Tuesday, September 27, 2016

September 26th

I'd taken the day off to make up for a couple of weekends on call, so I wasted the morning playing around on the computer.

In the early afternoon, I went to the airport to help Rocky with the LRAA website, and when that was sorted, I went over and talked to Frank for a while about his new Cozy.  Then I took the Flightstar up for an hour - the highlights were watching the yellow crop-dusting biplanes landing on their little strip between the power lines, and being thanked profusely by a big corporate jet for letting him get out before I flew overhead to join the circuit - I figure I was using less fuel flying than he was idling waiting for me :o)

September 25th

I took the keyless ignition stuff off the DRZ - I think it's broken, so I'll have to see if there's anything inside the box that's obviously screwed, and maybe use the other kit I have to get it working again - I liked not needing a key to start it :o)

In the evening we went to dinner with Jen (not that Jen, this is a new one) and Gwen to celebrate Vic's birthday.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

September 24th

I started the day at the airfield, flying.  I just pottered around looking for a hot air balloon that had been flying around the casino on my drive in, but I think they got it down and packed away before I was even out of the hangar.  I saw a couple of the guys at the powered parachute fly-in at the South end of the field, and they were starting to pack up when I gave up because it was starting to get bumpy.

In the evening, we watched "Captain America: Civil War".  It was OK, I guess, but there were too many plot points and characters, making it overlong.  Also, aren't superhero movies supposed to be fun?

Thursday, September 22, 2016

September 21st

I went to the airfield for the EAA membership meeting about involving kids in flying.  I also got to cook on the barbecue...

September 18th

In the afternoon, I went and sat in a sandwich place with Rich and Sharon and chatted before going to the airport to fly for a while.  Looks like the wind's going to be picking up for the next few days, so I'm not so bothered that it gets dark early enough to make flying after work tricky :o)

Sunday, September 18, 2016

September 17th

I went flying in the evening.  It's funny, as I didn't have the gas to fill the plane up last time I flew, so I put 5 gallons in the 10 gallon tank, flew for almost an hour and half, then put 5 gallons in the tank and it's still not full.  I'm not sure, but I think it uses more 89 octane gas than it does 91 octane - I've been testing it.

I also need a new cylinder head temperature probe, as one is reading all over the place.  I'll do that when I change the spark plugs, which should be in the next few engine hours.

September 16th

We watched "Top Secret Rosies", a movie Jim had lent us at the last pancake breakfast.

September 15th

We went to Jen's <mumble>th bithday party.  Afterwards, we met John at a Starbucks because he'd gone to the wrong restaurant to meet us.

September 14th

Rich came over to play with Tilly, so that was nice.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

September 10th

I started the day at the airport, cooking breakfast and then helping get the brittle old skylights replaced with solid panels (so we can watch movies in there better).  A couple of us went and got Coke floats, and then I figured I might as well go back to the airport and fly, as it didn't make sense to go home just to turn round and go back again.

September 9th

We watched "The Jungle Book", because Vic thought I would be going flying, but I hadn't left early enough due to work.  Stupid tilting planet.

September 7th

Today was the EAA board meeting, where things were discussed.  If you want to know what, you should have come along, it's open to all.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

September 6th

After work we went and met Mig and Steve at the Folsom Bike Night, where we also met Truman who's passing through from Oregon.

September 5th

Today was Labo(u)r Day, when Americans celebrate the gains of the unions by going shopping.

I built a bridge for the front garden, then Vic and I installed it.

In the evening I went to the airfield and just did circuits.  I need to start getting there a bit earlier, as it's getting dark sooner and sooner.

Monday, September 5, 2016

September 4th

Another day just doing chores around the house until the evening, when I could fly again.  Again I helped Jack tinker with the M-Squared before we headed out to fly over Far West Lake.  It's a shame i didn't have a camera with me, as his bright green plane against the lake looked really cool.  We'd taken off on 33, but while we were out I'd heard the aircraft throwing circuits change to 15, so I had to get in front of Jack (who was flying without a radio) to make sure we joined the correct pattern when we got back.  I landed OK, but Jack went around, so  I was doing his radio calls for him.  He veered off on the next landing attempt, and it seems that he'd actually bounced hard enough to break off a wheel.  He came again, and without a left wheel where it should be, ground looped the plane.  I went back, and we got his plane off the runway so others could take off and land, then went and got a garage creeper, tie downs and the van and towed it back to the hangar.  Jeez.

September 3rd

I started the day at the airfield, cooking breakfast for about 20 people who showed up to watch my copy of "Air America".  Bruce enjoyed it enough that he's borrowed it to watch it with his wife.

I straightened some of the locking pins for our hangar door.  I was thinking I'd pull the out then use the tow hitch on the van, but the hole that the pin that holds the tow hitch in is almost exactly the right size, so I used that instead.  Hopefully now they won't drag on the ground when the hangar owners come to see what needs to be done to fix the doors next week.

I pottered around the house doing odds and ends until I could go back to the airfield and fly.  I helped Jack sort out the M-Squared, then we headed out to fly along the river.  It was pretty windy, and when I realised that we'd taken 20 minutes to get there, I figured we would head home before it got dark.  We put everything away, they stood around talking until Jim Volk showed up to see if we wanted to buy his Cherokee.  Neither of us did.

September 2nd

After work I went and took the plane out.  I flew over the house, but couldn't see Vic, even though she claims to have saved at me.

September 1st

Tilly had an adventure, when I left the side gate open taking the garbage out for pickup in the morning.  She wandered down the road sniffing around the neighbours' garbage bins until I came and found her.  I was telling her what a silly dog she is when Vic opened the garage door, and Tilly dashed off to sit in the van.