Back Sliding

Actually, going nowhere at all.
As you know, Path is in for annual which should have been close to complete. Except a little problem. An instrument called the Turn Coordinator had failed. A new one ordered. Except it was the wrong one, and the correct one will cost $1,000 more than originally thought. You can imagine my response to that little bit of news. My A&P had mercy on me and figured out a less expensive solution – remove the bad one, ship it to the manufacturer and get it rebuilt. Considerable savings. No flying for at least another two weeks. I’d like to hope for bad weather, but that wouldn’t be fair to my fellow pilots. Grounded so getting in extra walking – did 5.6 yesterday.

Here’s a nasty bit of weather near Reno from a trip last year. I flew in a different direction!

Annual

Last evening, Ed called and said, “I was at the airport and saw Path being strip searched.”

Path is currently “In Annual”. This means he’s spending a week with my A&P (aircraft mechanic).
Once a year, all General Aviation aircraft must undergo an Annual Inspection. This is not optional. If the Annual is completed in the month of January, then the following year the inspection must be completed by the end of January or it’s illegal to fly the plane.

During this time, his seats are removed, and floor carpeting taken out so that inspection ports in the floor can be accessed. Similar ports in the wings will be opened. The Cowl (hood) will be removed to facilitate engine area checks which include spark plugs, oil, starter and compression tests. Each and every moving part of the plane is examined, including the wires that connect flight controls inside the cockpit to the flight surfaces they operate.

Each model of airplane has a specific list of items that need to be scrutinized, tested and replaced or repaired at set intervals. There are a number of log books that belong to the plane. One each for the engine, prop and airframe into which the A&P makes entries as to the exact work completed. These logs are kept and are passed on to each owner so a complete history of the airplane is available. Path is over 40 years old and I own his logs for this entire time.

Expertise, time, and parts do not come cheaply. An A&P does not simply hang up a sign and start working on planes. They have years of training and must be certified. Of course, I consider it money well-spent for two reasons. One, it’s the law. Two, a well maintained plane is a safe plane. It’s painful to the pocketbook but soothing to the peace of mind.

A New Year of Adventure Begins

Number One. Intergalactic Bi-Plane.

After long weeks of dark, wet, dripping NW winter the sun came out. Yippeee! January 1, 2011. Temps in the teens, but I’m not complaining. Path, however, does not like to start when it’s cold. I nearly gave up, had to re-charge his battery, but finally – success. Up into the crystalline air with visibility over 100 miles. Ed is with me again, and we’re going north along the eastern edge of the Olympic Range, following Hood Canal to the NE corner of the Olympic Peninsula. We count mountain peaks on the way and even though I’ve seen them thousands of times, marvel at their majesty. At Jefferson County airport we enjoy lunch at the Spruce Goose Cafe, managing to grab the last empty table. Note for local pilots: The renovations are not huge, but the new deck includes a wind screen that does not block the view and should help keep lunch from blowing away. Ladies: The new bathroom is good.

A different route is selected for homeward – down the west side of the Olympic Range, which Ed has never seen. Oh, and see it we did. The light was just right (3:30 pm) The air was glass so I flew right in among the peaks. I’ve put a few photos here, but they truly do not convey what our eyes beheld.

CloseCloser

At home, I eagerly downloaded the photos and found this unexplained extra which to me looks like a golden Bi-Plane. Since I know Path was the only plane up there, I dubbed it not UFO, but Intergalactic Bi-Plane, thus identified!


Flight time: to Lunch 83 nm (nautical miles) – 40 minutes.
Home via Olympics: 149 nm – 1.5 hours