April 2012 – Page 7 – Dead Reckoning

Foot Launch Glider

If I lived in a part of the country that had mountains close by, or even some big hills, I would think about getting one of these foot launched gliders or maybe a hang glider. A few guys at my local airport bought a used glider last year and started a club that I was tempted to join so my kids and I could get our glider license’s. I came close to putting my money down but help off when the club decided to go with a cable launch system instead of using a tow plane. Just going up to one thousand feet and flying around the airport didn’t interest me so I saved my money. It turns out I made the right move because they crashed it on the third flight, minor damage, then found out this year that it has a twenty five year maximum life span and it was , you guessed it, twenty five years old. The glider’s junk and I still have my money, that almost never happens.

Ferry Flight Pic of The Day

This is what it looks like when you break out of the clouds on a windy, rainy approach into Reykjavik Iceland. You might notice that the plane is high on the glide path and left of the runway. Now it might be because there was a forty knot crosswind and moderate to severe turbulence on the approach, or it maybe it was because we’d lost an engine, had an electrical failure, a small fire in the baggage compartment and snakes in the plane. Or maybe we’d been flying for two weeks strait and just didn’t give a crap anymore. Either way ten dollar beers and beautiful blondes were only minutes away.

Your Weekly Lex, For Strength

Rivalries « Neptunus Lex.

I must confess that I too hate losing to a girl.

Driven to Fly

Ok, this is kind of cool. I mean who wouldn’t want a flying car? The only problem is the price tag. For what they’re asking, over $350,000 I think, you could buy a real airplane and have limo pick you up at any airport you want. Still it’s a real freaking flying car!

81 Year Old Woman Lands Plane

Plane makes hard landing in Door County.

I really need to get my wife some training in case this ever happens to me. I’m pretty sure my kids could get the plane down but my wife, not so much.

Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.)

In the Army we used to make fun of the Marines intelligence but we never questioned their toughness.

Ferry Flight pic of The Day

Help wanted, people skills not a priority

This island is off the north coast of Scotland on the route from Wick to Reykjavik. I bet whoever runs that light house gets to see some great storms. One thing that I couldn’t figure out is how they get back and forth to the mainland. I didn’t see anywhere to dock a boat, must have to use a helicopter.

Oldies But Goodies

Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers (and who says that aviation mechanics do not have a sense of humour!):

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
*
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Probably because auto-land is not installed on this aircraft.
*
P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit
*
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
*
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode has a 200 ft. per min. descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
*
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
*
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
*
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That’s what friction locks are for.
*
P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF IS inoperative in OFF mode.
*
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you’re right.
*
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
*
PS: Aircraft acting funny
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.
*
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
*
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
*
And the best one for last
*
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget

Summer’s Here!

With the Twin Otter finally showing up late Friday Afternoon all the jumpers at Skydive Twin Cities were excited and ready to go but mother nature had different plans. Low clouds on Friday and Saturday forced everyone to find other forms of entertainment. There’s nothing more dangerous than bored skydivers so it was a good thing that the sun finally showed up yesterday and allowed everyone to grab some air. The video is one of my entry’s in our annual film festival and show’s you what I do for a living when I’m not flying.

Aerial resupply in Marzak, Afghanistan

Using the old Caribou for aerial resupply is probably a low cost option but you would think the Army or Air Force could figure out how to do it themselves. Still it looks like a fun job, maybe I’ll check it out.

Hat tip to Bring the Heat, Bring the Stupid