Correction re: $95 GS

I stand corrected. Our little adventure at the avionics shop where we found our second glide slope simply disconnected due to recessed connector pins cost us $190 to fix, not $95. So, while I was off by a factor of 2 on the price, still, less than .2 AMUs doesn't seem all that bad.

Definition: AMU=Aviation Monetary Unit=$1000

A partner and I flight checked the plane with a combined 5 ILS approaches. Second GS worked like a charm. I definitely prefer using the #1 nav head when flying an ILS though. It's a Garmin, has a bigger donut, GS needle isn't hinged on one side, plus it just feels more normal to look at the #1 nav when flying an ILS. When #1 is driven by the GPS, even with the GS flag up, it seems way too easy to get confused and think you're on the glide slope. That's where the handy dandy round suction cup style soap holders...er, I mean, instrument covers come in handy. Should #1 nav go belly up, out come a custom instrument cover.

A little redundancy for a mere $95...priceless!

It's funny how anything less than $100 seems cheap when it comes to fixing something on an airplane (especially when it's your own airplane). Hmmm, must be because after the inevitable $1000+ repairs, anything less than $100 seems like chump change. Go figure.

When we bought the Arrow, one thought I had when looking at pictures of the panel was "Cool, dual glideslopes!"...only to later discover that the glideslope in the #2 nav head didn't work. I don't recall if we were told or if we surmised that we may not have a glideslope receiver for the #2 nav. After just now poking around a bit on the web, I've learned that our nav radios have built in glideslope receivers.

We had the plane at the avionics shop to get the VORs tuned since it's never good when the #1 VOR indicates six degrees left of course when the #2 VOR indicates (correctly) that you're on course. It turns out this was an easy fix for the avionics guys. While doing the work, they informed us that we do indeed have a glideslope receiver on the #2 nav and that our problem can likely be fixed for an hour of labor ($95). We authorize the hour for diagnosis and the problem turned out to be a few recessed pins in a connector. The end result? We now have a functional #2 glideslope and it only cost us $95...ah, life is good. Compared to a rough estimate of $1700 to buy/install a second glideslope receiver, the $95 option is...well...chump change.

Of course, now we *need* to go test fly the plane. Like I said, life is good! :-)

First Young Eagle flights and some unplanned maintenance

Just over a week ago, our airport had it's first annual open house type event. I'd been looking forward to it for about a month when a fuel leak seemed like it might keep me from flying kids as part of the EAA Young Eagles program (http://www.youngeagles.org/).

The day before the event, I'd taken the plane in for a couple minor maintenance items only to fly home, jump out of the plane, and find fuel dripping from the gas coalator. I'm thinking, rats, if I can't get this fixed, I can't fly in the morning. I make a few phone calls, one of which is to my mechanic and get some troubleshooting advice. The next morning, I'm able to get dirty removing the lower cowling so that I can tighten the nut that holds the gas coalator together then re-safety wire it. Shazam, problem solved. A quick test flight once around the pattern, land, check for leaks and it's time to fly some Young Eagles. Good thing I brought a clean T-shirt, I needed it.

When I pulled up to where they were staging the Young Eagles flights from, I can't believe the line of kids waiting. I fill out a form since I'm a first time Young Eagles pilot and within minutes, I have my first three kids and face my first major challenge, shortening up the two rear seatbelts. The rear seat passengers are the smallest folks to have graced the rear seats. It's a good thing since the Arrow doesn't have a ton of rear seat leg room, especially given that I fly with the seat pretty far back. After about 5 minutes of futzing with the belt adjustment, the two guys in the rear seat are ready, I climb in and the kid in the right seat climbs in. We do a short passenger brief, I get a few questions and it's time to go.

Normally, the airport is non-towered but today, they're operating a tower frequency as well as a ground frequency. It's a good and necessary thing as they're conducting some warbird flybys, Young Eagle flights with probably 10 planes participating, and many other flights in/out of the airport. I am happy to report that not once did I begin a radio transmission with "Anycity traffic, ...".

The first flight went fine, even with the little guy sitting behind ignoring the fact that I really meant what I said about needing it quiet at certain times. If it hadn't been for the pilot isolate feature of my intercom, I'd have pulled his mic. jack as he was quite content to make all sorts of noises over the intercom. Oh well, he was having fun...

I land and wind up repeating this process three more times before the event comes to a close. In one day, I go from 0 to 12 Young Eagles. Reflecting on the experience, it was awesome. Hearing things like "This is so cool" from a 15 yr. old on her first small airplane flight, "Everybody looks like little ants" from one of my younger passengers, "This is awesome" several times from other kids was great. Answering questions about becoming a pilot, owning an airplane, where I fly, etc. was also a lot of fun.

By the end of the day, I was pretty much wiped out. So much, in fact, that the plane didn't get the normal post-flight bug wipedown. That turned out to be the perfect excuse to come out to the airport the following day and introduce the new dog to the hangar. Not a bad trade really. He seemed to enjoy himself.

The unofficial count I heard was that we flew 205 kids that day. Not bad considering the original target was 100 kids. I feel privileged that I could use the gifts and talents God has given me to bless 12 of those kids with a free airplane ride.

If anyone has a chance to participate in a Young Eagles event, I'd strongly encourage you to do so. It is a great opportunity to share our passion for flying with kids that will, hopefully, get inspired to learn how to fly. Whatever it costs in terms of airplane and fuel expenses is worth the smiles you'll get in return.