Things are slow - so it's a good time to grumble

B

Bob Turner

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Apr 4, 2018
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We have a cross runway. I hate it, because it reduces the opportunity to practice crosswind landings, and because it reduces total operations, since our main runways are set up for parallel operations.

But it is ok at the moment - I am usually the only one flying.

Now we have a crane about a quarter mile out on final to that runway. Not a problem for me; idle descents in the airplanes I fly are around 10 percent paths, leaving me high enough over the crane that it is only "interesting" how close it is.

And yet the feds need 150' clearance for ground runway hold lines - no problem with a crane - hey, it has a flag on it.

While I am at it - one of my favorite sites is Super Cub dot org. I sort of sporadically send them $. I haven't done so in a while, and more and more I note interesting threads for members only. One of them asks about the best wax to use on a Cub finish. I could tell them about Pledge, but they only want opinions from paying members. Hope that doesn't happen here.

One of the reasons I don't join the Champ "Type Club" is that the forum is paying members only - which means very little useful info gets exchanged. That is why this forum is so valuable to me - anybody's opinion is welcome here on any subject.

Enough grumbling - I am busy with lesson plans. Where are you guys?
 
Sorry, doing some much delayed hangar, closet and garage cleaning. I don’t even know what most of the stuff is! Move it from one box to another. I heard SoCal is so slow they have combined all the approach departure frequencies. You think they will let me do touch and goes in the SuperCub down at Lindbergh?
 
Yes. Watch out for landing fees! I used to do a landing there every noon when I worked at Cubic.
 
Bob, sorry I've been absent. Domestic tranquility has been a challenge as of late so I'm preoccupied. Have been flying though, a couple of stays in the pattern and went upstate to drop in at Andover-Aeroflex, a short paved strip with a parallel grass strip, loads of Cubs PARKED OUTSIDE (!!!), lakes on each end of the runway, and a world class tailwheel flight school, Andover Flight Academy. The owner, Damian Delgaizo is a legend in our area.

Regarding fees, I'm proud to say we're the only Champ-Citabria-Decathlon website that is totally free, no clubs to join, no privileged pay-to-enter area elsewhere for the cool kids to hang out at. We're here, we're free, get used to it!

It occurred to me after I got home that the Cubs parked outside are a wealth of information for everyone that was discussing parking fabric planes outside. I'm going to head back up there with a camera and take a load of photos showing all of the techniques being used. It'll give me something to do, it'll be content for the site, and I'm curious to see what variations there are on keeping things tight when tied down.
 
When I parked outside I would bury three cinder blocks with chain wrapped around them, and during forecast stormy weather I would double the ropes. Special knots, and no slack. One pair of ropes around the strut, with some way to keep it right at the wing attach point no matter what.

Controls locked - even the rudders, with seatbelts/ shoulder harnesses and rope.

But the most important preservative action was flying every day. Especially important after a rain.
 
Well they just extended the “stay at home” order in Los Angeles County until May 15. I hope there are FBO’s still in business. Hard to fly without fuel.
 
I finally got back to work flying after a month of vacation and good bidding. The last time I went to work, travel was normal. Man, it’s deserted out there. I couldn’t wait to get home. So I promptly took the Cherokee out and did some instrument training with kid #1. Hopefully, if the weather is nice, I’ll get the a Citabria up this week. The annual is due in May, so need to get some fun flying in.
 
Things have gotten so slow that all the airport frequencies are handled by one controller. They were using a SoCal frequency I hadn’t heard of to combine all of the San Diego traffic. I am worried that the non-flying crowd may start complaining that we can still fly. I read an article from Florida where the non-boaters and trailer boaters were complaining that the folks who had docks at their houses should not be allowed to use their boats since it wasn’t fair they were having fun.
 
Possible. Most of us treat our airplanes and hangars as an extension of our house, and the airplane as something to be taken around the block and not stop at the hardware store.

We have had small social groups where everybody sits six feet from each other - seems safe enough. What is probably not safe is flight instruction. Still some of that going on. FAA needs to waive flight reviews for several months, and insurers need to make written statements on the medical issue.
 
I agree. I wouldn’t do any instruction with anyone other than my immediate family (4 of my sons fly). But my hangar is basically my garage, where tools, etc are all located. To hang a picture or unclog a drain, I’ve got to go over there and get the tools.

Getting back to normal will be nice...
 
We did have one of those news trucks parked by the trash bin yesterday. I sort of don't watch the local news except for the comely weather ladies, so don't know if they captured anybody without a mask.

Our hangar areas are normally deserted - we are down to half of "normally deserted." When you call ground, listen for a minute. If not split, probably best to use the tower frequency for taxi to avoid blocking important transmissions.
 
Our hangars are as busy as ever. I too treat my hangar as a garage. I have used it recently to do an oil change and rear brakes on my car.

"Forgetting" that my tools are there means I just have to go to the airport. And since it's over a toll bridge it seems such a waste to drive over and not at least take a few laps around the pattern.

Waving to my hangar neighbors as they taxi by doesn't seem to violate any distancing intent.

This is as good a time as any to announce that I'm going over to the dark side.

IMG_20200415_183625.webp
This Kitfox 5 with all possible 7 upgrades just arrived from Ohio.

I tied my Citabria outside until I can reorganize and figure out what will come home to my garage to work on.
 
Good luck with the build. The Kitfox guys I know are pretty happy. But they all own more than one plane. I’d be happy too.
 
aftCG said:
Our hangars are as busy as ever. I too treat my hangar as a garage. I have used it recently to do an oil change and rear brakes on my car.

"Forgetting" that my tools are there means I just have to go to the airport. And since it's over a toll bridge it seems such a waste to drive over and not at least take a few laps around the pattern.

Waving to my hangar neighbors as they taxi by doesn't seem to violate any distancing intent.

This is as good a time as any to announce that I'm going over to the dark side.

View attachment 2242
This Kitfox 5 with all possible 7 upgrades just arrived from Ohio.

I tied my Citabria outside until I can reorganize and figure out what will come home to my garage to work on.
Click to expand...
what was the attraction that got you hooked on that project?
 
There is some authority that allows non-certified avionics in lightplanes. We are using the GTR-200 transceivers in certificated aircraft.
 
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