeville MN. Pat terrorized the S. Metro for an entire Summer before having to sell her. She was a fun little Pitts. She was orginally built by Dr. Jim Young at Corona Airport back in the 70's. Just a few hangar rows down from where I built my Smith Miniplane. Jim also built "Big Red", a beautiful Starduster Too that took Grand Champion at Oshkosh and the "Sunbird" a modified Pitts with an IO-540. OK, that's it for now, Over & Out

Left Wing - Here we go again

2011-12-14T16:17:00.001-08:00

OK, right wing done - left wing on sawhorses - this wing will need some dissasembly and replacement of some ribs and some other work before she is ready to cover...

Winter is setting in, no more motorcycle trips - will be stuck in the shop for the next 4 months - but that is ok, have plenty to to - finish left wing, top overhaul on engine, take naps, ect. Being retired is tough - but somebody has to do it. Over and Out!

2011-12-09T06:49:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of our Aeronca Champ N85411 just after dad bought her for $4,000 back in 1974. It stayed in this configuration until 2003 when I rebuilt her. Dad insisted on a new paint scheme and wanted her yellow, white, and a little red trim - therefore that is what you see today. I did one little thing to remind us of the old paint scheme - I left the trim tab in original paint.

It's Dec 9th, and it's ZERO degrees outside. I am in my shop putting the finishing tapes on the rudder of the Aeronca. I am hoping to have all the flight controls finished by the end of this weekend. I have heard nothing from the engine overhaul shop on their quest to find us some servicable cylinders. Next week I think I'll pull the wheels and repack the wheel bearings and inspect/adjust the brakes. Spring is a long time away :(

2011-12-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Katie and I have been working hard on covering the Aeronca control surfaces. She is really good at this - very precise and takes her time - unlike me. We finally got the Pitts S1SS wing plans from Steen AeroLab and Chrissy built this nice workbench to build our lower wings on - but in the meantime Katie and I will use it to finish the Aeronca control surfaces.

Well, if the weather cooperates, I'll go pick up the Pitts and fly her home sometime around the first week in January - then I have things to do on her - fix the canopy which is hard to open - remove the side and lower cockpit panels to install lexan and paint the inside panels white - remove and modify the Instrument panel for aerobatics - then It's practice time with the goal of placing well (if not winning) in the Nationals this year - but that is a lofty goal - not flying any contests for quite a few years... we'll se how it goes.. Over & Out!!

Baggage Compartment

2011-11-24T00:39:00.000-08:00

While waiting for Chrissy to finish using the wing-building section of the shop I decided to be productive and build and brand-new baggage compartment for the Aeronca. So, it's 2:30 AM on Thanksgiving Day and I have just finished up... I think it looks pretty good - and functional. I'll start work on the left wing shortly..

Right Wing - Finished - Till Spring

2011-11-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

The right wing of the Aeronca is done for now - next step is the spray coats which cannot be accomplished until warmer weather (Spring 2012). So I will wrap it up in brown paper and packing tape and store it till then.

Chrissy will be using the wing building portion of the shop for some woodworking projects for the next few weeks so I will concentrate on the cockpit details that need to be done. Over & Out!

My New Ride

2011-11-14T18:36:00.001-08:00

OK, here she is - Pitts S1C - Rebuilt in 1999 - she sports a modified O-360 pumping out about 190 HP. Currently sitting in Madison SD waiting for me to fly her home. She only has 120 hours since major overhaul so she should be good to go for many years. Next winter I will add side and lower lexan panels.
Also - we will be building a set of S1SS wings (4-aileron) for the future. Over & Out!

PRETTY IN PINK

2011-11-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

Applying 1 of 2 coats of poly brush to the reinforcing tapes before applying the finishing tapes - these coats "soak" the reinforcing tapes so it will not affect the final finishing tape poly brush coats. Before applying the finishing tapes I will install the fricking screws to mechanically hold down the fabric. I am not a fan of this method of fabric attachment - rib stitching is much more effective - but requires an STC due to the way the TCDA is written.... Sometimes the way things were done "back in the day" really does not apply to the way things should be done today.

Over & Out!

Pitts S1S

2011-11-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

This is Bryan Jensen's old Pitts S1S, S/N 1. She was not for me. After looking her and the logbooks over I determined she really needs a rebuild - both engine and airframe. She had a new WolfPitts landing gear, a composite propeller, and a WolfPitts cowling (still in crate). She also, being s/n 1 does not have the stretched fuselage... I'll keep looking. Over & Out!

WAC in 2013 !!!

2011-11-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

We just got the word - the World Aerobatic Championship will be held in Jean NV in 2013 - that is awesome news... I am already lobbying for the TECH/STARTER position and for Katie to do the Programs. Speaking of Katie - in the photo she is gluing the fabric on the right wing of our Aeronca Champ.
ALSO - I am going to look at a Pitts S1S today at Lake Elmo Airport just on the other side of town. It's Bryan Jensen's old Pitts - I have seen it before... if the price is right....... Over & Out

Tequila Cup Aerobatic Contest

2011-11-08T06:31:00.000-08:00

Just back from the Tequila Cup Aerobatic Contest in Marana AZ. The winds were brutal at times - a ton of blowing sand - they should have called it the SAND CUP since there was a lot more sand than Tequila. The judges line was way out in the middle of the desert (as you can see from the photo). Had a great time even with the lousy weather. Now it's back to the shop till the spring contest at Redlands CA. Over & Out!

Aeronca Wing ready for cover

2011-10-30T11:47:00.001-07:00

Right wing is now ready to be covered. I have to wait till the materals arrive. Also waiting for word on #4 cylinder that I sent to the shop for overhaul. It should be done sometime this comming week.

On WED I will head West to Tuscon for the Tequila Cup Aerobatic Contest. While I am there I will look at a Pitts S1S that is for sale. Over & Out

2011-10-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

While waiting on parts for my wing to arrive, I decided to pull the cylinders on my engine and take a look inside. Looked great, no corrosion, no galling of the cam lobes.. and since it only has 1100 hours on it with good oil pressure, good oil consumption, she does not need a complete overhaul. She does need a top overhaul with three cylinders in the 50's.... I have one good cylinder that I changed about 4 years ago.

Next WED I will fly out to Tuscon AZ for the Tequila Cup Aerobatic Contest at the Marana AZ Airport. Katie will not be going with me as she has to work. Most of the CA folks will be at the contest so it's just a repeat of the contest a few weeks ago.

So.... when am I going to get my Pitts and start competing again? stay tuned.... Over & Out...

Test

2011-10-18T20:20:00.001-07:00

Testing out blogpress from my nifty new iPad

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Aeronca Wing Rebuild

2011-10-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

Pulled off all the damaged ribs on the inboard side and the old control cables. Will clean up and inspect the spars tomarrow - need to order a few new ribs and cable.
I have too many projects in my shop - the Honda CB350 Cafe Racer project, the C-65 engine rebuild project and Aeronca Wings project and now what? I'm ordering plans for Pitts S1SS wings. So where is all the money coming from to work on/complete these projects? Hummm, well, I AM buying lottery tickets.. :)

Borrego Springs Acrofest

2011-10-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Got home from our moto adventure just hours before flying out to Borrego Springs CA for the 36th annual Acrofest. I flew this contest several times back in the early 1980,s. It is one of my favorite contests.

Katie and I stayed at the Borrego Springs Resort & Spa. Borrego Springs is deep in the Borrego Desert East of San Deigo.. It was over 100 degrees each day of the contest. I got a great tan! Saw all my old acro freinds and met several new ones. I did my usual jobs - Tech Inspection and Starter for the contest.

Busy day today as I have not been home for six weeks - I will update with more photos later today.... over & out!

2011-10-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

Stuck in Durango Colorado

2011-10-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

After the Nats we headed West to New Mexico and North to Colorado. We had to stop in Ft. Worth TX to make repairs on Chrissy's motorcycle - new sprockets and chain. When we got into Colorado she needed a new front tire. THEN - my alternator went out. We made it into Durango where I pulled my stator (see photo) and took it to an electrical shop where I am having it repaired (it's fried)... The weather is moving in on us. I don't think we'll be able to head North as snow in the high passes may be hazardous... We may have to race Eastward to get out of the mountains (which is why we came to Colorado to begin with)... CRAP! It will be a couple days before I get my stator back and my bike running again - so for the moment we are holed up at a motel in Durango. Over & Out!!

Retirement is GOOD!!

2011-10-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

OK, the US Nationals are history for 2011. Rob Holland won it all (as expected). I worked long and hot days on the ramp. During the Tech Inspections I found a battery in a Pitts that was secured only with Tie-wraps - WTF???. how could anyone think that is OK for flying Advanced Acro?? Just Crazy! Saw lots of old friends, met new ones. Hopefully next year I will fly in the Nationals... not just work it.

Now we are on the road to who knows where... we are currently in Amarillo TX and will head into NM tomarrow and on North to Colorado for a few days before continuing N to WY, then SD and back home to catch a plane for the Borrego Springs Acro Contest in CA. It will be a sad contest due to the loss of one of our CA acro pilots. gotta go eat - more later, over and out..

National Aerobatic Championships

2011-09-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

Got the bike all loaded up - leaving in the morning (Sunday) for Texas to work the Nats. I'll be doing the same as last year - Tech Inspections and Starter. I plan on riding mostly gravel roads all the way down - 4 days worth - should arrive on THU to open up the aerobatic box and set up a practice schedule for all the competitors. Looks like it will be in the low to mid 90's for the whole week in Texas.

Chrissy will ride her motorcycle down a week later and meet me there. After that we'll ride to Santa Fe NM - then North thru CO, WY, SD and on home before the snow flies. Over & Out!

MY MAN CAVE

2011-09-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

This here is my man cave - or I refer to it as my "shop". This is where all the magic happens - this is where I service all our motorcycles - this is where I build and rebuild my aeroplanes - this is where I spend hours caressing my tools, taking naps, listening to country music and surfing the web. This is my little slice of heaven. Over & Out!

Back in Business

2011-09-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

RETIRED!! I am back home now in Minnysota. Lots to do... first up - Get the Aeronca back in the air. Right wing first - remove damaged ribs and install new ribs. Wing has been stripped of fabric and I am starting to remove the bad ribs. I have new ribs ready to go... Over and Out!

PANAMA

2011-08-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Just returned from PANAMA. Took Chrissy with me. While I worked at the airport she rented a car to visit "The Motherland" - (she was born there). While checking out all her old hang-outs she stopped by the Chagris River to dip her feet in it and remember the good ole days when she, her brother and friends would swim in the river. After about 5 minutes of standing chin-deep in the river she walked up about five feet on the bank and sit down to put her shoes back on - that's when she saw it..... a 15-foot Crock - just five feet away from where she was in the water!! It looked mad - like it was stalking her... she quickly left. After doing some research she discovers that over the last several years three fishermen have been snached from the river banks by big Crocks....and never seen again. Sooooo - she cheats death again!!
On another note - I have only 5 more days until I retire!! Then we will be headed back North to Lakeville. Yeh!! however - I did apply for a B747-200 Flight Engineer job at Evergreen Airlines... hummmm... we'll see what they have to offer.. over and out!

New Top Ten

2011-08-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

Just returned from work at DTW (Detroit Meto Airport). Back in ATL for 2.5 weeks then its all over. I do have one more trip - Panama - some time next week or my last week - have not gotten a date yet. I am going to update my TOP 10 songs on my I-Pod. Check em out...

OK, it's SAT morning and I'm headed out for a motorcycle ride down to Jackson for breakfast.. Over & Out!!

More OSHKOSH

2011-07-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

Oshkosh 2011 is over and we are back home. It was not a lot of fun this year but only because we took the Motorhome without our motorcycles - so we were stuck with no way to get around other than public transportation. Oh well - lessons learned. We still had an OK time and I got to see some old friends and be around aeroplanes.
On Sunday (this morning) pretty much our whole family met at the EAA Memorial Wall for the 2011 Memorial Wall ceromony (can't speel). Dad was inducted this year and had his name added to the wall. It was pretty cool. We had a nice 7 hour drive home in 95 degree heat but we made it ok... Tomarrow Chrissy and I have to dissasemble our back deck - it has some issues - then on WED we will ride our motorcycles North to Duluth to drop off our motorcycle suits at Aerostich for some modifications. We'll camp out overnight on the North Shore then ride back home on THU. Thats it for now - over and out!

OSHKOSH

2011-07-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

We are here at OSHKOSH - but a little different this year - we brought our motorhome - that was a big mistake - we are out in the middle of some field 2 miles from the flightline with ten millon other RV's - it is a big mud hole and lots of RVs are stuck in the mud and have to be pulled out. Attached is a picture of my brother Curt's restored Aeronca WARBIRD! hahahaha. He done a good job - it looks terriffic and orignal.

We are going to try to move closer to the flightline today - hope we don't get stuck. Over & Out!!

Setback

2011-07-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Delta has decided to keep me an extra month due to operational demands. My new retirement date is now 31AUG. This changes my plans. Alaska is out due to weather in SEPT. So now plan #3 or whatever is load up gear on our motorbikes 4SEPT and depart West. We'll hit The 312MAS picnic in Vacaville CA on the 13th (Chrissy's old flying squadron) then just go wherever the mood strikes us until it starts to get cold - then we'll head back to MN for the winter and make Adventure plans for next summer. I'm thinking it will be a good time to ride my bicycle across America (The TransAmerica Trail) - so I can scratch that off my bucket list. We'll see. that's it for now - Over & Out...

Somewhat Early Retirement

2011-06-28T03:08:00.000-07:00

Well, it was decision time - either take a layoff in SEPT or RETIRE from Delta Airlines. Pretty simple. Sooooo... I WILL RETIRE on July 31st. Finally it is here. I will now be in the forth quarter of my life. So what will I do? Lets start with a motorcycle ride to Alaska.

Chrissy and I will load our camping gear on our motorcycles and ride West thru S. Dakota, Wyoming, Montana - then North to Alaska - taking in all the sights along the way. We'll be riding our BMW's for this trip. We plan on leaving 7-5-11. We'll keep a travel long on my website here.

Stay tuned for ADVENTURE!

Over & Out..

Winnybago

2011-06-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, looky what we bought! 1994 30' Winnybagle. 50,000 miles in perfect condition. We're just gonna park it till I retire then it will become our home for several years while we travel the country - of course we'll hook up our motorcycle trailer on the back. It will be FUN :)

2011-06-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here we are at Sky King Airport dissasembling our Aerona 7AC for transport 700+ miles North to our home/shop in Lakeville MN. It was HOT! well into the 90's as we loaded her up. She is now back in our shop and Chrissy as the left wing all torn down and starting repairs/rebuild.

The Aeronca

2011-05-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

During the wild weather in Terre Haute IN last week my Aeronca has sustanded some damage. The FBO at Sky King took a pretty good hit. The hangar door and the roof of our section of the hangar went flying off in the tornado and spun the Aeronca around with damage to the Aileron, maybe the wing and flying debris put holes in the fuselage.

I will drive my truck and flatbed down to Terre Haute next weekend and disassemble the Aeronca, load her up on the flatbed and take up home to our shop for repairs. I will post pictures when I get down there.

Currently headed from ATL to MSP to do training all this week. Over & Out!

Contact Info Changes

2011-05-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

I think I posted this before, but my cell phone number has changed to:

612-810-6783

My Work Phone down in Atlanta is: 404-714-7197

2011-05-24T03:41:00.000-07:00

Just a shot of me (Chissy was taking picture) at our motel on the banks of the - very high, but not flooding yet Mississippi River. Can't remember the name of the town but the motel was very cozy with super comfortable beds. It rained on us the next day as we made our way North, but we have all-weather motorcycle suits so we stayed dry. I rode my DR650 - my BMW motorbike is down in Atlanta. OK, gotta go get some breakfast before my class starts... Over and Out..

2011-05-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

So, here was my class at Wisconson Aviation last week. Great group of guys - very sharp - they did well. The guy on the right looked a lot like Casy Abrams from "American Idol" but he couldn't sing worth shit. After this gig Chrissy and I rode our motorcycles West to the Great River Road and then North back to MSP - then I hopped a flight down to ATL and road my other motorbike (BMW) Northeast to Greenville SC where I am teaching all this week. Next week I will be back in MSP for about 6 days - will be teaching the line mechanics. Life is good - no complaints. Over & Out...

2011-05-15T04:40:00.000-07:00

Just finished a mechanic new-hire class in ATL and now am in MSP. Chrissy and I have our motorcycles all loaded up and we are leaving in a few hours down the Great River Road route to Madison WI. I'll be working at the Madison Airport for several days teaching Delta's Inoperative Indicator Fueling Procedures to our contract fueler. Then we will ride back up to MSP - I'll fly back down to ATL, load up my other motorcycle and ride North to Greenville SC to do more training with Steven's Aviation - then ride back to ATL - hop a flight back to MSP where I will work with the line mechanics for a week before heading back to ATL to teach the next new-hire class.

After that I am hoping to go to Terre Haute and fly the Aeronca back home to Minnysota, pull the wings and stuff the airplane back into our shop for some much-needed work. Over & Out

2011-04-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Great weekend - packed up the bike and headed North up into the mountains. It was cold up there. Spend the night at a motel in Ducktown TN. Took my time and road all the back roads back to my cabin. On Easter Sunday I road the country roads S between Atlanta and Macon. Perfect day. Lunch stop at some mom and pop grocery store with a picnic table. Back to the office tomarrow then fly down to Sarasota FL to work at the airport there for a couple days... Over and Out.

Yey! Its a 3-day weekend - what shall I do?

2011-04-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

Just back from Columbus OH (I thought I was going to Cleveland). In the morning I'm loading up the motorcycle and headed North into the mountains for the weekend. No plans, just ride and enjoy the mountains - maybe hike a few trails -

Tuesday I fly down to Sarasota FL to work at the airport there for a few days. I don't like it down there - too many OLD people. The last time I was there I stopped in at Perkins Resteraunt and 95% of the folks were pushing walkers around - very depressing...

OK, I'm going for a motorcycle ride down to Jackson GA to the BarbyQ pit for a sandwitch - Over and Out...

2011-04-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Since I live out in the woods I see a lot of wild animals. This is Bubba, my rackcoon - with his catch for the night. OK - I should be in Borrego Springs for the Aerobatic Contest - but the airplanes were full and I could not get on. Even with 1988 senority it is tough to fly standby nowdays. So I am back down in Dixie. I rode my motorcycle over to Tallydaga yesterday to watch the NASCAR race but the crowds were too much for me - so I road all the back roads back to my cabin - it was a nice day - a little cold but nice. I watched the race on TV - it was one of the best races I've seen in a while. Tuesday I will fly to Cleveland to work at the airport for a few days. Then back here to Dixie for the weekend - then to New Orleans to work. No word yet on the job up in Minny. Over and out!

Ramblin Man

2011-04-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

Just back from a 1000 mile weekend ride on my motorcycle. Rode from S of Atlanta to Terre Haute Indiana, had lunch with the clan (it was Mom's birthday) then jumped back on the bike and rode all the way back to Dixie. My trip to New Orleans tomarrow got pushed back to May, so I will fly up to Minnyapolis to get my ramp badge, then try to catch a flight out to Orange County Airport in California, rent a car and drive to Borrego Springs for the Aerobatic Contest. When I return I go to Cleveland OH, then somewhere just S of Tampa, then New Orleans, then Madison Wisconson.... yada, yada, yada.. "I'm a ramblin man, I ain't ever gonna change, I got a gypsy soul to blame and I was born for leavin, yeh - born for leavin....." Zak Brown Band. I like it - it's me

PHX

2011-04-05T05:17:00.000-07:00

Nice and warm down here in Phoenix AZ. Working here at the Sky Harbor Airport for the next several days. Spending the afternoons working on my tan out by the pool. This is the airlines crew hotel - so lots of cute flight attendents - I even know a few of them:) Tomarrow after work I think I'll head over to the Deer Valley Airport and hang out - maybe I'll see some acro folks I know. Still waiting on word about the line maintenance position at MSP. Spring is comming and I really want to get the Aeronca fixed up and ready to go for Summer. I will be in Terre Haute this SATURDAY and will go fly her around a bit. If I did not have to head off to New Orleans on Sunday I could have flown her up to Minny Sota. Hate it for all you folks down at the Sun & Fun Fly-In at Lakeland FL. What carnage.... Seen some pretty airplanes upside-down. Kinda like Oshkosh in 91 (Chrissy & I thought we were going to die right there in our tent) We'll be at Oshkosh again this year - Row 56W - with the Aeronca - stop by and see us. Over and Out....

2011-03-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

Currently in Boise Idhoe:) land of the great potato. Working at Western Aero for a few days. I am heading back to Dixie on WED. THURSDAY I have an interview for the Line Maintenance position in MSP. Am crossing my fingers. If I get it then I am back to flying and building aeroplanes again... hey! it's what I do!! I am like a duck out of water down here in Dixie. No airplane to fly, no shop to build aeroplanes in.... it sucks. Well, kinda anyway - I do get to ride my motorcycle year-round down here.

Did not make the Redlands CA Aerobatic Contest - I was just too tired from traveling and wanted to save up for the Borrego Springs Contest next month.

I will be working all next week in MSP - I have classes for all the loadmasters and mechanics on Inoperative Indicator Fueling Procedures. Then I head off to Phoenix AZ to do the same thing the following week - then New Orleans, Great Falls MT and on and on and on.... Over & Out!

Where am I?

2011-03-02T04:37:00.000-08:00

Been living on the road again.. FLL (Ft Lauderdale FL), MYR (Myrtle Beach), CHS (Charleston SC), BOS (Boston MA), Currently in BIS (Bismark ND) and headed to ORD (Chicago) later today. Then on to ORF (Norfolk VA). After that Katie and I are headed out to California for the Redlands Aerobatic Contest (first of the year) - then it's off to BOI (Bosie, ID).

My crew rollerbag is totally falling apart - the frame is totally shot (I have it wrapped in duct tape)... it must have a million miles on it. But.. nearing the end so I'll keep using it.

Did not take the Hangar Job - they were looking for Structures mechanics (I am a systems mechanic) - so I put in for a Line Mechanic Job. We'll see what happens - I'm ready to go home and get back to flying the Champ.

Going to drop my FAA Inspection Authorization - I'm not doing much IA work anymore - and it is expensive to keep it... after I retire and settle in maybe I'll get it back...

On the Road

2011-02-02T03:23:00.001-08:00

Well, the bid for the mechanic position in MSP has closed - my status is "IN REVIEW" - so it's a waiting game. In the meantime it's "On the Road Again". Just returned from PDX (Portland OR), DTW (Detroit), LGA (LaGuardia NY), and FSD (Sioux Falls SD).

This week we have new hires we are doing aircraft familiarization with - so I'll be out on the ATL flightline most of this week. Then it's down to FLL (Fort Lauderdale FL), then up to MYR (Myrtle Beach) and down to CHS (Charleston NC). Next month it's up to ABE (Allentown PA), and BOS (Boston MA). Yep, still loving the Gypsy life - my suitcase remains packed and ready to go. That's it for now - Over & Out!

The Next Big Step

2011-01-17T04:30:00.000-08:00

I have applied for an MD-88 mechanic position back in MSP. I have mixed emotions because I really love my Instructor job and I will REALLY miss the gypsy life I have been living for the last 20+ years. On the GOOD side is it will save me about 800.00 bucks a month and I can finally buy a new engine for me & Katies Aeronca Champ and maybe - just maybe start on another aeroplane project in the shop. I have limited time to get things done - I'm down to just a bit over 2 years before retirement - and it goes FAST.

I am torn over our retirement plans. I don't want to sell our home and shop but I really don't see how not too in order to do all the things we want to do in retirement. At the moment we're still sticking with the plan we dreamed many decades ago - sell house, buy motorhome and travel till we die. Of course we have added - hooking up our motorcycle trailer on the back and dragging them along with us. We'll see - we will remain flexable in our plans. Over & Out!

2011-01-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

OK, just updated "Whats on my IPOD". There is a new entry on the list - Sunny Sweeny - She has a new top 20 record out called "A table away" but she has several others I really like. My favorite is "The Next Big Thing". She is a real county girl like Ashton Sheppard and sings those twangy, smoke filled bar songs that I love. Hope those idiot Nashville producers don't mess her up like they did Ashton - who their tying like hell to make her Pop like Taylor Swift and a few others.. just my 2 cents. Over & Out

My Footwear

2011-01-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

Does a persons footwear say anything about them? These are mine - you won't catch me in anything else. Long Live Cowboys

2011-01-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

My last group of mechanics from JFK. Good guys, very sharp... I have them in the B757 Simulator. We were flying in a blinding snowstorm - whiteout conditions as you can see. The fellow in the Captains seat just got back from 2 tours in Iraq. Said he's had enough...

Back in Dixie

2010-12-28T16:02:00.000-08:00

Had a somewhat fun Christmas in Minnysota. Spent a lot of the time shoveling snow. Now back down in Dixie where it is COLD (for Dixie anyway). Not much going on this week - just catching up on paperwork and getting ready for six road trips: LaGuardia Airport NY, Boston MA, Ft. Lauderdale FL, Detroit MI, Flint MI, Portland OR - all in the next month or so...

Looking into taking a Line Mechanic job back home in Minnysota. Delta is going to need another 60 mechanics at the MSP airport this spring - and although I really like it down here in Dixie - I need to go home - it's getting close to retirement time and need to get house ready to sell again - need to get my Aeronca back up to MN so I can drop in a new engine - got lots to do before May 17, 2013... R-Day!! That's it for now... over and out!

Back in Business

2010-12-21T18:46:00.000-08:00

OK, my website is back up and running after paying my late website fee. I just returned from FARGO (like in the movie). Man it was white-out conditions! At least 4 feet of snow on the ground. Did some Inoperative Indicator Fueling Procedures Training for Fargo Jet Center. Tomorrow and Thursday I'll do some Delta Technical Documentation Procedures training in MSP for our mechanics. Spend Christmas at home then head back to Dixie on the 26th.

Oshkosh 2010

2010-08-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

I missed Oshkosh. Where was I? Out ridin my motorcycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway - WTF Over? I don't know what I was thinking... I am an Aeroplane Guy - I should be at Oshkosh in July - not out riding my motorcycle. I will not let this happen again...

In OCT I am going to Terre Haute and get my medical and bi-annual flight review renewed - then the 1st week in NOV I will be flying my Aeronca from Sky King down to Berry Hill Aeroport S of Atlanta - and that is where she will stay until I retire. Over & Out!

2010-07-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Just back from our modified vacation. Day 1 - we headed North to Deal's Gap (The Tail of the Dragon) in NC and spent the night in our tent - Day 2 - We rode the Dragon and headed N (in the rain) to the Smokies - we road thru the smokes to the South end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed North. We spent the night in our tent at Mt. Pisgah (or somthing like that). Day 3, 4 and 5 - continued N on parkway to the Shanendowa (can't speel) State Park and on into Front Royal VA. - Got a cheap motel room. - Day 6 - Rode East to Washington DC - Damn it was HOT - we saw all the sights and museums in DC - then rode W back to our cheapy motel. Day 7 - changed plans - too damn hot to head out to East Coast - we headed back up to the parkway and spent another night in a air-conditioned cabin at Fancy Gap - Day 8 - rode hard and fast - 600 miles or so back to Atlanta. End Vacation - the heat did us in... Chrissy now loading up her motorcycle and heading to Oshkosh for the Fly-In - Me - I'm back at work - over & out!

VACATION is here!!

2010-07-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Tomarrow we ride North (forget Florida - too damn hot) we will head up to the Smokes then follow the Blue Ridge Parkway to Shenandowa (can't speel) National Park - about 780 miles of parkway - then turn East towards Washington DC and on down the Atlantic Coastline to Savanah GA where we will turn West and head back to the cabin - 17 days total... it'll be fun. I'll update this site with pictures along the way... Over & Out..

2010-07-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

Back in the Saddle again. It's been a while and I let myself get a bit outta shape. So I am back on the bike - not motorbike. Above is a picture of me during my 2006 vacation which I rode my fully loaded custom bicycle from Bozeman MT down through Yellowstone National Park and on down to the Tetons and back. About 500 miles in a week or so - not a big trip, but a very nice one and I had a great time.
I have always dreamed of riding my bicycle from coast to coast but of course my work never has allowed me enough time to do so. But retirement is comming - and I just may still do it. I'm starting out slow - just riding about 10 miles a night, combined with a 2 mile brisk walk. Next month I will add in weight training (just like in the old days). I am feeling much better already and dropped 4 pounds in the first 2 weeks. I am at 165 and should reach my old weight of 160 by the end of the month.
I am currently in Green Bay WI - doing some Inoperative Indicator Fueling Procedures training for our fuelers here. Will be headed back to Dixie tomarrow. 10 more days till vacation - yipee!
Chrissy is in her van with her motorcycle on the trailer behind her - she is headed down to Atlanta again to get ready for our vacation.. that's it for now... Over & Out!

2010-06-25T03:18:00.000-07:00

Well - Crapola!! My trip to the Islands canx (temp). So I have been working all week in HOTlanta... 95 yesterday and probably the same today. My neighbor out in the woods got married yesterday and headed for the Islands - guess who is taking care of her dog. Yeh, last night I let her stay in the cabin until 2:00AM when she decided she wanted to sleep in the bed too... forget that! outside she goes. Dogs belong outside anyway. Next week it's off to Washington DC to do some training for a few days finishing off the week with another trip to New York City - have I ever mentioned I HATE New York City?? The following week I got Green Bay WI then I start counting the days to VACATION. Chrissy & I were going out to Colorado to ride our dirt bikes in the mountains - but decided we can't afford the gas to drive out there (with our motorcycle trailer behind us) - so we are riding our BMW's around the Florida coastline for two weeks and camping out with the gators (hope they can't chew through our tent). Ok, I guess that's it for now - Over & Out!

2010-06-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

Barber Motorsports Park

Best kept secret in the motorcycle world - Never heard about this place till last week - it's not even listed on MADMAPS scenic road trips. Mr. Barber put up 70 million dollars to build this facility. Its an awesome road course for racing and a motorcycle museum you have to see to believe - well over 1000 motorcycles on display - everything from early machines to last years BMW models - check them out on the web. I rode over there SAT morning (about 160 miles from my cabin) spent most of the day googling over all the machines, then road back in rain showers - it was so hot it felt good. Well - this week I am heading for the Caribeain (can't speel) islands to do some training and work on my tan - it's a tough job, but somebodys has to do it :)

That's it for now - Over & Out!!

2010-06-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

Off work Thursday afternoon - drove straight up to Terre Haute and was there by Friday morning. Flew the Aeronca around the city to warm up the oil and wake up all my friends. Spent most of the day doing the Annual Inspection and wing tip repair. Finished up around 7pm, jumped back in my minivan and drove back to Atlanta. I am tired. Over & Out.

2010-06-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

ONE OF MY EARLY EXPERIMENTS

Maybe this is why I am not quite right

2010-06-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Been a while since last update. This will be short cause I'm busy at work. Chrissy rode her dirt bike down from MN last week - We've done some long rides up in the mountains - Did a trip to Dayton OH for work - Chrissy riding back home to MN this weekend.

Next weekend I will drive up to Terre Haute to do the Annual Inspection on the Aeronca Champ. I have a trip scheduled to Curacao (off the coast of Venezuaula - can't speel) towards the end of the month.

That's it for now... over and out!

2010-04-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

OK, I bought a 1972 CB350 just like the one on the right. Spent this weekend stripping her down to bare bones. When I am finished it will look like the one on the left. I decided on Shiny black (no decals or stripes - just bare black) with lots of chrome. I'm guessing about 10 months for the rebuild.

The next two weeks will be tough. I'll be teaching a new-hire mechanic class in ATL. The first week is all paperwork (Maintenance Manuals) - 10-12 hours days. The following week is all on night shift where I will be doing Aircraft Familiarization out on the line....

Chrissy will be heading back down here to Dixie sometime towards the end of next week. Thats it for now... Over & Out!

VIETNAM

2010-04-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

To some, this post is just a "yeh, so what's the big deal". But somthing just happened that brought out a bit of emotion in me, almost a tear in my eye. I've always made it a point to not talk much about my time in Vietnam - I think most who talk about it a lot probably was not really there. I've never put a "Vietnam Vet" sticker on my car or motorcycle - I just though "hey, I know I was there" what does anyone else really care anyway? It was a wasted war and there were no hero's return for us, you just came home. Home was different than it was the day I left. Most of my friends were in college, or moved on to other things. I lost a girl I really loved to one of those college guys. A few like me were home on leave from the military, one, a pretty damn good friend - came home from Vietnam - walked into his parents garage and blew his head off with a shotgun - I never forgot that. Nothing was the same, I couldn't relate anymore to the people around me who were protesting the war. So I went back to my family - the Military - where I spent a great and rewarding 22 year career. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

So what's my point? When we got off the airplane at SEA-TAC all we all wanted to do was just get to our flights to home. We were wearing our dress blues (that was the requirement then) and as we ran through the termnal their were protesters awaiting our arrival and they were cursing and spitting at us. That really bothered me but I didn't stop to confront them, I just wanted to get home. I don't remember who picked me up at the airport but I don't think it was either one of my parents - and I didn't think about it till later but I got the usual "Hey, glad to see you back" No thank you for your service like they get today. It pretty much seemed like a non-event. My 30 day leave at home was pretty bitter-sweet - but I put it behind me and moved on.

It's 41 years later now - and all that stuff is just a bitter memory. I married a great (really awesome) wife who just retired from the Military after 34 years of service (thank's babe)... and I've had a second great career with the Airlines... but underneith it all there is a slight anger that I just don't speak about. I really didn't do much in Vietnam - I just patched up airplanes 12 hours a day, spent lots of nights in the bunker during motar/rocket attacks, pulled perimeter duty once a month and did one secret mission up North - that's it... no big deal - but I did go - I thought it was my duty to my country - I didn't run away to Canada, I didn't hide behind a college deferrment - I went - like hundreds of thousands of other guys/gals.

I recently put a Vietnam Vet sticker on my motorcyle's panniers - only cause I thought I just might get a break from some of the crazy car drivers on the road. Maybe it works, maybe not. But today - I had just rode into the Kroger parking lot to pick up a loaf a bread. An old guy (like me) a bit crippled and working as a bag boy limped over to me and said "Hey, I see you got a Vietnam sticker on your bike - you over their? I replied yes, he said what year? I said all of 1968 most of it in Phan Rang. He held out his hand and said Tiu Wai 1967 - "Welcome Home Bother". I teared up just a bit - nobody had ever said that to me - ever in 41 years back home. Maybe it wouldn't be a big deal to anyone else - but it was to me. Over & Out.....

Retirement Time

2010-04-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

Soooo.. Chrissy and I spent last weekend out in California at her squadron's yearly recognition dinner. Very formal, very military... I enjoyed it. Chrissy was one of 7 retirees out of her squadron for this year (she actually retired in NOV). It was a little sad, knowing this was it.. she was leaving her other family for good - no more flights out to California every month - stick a fork in her - she is totally done. On Sunday morning we jumped into her minivan and headed East to Minneapolis and got back yesterday...

Today I jumped back on a Delta flight and headed back down to Dixie... a new chapter begins..

New Project

2010-04-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to start my new project - I'm straying a bit from my usual open-cockpit biplane jobs to somthing a bit different - an "old school" Cafe Racer. I will be using a mid-seventies Honda CB350 as the platform for this project.

It will look "somthing" like the Cafe Racer in this picture but without the "Rising Sun" sticker. The overall theme will be a somewhat "Rat Bike Cafe Racer" with most of the components being satin black with a "Seven-Eleven" gambler graphics - what the hell is that?? You'll just have to wait and see. Ton-Up baby!

That's it for the moment - Over & Out!

The Blue Ridge Mountains

2010-03-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Friday the 19th was Motorcycle "Safety Day" at Delta Airlines TechOps Training (kind of a day off for working so damn hard) So seven of us loaded down our bikes and headed North up towards the Blue Ridge Mountains. Just short of Helen, GA, Chrissy and I peeled off the pack and headed Northwest towards Deals Gap, "The Dragons Tail". After getting there we were told it was closed due to a land slide. No problem there were tons of twisties to ride in the mountains. We spent the night at Deals Gap then headed North deep into the mountains. We road the twisties all day long the headed South and spent the night down in Helen GA. Sunday we road home in light rain showers. We had way too much fun. That's it for now, over and out!

Daytona BIKEWEEK 2010

2010-03-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

it was a great week down in Daytona Beach. We left last SAT, got into Daytona on SUN. Must have been over a zillion bikers there for BIKEWEEK 2010. We stayed at my mother's condo in Daytona Shores along with my two sisters Gloria & Penny. On WED Chrissy and i rode down to Lake Placid to visit one of our old friends from our Panama days. We put over 1300 miles on our motorsickles this week and did not want to come home - but, i am not retired just yet! The picture is of a new Indian motorcycle that i fell in love with and would have bought if was not so financially responsible....

2010-02-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! This was the vew outside my cabin down in Georgia yesterday morning. This morning - pretty much gone. Not much going on right now, Chrissy has come down for a couple weeks and we have gone on a couple motorcycle rides, had dinner at a biker bar & grill South of us but that is about it.

Our neighbor Becky has left for Hawaii with her boyfriend and left her dog Sandy with us for about a week. I'm not really into dogs but she is a sweety and we let her sleep in the living room on the cold nights.

I have been pretty much glued to the TV for the last couple days watching the SPEED channel and all the Daytona Speedweeks action. Today of course is the Daytona 500 and I never miss it.

In about 2 more weeks Chrissy and I will be headed to Daytona Beach - for BikeWeek 2010. We will be visiting Mom while we are there and hitting all the biker bars for some fun. We will stay and watch the Daytona 200 Moto Race and the Supercross race before heading home somewhere around the 7th or so. That's it for now.... over & out!

2010-01-31T01:25:00.000-08:00

Eat, Sleep, Work. That's about it for the last week or so... This week I'll be working the grave shift 9PM-5AM out on the ramp doing Aircraft Familiarization (all 10 fleets) with a bunch of new-hire mechanics from LaGuardia NY (good bunch of guys - I had them all last week in classroom).

The picture attached is Chrissy, Katie, Me and my just rebuilt and unpainted Aerobatic Biplane at the Nut Tree Airport in CA, around 1984 I think. This is our "Don't Fuck With Us" picture - it wasn't planned or anything, it just turned out that way - I think the girls were pissed off about somthing... That's it for now, over & out!

2010-01-19T06:23:00.001-08:00

How about a "THEN" and "NOW" Picture? Still hangin around together after 40 years

2010-01-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am currently in Chicago to work for the next couple of days. Chrissy has been saving her money for quite some time now to buy a new Minivan... yeh, that's right MINIVAN. It is amazing how versitile a minivan is, especially one where all the back seats fold down. She bought one yesterday, a 2005 Chryster Town & Country for about $12,000. Very nice, totally loaded, no scratches, dents. 50,000 miles - looks brand new. She paid cash cause we don't like to have any bills to hold us down. Life is good, we don't owe nobody shit - well, with the exception of our nice home. So.. we got 2 trucks, 2 minivans, 4 motorcycles, 1 aeroplane and a couple of trailers - and we own em free and clear... yup, Life is definately good - next up - a nice motorhome for when we retire.

The Gang's All Here

2010-01-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

Welp, it's D-day at Delta Airlines TechOps. Everyone from MSP is now down here in place in Dixie. Some of us have nice cozy little houses or cabins, some have just crash pads. Out of our original 122 Northwest Instructors, there is about 10 of us still standing.

Next week I fly to Chicago to do some Inop Gage Fueling Procedures for our fueling vendor SERVISAIR. I have also been tasked to put together a sample class for Fueling Procedures (all fleets) for IATA (International Airline Transport Association) - if I do well IATA will be buying our services - in other words I will be establishing the standard fueling procedures that all airlines will follow.

Updated "Top Ten on my I-Pod" - just a collection of my favorite songs at the moment.

Still waiting for first week in March - "Daytona Bike Week" Chrissy and I are riding our motorcycles down for the deal... it'll be fun. Maybe we'll get arrested and tossed in jail for the night like we did in Panama... that was cool...
That's it for now.. over and out!!

COLD down here in Dixie

2010-01-09T03:59:00.000-08:00

Me at the Atlanta Airport (circ 1955)

Just back from Detroit (DTW) where I trained Serviceair (our contract fueling company) on the new Delta Inop Gage Fueling Procedures. Went very well except for the friggin snow storm while I was there. Got back to my cabin late last night and it was cold! Bundled up in my sleeping bag and watched the Speed Channel till midnight.
Over & Out...

2010-01-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Back in Dixie.. cold down here for the next week. Wed I will be heading up to DTW (Detroit Airport) to do some Inop Gage Training for our fuelers up there. Otherwize... ain't much going on this time of year.. Over & Out..

2009-12-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

Unable to access my website for a couple weeks. For some reason it did not recognize me. Anywho I am back in business.

Currently home for Xmas. Big snowstorm dumped a ton of snow on Lakeville and I spent most of the day digging out the driveway.

On SAT I loaded up Chrissy's BMW onto the trailer and promply dropped it and cracked the right side faux tank plastic (that'll cost me a couple hundred bucks - crap!)

Monday I fly to Appleton WI to do some DC-9 training, Tuesday to Sioux Falls, SD to do more DC-9 training, then WED down to Charolette NC (can't speel) to do some DC-9 brake ride training. On JAN 1 Chrissy and I will drive our minivan with her BMW on the trailer down to Atlanta. She will spend a couple days with me before heading home.

That's it for now, over and out....

2009-11-22T06:21:00.000-08:00

My new job down here in ATL has been going well. I have my cabin (actually a converted garage behind a home out in the woods) all furnished now and it is quite comfortable. Chrissy is down here with me for the rest of the month. We have been looking at all the airports to decide where we will keep the Aeronca.
We have settled on "Berry Hill" airport just 15 minutes N of us. It's a small airport community that is pretty much my style - uncontrolled. Can't get any hangar space, so I'll have to tie the Aeronca down outside for a while.
Tuesday, Chrissy and I are driving N. to Indianapolis Airport here I have training to do on WED, then on back home to MN. I have classes in MSP the entire week after Thanksgiving then I'll be driving back down to ATL hauling Chrissy's BMW on the trailer. Chrissy will remain in MN for a couple months doing some work in her shop.
Think I will finally get started on that next aeroplane project I've been talking about for several years... a Corbin Baby Ace. Another wood, tube and fabric, open-cockpit aeroplane. I'll order the plans this week and get started building wing ribs. The plan is just to build all the components while I am down here in ATL then put her all together after I retire.
That's it for now.... over and out!

2009-11-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

OK folks, here is a picture of my "Little Cabin in the Woods" down in Dixie.

ATLANTA

2009-11-11T03:01:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am in ATL for the next 3.5 years. I have a nice little "Cabin in the Woods" about 25 miles South between Stockbridge and McDouaugh. It's down a little country road with no traffic at all. However once you get off that road and on to one of the secondary roads... look out. All the roads are very narrow and tight down here in Dixie (except for the freeway). Traffic is a nightmare. Takes me 45 minutes to get to work (and thats leaving at 5:00AM).

I have also found that you must leave work by 3PM at the latest or you will find yourself in a parking lot called I-75. If you have to make a stop on the way home - you got ONE shot at it... after that forget it. Oh yeh, don't carry your gun in the car... you may want to use it at some point... The speed limit it a joke, if you don't go 80MPH and swerve in and out of traffic like a madman, you will get run over. If you want to do the speed limit you better drive on the shoulder.

On a positive note: Its warm down here (relatively speaking).

Chrissy is headed down here today towing my BMW F800GS behind her. I have discovered the DR650 is not suitable for the traffic situation here. I need a quicker, faster bike to stay ahead of the crazy traffic. She will stay for a couple weeks before heading back home. That is all for now - over and out!

SKY KING AIRPORT

2009-11-03T02:28:00.000-08:00

This little airport is situated on the N side of Terre Haute IN and has been home to my Dad's Aeronca for 30+ years. Several years ago I flew the Aeronca up to Minnesota to restore her. Last winter I brought her back to Sky King to stay. My brother Curt has been flying her quite regularly which is good. She does need a wing repair though (ask Chrissy about airport signs). So I think just after Thanksgiving I will fly her down to Mallards Landing just S of Atlanta for the winter and do the repairs there (only minutes from my little cabin in the woods).

Anyway, I am in Terre Haute today and think I will head up to Sky King and fly the Aeronca this morning (as soon as the sun comes up - it's like 4AM or somthing here now). I'll stay in Terre Haute until Thursday morning then head on down to Atlanta.

Corona Airport

2009-11-01T03:43:00.001-08:00

Been thinking a lot about Corona Airport Lately. Spent some of the best years of my life right there at the airport. Lived in my hangar/shop there for three years. All my bestest friends were there, Erik, Mike, Joe, Margret, Penski, Gordie, Dan, Jimmy, Eddie, and a couple dozen more... This is where I built my first aeroplane, a highly modified Smith Miniplane that I terrorized the local community with. I had a small aircraft maintenance shop there, business was great... too great. I was working 17 hours a day 7 days a week towards the end.

Corona Airport was like Oshkosh every weekend, behind the hangar doors were just about every kind of aeroplane imaginable. There would be a takeoff and landing about every minute. I watched friends get killed there, three that I can recall, one was Chrissys flight instructor who tried to make the 180 back to the runway after an engine failure. Manx Kelly was killed when he started an invered spin at 4000 feet then tried the vertical 8 from the bottom... hit way over the never-exceed speed and the tail came off his Acroduster. The most scary one was Eddy Torres who buzzed my hangar on Easter Sunday 1980, he was so low he hit a light pole and smashed into an Ercoupe. I watched him burn to death in his Citabria while standing there in just my skivies (no way I could get to him). There were other friends that died in crashes too, 11 total over the years I was there. When Cindy Rucker died at an Airshow up in the high desert I quite doing stupid things like flying under bridges, aileron rolls all the way around the pattern, stuff like that...

One time I was working in the shop and I heard a load bang and looked outside to see a yellow P51 Mustang trailing smoke in the sky above Corona.. it landed and cruised right up to a spot close to my shop (engine dead) - holly shit - Bob Hoover. He used my telephone to call for help.. within 15 minutes a helocopter was there for him. He left the Mustang there for a week while his crew changed the engine. I was just finishing up rebuilding a Cassett Racer which was the same color as his Yellow Mustang so I rolled it under the mustang wing and took a picture... I'm gonna go thru all my pics and see if I can find it.

Anyway, that was Corona back in the 70s and early 80's I sure do miss it....

The Cub is Sold

2009-10-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

I waited a long time to get a good solid Cub. We had lots of fun in her the past several years, but now she has been sold. Warren Pietsch, a well-known Antique/Classic Aircraft Restorer in the Midwest has bought her.

That brought about a slight change in my schedule. Rather than leaving Tomarrow morning I will hold off till next Monday in order to move the Cub.

I am sad, as I always am when I sell one of my aeroplanes. She was a very nice, good flying Cub, and in better economic times I could have got an extra 5000 bucks outta her. But thats water under the bridge. She's gotta go in order to move on.

MSP-ATL

2009-10-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

All loaded up, ready to head to ATL for the next three years. Not happy but sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.

I'm taking both the DR650's and leaving the BMW's in MSP. Loaded them in the bed of my truck. Besides my clothes I'm also taking down my mobile shop just in case I get some annual inspection work down there.

Have rented a small cabin in the woods 25 miles S of ATL. Quiet and woodsy, it'll be like camping out - maybe, kinda... Leaving on WED morning.

2009-10-19T02:38:00.000-07:00

Here I am in Atlanta again. It's cold and windy. My new office is taking shape, I now have hook-ups for my new computer and a new phone. My new office phone number is 404 714 7197.

I start up a new 747-4 class this morning. I'll be teaching Hydraulic Systems, Fuel Systems, Landing Gear Systems and Air Conditioning Systems. Should finish up by Wed afternoon. Thursday I'll hang out here and finish up Inop Indicator Student Guides and head back to MSP on Friday morning.

Later this afternoon I am going to look at a small 1-bedroom apartment down 25 miles South of the airport in McDonugh on 75S. It's real close to Mallard's Landing (airstrip) where I will be basing the J-3 until she is sold, then the Aeronca till I retire. If I like the place, I'll be moving down here the 1st of NOV.

I can't wait to retire....

2009-10-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well, the Cub did not sell. Looks like I'll be living in the Minivan down in ATL. We'll see, still got about 60 days to go.
Headed for ATL tomarrow noon. Will be in ATL teaching another 747 class all next week. Katie is in CA at the Borrego Springs Aerobatic Contest and should be home on Monday. Nothing else is new... I'm tired, fed up with work, it's cold outside and rainy... might as well go out and eat worms.

Sad Times

2009-10-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

More folks out the door at NW today. We had a lunchon for some of Instructors who were leaving - not a happy time. My J-3 Cub may be sold - I'm cryin over her - she was a real beauty but with the forced move to ATL I cannot keep her. I will do a final Annual Inspection on her this weekend to ensure she has no issues before flying South to Georgia.

Chrissy is in California to fly her final flight in her Big C-5 cargo plane. After 34 years she his hanging it up. I know she is a little sad, she ends with somthing like 7000 hours in the big bird. She will miss it. Nov 2 she comes home for good. That's OK, I'll put her to work finishing up the Aeronca wings in our shop!!

OK, I'm headed out from the big airport (MSP) to my little airport (LVN) - nice afternoon for a flight in the Cub.

2009-10-04T03:34:00.001-07:00

Am running a day behind due to weather. Got into Terre Haute yesterday afternoon - with a flat rear tire. I'll have to fix that first thing this morning. I'll spend most of the afternoon out at Sky King Airport with the Aeronca. I'll try to leave for MN first thing Monday morning is all goes well.

Tough Week at NWA

2009-10-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Big cutbacks this week. Many folks out the door, some I have known and worked with for years. But the good news is - - - I'm still standing!! I don't know if it's because of dumb luck or because I'm so damn good looking. I'm just thankful I have a good job.

I'll be leaving ATL at dawn tomarrow and headed North. I will ride hard and try to make Terre Haute by nightfall. Will spend SAT as noted before, doing the Annual Inspection on the Aeronca. SUN I'll ride N to Minnysota. That's it for now...

Motorsickle Weekend

2009-09-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

At the left is a picture of the Motorsickle Resort in Suches GA. Below is the Motorsickle Resort at "THE DRAGON" in S. Carolina.

I Slayed the Dragon - well, sort of....

2009-09-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

I'm still in Atlanta and will be for another week. Had a great SUNDAY up in S. Carolina at Deal's Gap - the motorcycle resort at The Dragon's Tail. Left SAT morning but did not get all the way up there due to heavy rains. Spent the evening and night at someplace called Ducktown TN.
It was a great ride up to the Dragon, a millon twisties... felt like you were a little ant riding thru a huge garden - just solid green on both sides of the road.. So I road the Dragon, 311 turns in just 11 miles. It was kinda scary with all the sport bike riders on the road acting like they were all Moto GT racers... but I survived.
So here I am for another week in ATL. I'll be working on the Inop Indicator Procedures Integration student guide and exams. I'll leave early on Friday and head for Terre Haute where I have to do the Annual Inspection on the Aeronca this SAT before I head on up North to home. I'll try to post some pictures of the Dragon or at least Deal's Gap if I can find someone with a card reader this morning.

2009-09-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Welp, here I am in Terre Haute, Indiana - just passing through on my way to Atlanta. I have a 747 class to teach at our Delta facilities there for a couple weeks. it was a nice ride down here - great weather, a little cool in the mornings but warmed up quite nicely. Gonna spend the night on the couch at my mom's house and leave early in the morning.
Chrissy is halfway cross Nevada on her motorsickle headed for work out in California for a few weeks - then she MAY ride the Southern route to Atlanta to meet me there and we will ride home together.
That is all for now... gotta run over to Cheeseburger in Paradise and get me a - what else... Cheezeburger.. :)

2009-09-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

I heard her crying even before I opened the door. There she sat, alone in the dark, dirty and barefoot. She had been there a while, maybe several weeks while the bugs and spiders crawled over her, and the dust settled. I wanted to close the door and walk away - but I couldn't. It's not the money, I really don't need it, it was more of an obligation, a responsibilty.

To some she is just a cold piece of metal, a means to an end, a way to get from point A to point B. But not me, she has a soul, she is a living, breathing, little metal bird. Yes, an Aeroplane, a Piper PA28-151 to be exact. She needed an Annual Inspection and I had towed my mobile maintenance shop up to Crystal Airport in N. Minneapolis to do just that. I run my hand across her cowling and reassure her. "You will be fine, I will take care of you, you will fly again soon".
Several layers of bugs coated her wings and tail, grease and oil smothered her legs and belly. Why was she left in this condition?. It occured to me that if the owner had no pride in her then surly she was lacking in the appropriate maintenance and this Anuual Inspection would be somthing I was not looking forward to.

I was wrong on the last account. She had impecable maintenance records, all AD's were up to date and complied with, sure she had some issues, but I will fix most of them. But first, let's grab a bucket of soap and water and clean up the old girl... there, she's starting to smile again..
So there is how I spent my labor day weekend....

Back to the Real World

2009-09-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

We have been back a week now from our Summer Vacation. I am still pretty sore and can only sleep upright but in time bones will heal and I'll be fine. What a great trip... can't wait to do it again next year.
I am teaching classes for our Charter Loadmasters this week and next. I have an annual inspection to do this weekend up at Crystal Airport, a Piper 140, but that's about it.... Things are going to slow down a bit I think.
Oh, almost forgot - Chrissy & Katie and I went down to Terre Haute over the last weekend to attend Seth & Chrissy's wedding. Seth is my brother Curt's youngest son. Seth and Chrissy are both Funeral Directors and will be taking over the family business when Curt retires. I think they will do a GREAT job!! Seth looks EXACTLY like Curt Sr. (my grandpa) did when he was young.. it's scary!! Seth say's he'll give me a job at the funeral home after I retire and get tired of traveling around on my motorsickle. I'm kinda looking forward to that.

Day 21 on the ROAD

2009-08-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

Here we are in Phillip SD for the night. We left Devil's Tower around 8AM this morning, stopped in Hulett WY for breakfast then pressed on to Sturgis BMW to see if they could fix my rear brake. No go. On up to Mt. Rushmore then a long gravel road (lousy-powder type gravel - we could only do about 30 mph, and into the Badlands. All the fun stuff is now behind us... Tomarrow begins the long boring trip across SD to home.

Day 19 on the ROAD

2009-08-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

We are currently in Cody WY. Since the last post we have spent a night in Missoula, MT, West Yellowstone, MT and Flagg Ranch, MT, all camping out in our tent with the rest of the wild animals. In West Yellowstone we were tossed out of the KOA for asking for a military discount and when refused I told them it was un-American of them and they tossed us out. They are now on my shit list. It has been COLD! most nights in the 30's. We are ready for warmer weather.

On day 17 we decided to head down a long-long dirt/gravel road from Dillon to West Yellowstone... it was an awesome ride - until I missed a turn and ended up in a ditch. If I had not been wearing my Aerostich suit and my chest/spine protector I'd be in the hospital. So instead of multiple skin graphs and a broken back I just have some pulled muscles in my back and side.

Tomarrow we head out across the plains, up and over the Bighorn Mountain range and hopefully end up at Devils Tower for the night. More to come....

Day 13 on the Road

2009-08-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

My 747-4 class in SEA is finished and we are back on the road. We left yesterday afternoon and rode up Interstate 5 to Sedro Wooly to visit Hattie, her grandson Terry and her husband Steve, Hattie is an old high-school friend of Chrissy. It was a short visit as we had to get on the road and make Wintrop, on the east side of the Cascades. We took highway 20 up and over Rainy Pass - a beautiful ride through some awesome mountain scenery. We had a nice dinner (see picture) in Wintrop before pitching our tent at the local KOA.

Today we rode East then South to the Grand Coulee Dam, then continued South to Lewiston and Clarkston where we turned East on Scenic highway 12. And here we are, at a nice mom-and-pop motel at Konkolville. Tomarrow we head for West Yellowstone....

We are having a GREAT time. Oh yeh, we saw a Moose taking a pee in the same pond it was eating out of... I guess that is normal for those guys... include is a pic of her... (it was a she)

Day 6 on the Road

2009-08-08T19:48:00.001-07:00

Day 6. We have just arrived in Seattle. Our route took up up and across North Dakota, Northern Montana and into Glacier National Park, throught Idaho and Northern Washington into the Cascade Mountains and down into Seattle. Tons of pictures but I'll post this one of Chrissy riding down a mountain pass in Glacier National Park.

On the Road

2009-08-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Day 1 of our 3 week Motorsickle journey... nothing exciting, just riding from Lakeville MN up to Grand Forks ND. Here we are in some slezzy motel for the night. We got rained on somewhere around Detroit Lakes MN, but it was no big deal. Maybe more better adventure tomarrow as we cross the upper portion of N. Dakota... Hyw 2 pretty much all the way to Montana.

More tomarrow, we are tired and gonna hit the sack