Aviation BS and Photo Thread

Picked the 150 up from Brandis Aircraft in Taylorville, IL (KTAZ) last Thursday. Bob and his crew did an awesome job, and I'm absolutely pleased with the way she came out.

Of course, even a simple thing as picking up a plane from a paint shop couldn't go off without a hitch when it comes to this particular 150. The Skytec starter, which is only a few years old, decided to bite the dust. As a result, she's going in for her annual tomorrow, a full month earlier than planned.

Welcome to aviation. You are now broke.

 

Yup

 

...^^^... They explained that on several news channels ... same bird almost 50 years later doing the same thing.

 

It's not able to be confirmed. As stated in multiple sources, it was 30 documented as flying at saigon, not 38.

However 38 was attached to the unit (from what I can find). And considering what FMC and PMC rates in the coldwar was, and what they are now; It is most likely that 38 did work in Saigon, maybe not the embassy, but was in the air at some point during evacuations. We are talking about a +90%PMC rate so chances are that every tail that was attached to units involved flew at some point.

More digging would need to be done, but unless the USMC still has the MX paper records to prove she was a cann bird during that time, considering the emergency, I'd bet a good Benjamin that she flew during saigon.

Mind you, provided we can confirm it's the same bird.

 

BuNos are assigned at the factory and don’t change over their life. The Navy is flying F-5s that got sold to the Swiss after their “effective” life and then bought back using the same number.

 

The fact that we're doing helo evacs from embassies again is again is :/ No matter the specific bird in question.

 

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

 

Just passed my PPL check ride. Woot!!

 

Was this your flight? You may want to keep a copy of this for sentimental reasons. Congrats!

N73898 Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

OOPs Looks like I can't copy and past from Flight aware.
You could go get it while it is there -- these pages roll over frequently
OOPs -- again -now it linked up -these guys must have some weird rules?

 

Yup thats the one, ol’ sqiggley.

 

Congrats!

 

Nothing to see here, just a 777 BBJ

 

Probably a dumb/uneducated question here -- why all the squiggles? Understand I am not a pilot.

 

During the check ride, the examiner will ask the applicant to demonstrate various maneuvers that make “the squiggles.” Steep turns, S turns across a road, turns around a point, general navigation tasks, etc…


Perfectly normal and congratulations to the new pilot. I’ll be in Portland next month, cya in the skies.

 

Well, my partner just came to me and said he's done. Not interested in flying anymore. His grandson, who he was to hand his share down to has also decided he doesn't want to own an airplane right now. Wants to focus on getting his electrician ticket and starting his career. Commendable. But it leaves me with a tough choice. Put the plane up for sale and split the proceeds? Or buy out his share?

The impassioned side says this is what you've always wanted. Living in the country on a lake with a floatplane on your shore.


The practical side say, the slow down during covid was a blessing, in that it allowed me to live here pretty much full time in sort of a preview of what retired life will be like. But travel is coming back after a long lockdown in Canada, and the aviation industry is waking up. If I retire at age 60, I've still got 13 years in front of me which means being a part time lake resident, and only putting 20-30 hours on the plane a year. So, sell it, and take the money and run.

I've got some time to mull it over, but decisions decisions...

 

Hard to predict but what would the replacement cost be in 13 yrs? Personally, I'd protect my current investment and buy the partner out...and have a gem for 13 yrs to retire with.


Try to replace something 13 yrs out, that would be a hunt

My .02

 

That’s certainly at the forefront of my mind. We got lucky finding the plane that we did, and getting it for the price that we did. And we stumbled into the deal of the century on the engine. I’d never be able to buy back in, and have the plane that I have now for anywhere near the price paid.

My girlfriend, to her credit, is encouraging me to buy the other share. She sees the work I’ve put into achieving this goal, and doesn’t want me to regret moving away from it. This is someone who went up with me one time for 0.1 of tach time, and most of that time screaming from the back to land, land now. So if she thinks it’s a good idea, than I guess it’s a good idea.

 

All good points. I’m certainly leaning towards buy. Affordability isn’t so much of a concern. It’s just an unexpected cost when I need to build a new dock, and a dog run would be nice. Was thinking about heat pumps. Just bought new window coverings, and treated myself to a custom ordered Polaris to replace a 31 year old Arctic Cat Jag after selling my condo in the city. My co-owner springing this on me was not on my radar.

My biggest concern is, who will keep an eye on it while I’m away? As we return to full monthly flying blocks, I won’t be able to be here as much as I have during the last 15 months. It’s pretty protected where it’s parked though. I don’t get big waves or winds where it sits. I have people who will keep an eye on it for me while I’m away, and have more than a few options for winter storage.

 

I guess I’m too far to buy your partner out.

I think you would regret not buying him out and keeping it.