Finally! Something interesting to talk about besides work for you all. But, a little update on work anyway. This week may have been a milestone as I didn't have at least one day during the week where I was planning to depart when my two years are up in November. At this point, one of the major motivating factors has been that I wanted to do something for two years that seemed longer than my mission! In a way, it feels like the last few months of my mission where I finally get to a point that I understand the market, our product, know all the people involved and are feeling like there's a small sense of accomplishment. Now it just needs to turn into money so we don't have another round of layoffs in December!
Anyway, on to more interesting stuff. Since Kent and I bought the airplane in December of 2007, we (well, mostly Kent) have been working to get it back in the air as it was landed with the wheels up. We've been through at least five different mechanics working on it at different places and times and it was finally declared fit for flight. We got the insurance on it last week and so last night I met Claus at the airport in Bountiful with the intention of flying it to Provo where I would train in "complex" aircraft with an instructor down here. Claus has been one of the two mechanics who have put hours and hours into it at Bountiful and he is a certified mechanic as well as a helicopter pilot and a flight instructor.
The front tire was low so we started it up and motored across the runway to Claus's shop where we scrounged for enough air hose to reach the plane. We tried the radio and head sets but couldn't tell if it was working so called the electrical mechanic back (he had just left) and he did a check with a hand held which let us know that the radio was good but that there was no intercom so one person can't talk to the other through the headset. We'll need to get one of those to do any training.
After air in the tire, it taxied a lot smoother and we went to the south end of the small-compared-to-Provo runway where you have to back-taxi just to get to the end. Some new things to do during the run up as the Mooney has a constant speed prop so you have to keep an eye on the RPM and manifold pressure. One of the procedures calls for "exercising" the prop by changing the pitch of the blade while watching the RPM's drop and manifold pressure go up three times. We also had a problem with excessive RPM drop with one of the magnetos so he ran it up to clean the plugs which fixed the problem.
I had told Claus to take left-seat (the pilot's position) even though I was to be getting training out of this--and I was glad I did. The take off proved to be a little intense as once we picked up speed, the nose started dancing back and forth and he really had to work to hold it steady until we lifted off. Soon airborne and it took us a few seconds to get the gear up. It's a manual handle with a two lock system. We started climbing out and headed for the Bountiful temple and Claus soon noticed that the oil temperature was heading into the red. Not good for a brand new rebuilt engine! Claus didn't want to take any chances so we bee-lined it back to the runway and brought her in. It was a good landing but things happen a lot faster in a plane that has a higher stall speed.
Back at the hangar, we added motor of oil. It had been low but within operation range when we first started. Claus was low on mineral oil which is what is required for the first 25 hours of operation on a new engine but we scrounged around and found three quarts. Second take off was still a little bouncy with the nose wheel but we were soon in the air and the gear up. Claus handed me the controls and we climbed to 6000 feet and did a radio check with Salt Lake air traffic control to make sure the radio and the transponder were working. A few maneuvers and up to Lagoon and back and by then it was deepening dusk. Claus was explaining the pattern to me and I'm like, "Where's the airport?" Just then he clicked the mic and the runway lights came on and I was able to see. At the speed of the Mooney, we were in and down to the runway quickly. It wasn't my best landing as we came in smooth but hot and bounced a couple of times before settling down.
So a little anxiousness but overall, it was good. I'm sure that if I get comfortable with all of the particulars of the plane plus running the prop and landing gear that it will be enjoyable. Once in the air, it was smooth and fast and the motor purred right along. There were no gas leaks on the ground so all that work on the tanks has paid off!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Peter's Week
Saturday, I decided to take advantage of one of the last hot days of summer and re-stain the stamped concrete in the back yard. I had wanted to do it for the wedding but ran out of time. I power washed and then used the leaf blower to get all the water out of the cracks so it would dry. Then stained with a brush and a roller--my back was sore!
Took a break at 6 to go to the High Priests social. I was supposed to bring a main dish so dashed to the store to pick up a tray of shrimp. The party was at the Roney's culdesac and we were to bring chairs so I just rode Dad's Trike....that's one nice thing about riding it is you can stop and talk to people and you have a chair to sit in. Anyway, we had a good time talking but there was a lot of interest in the Trike and before long, everyone was riding it. The high priests AND their wives and all had a great time. Even Sister Knighton who is 90 years old took it for a spin. I could tell she really wanted to ride it but "didn't want an audience." Her son-in-law talked her into it and she had a good time. She used to ride 10 miles to work on a bike and then 10 miles home every day. Anyway, a good time had by all...thanks to Dad!!!
Back home, I put a coat of sealer on the concrete and it looks very nice. It's a sealer that drys with a wet look and hopefully it will last longer than the last coat did!
My friends the Mayhews left on Thursday to go back home to Japan. They have been gone for a month and have been staying here for the past couple of weeks with a short trip to Portland in the middle. It has been so fun to have them here! They are all very smart (Glenn, a Phd in Marketing and Wally a Masters in Engineering) and funny. They brought their son Clifton to BYU and got him outfitted with tools (computer and phone), clothes and school stuff like they did with their daughter Maureen five years ago when they came last. She's now in medical school in Ohio but came out for a couple of days. They live in a 700 s.f. apartment in Tokyo which is considered large and practice low impact living. They said the big cars, big houses, big meal portions and overweight people here are really noticeable now that they have been living over there for 13 years. It was kind of funny as they are very close (maybe due to the small apartment) but they would all stay around the counter together, then go to the TV room together, then to the living room. Anyway, it was a delight to have them here.
Hope you are all doing well! Sounds like there have been some fun activities so when you kids are posting to Facebook, sned some shots to this email and we'll all get it: cleggfamilyidaho.upload@blogger.com
Have a good week all!
Jessica and Clayton's Adventures...
Here is Jessica and Clayton's blogspot if you would like to follow their adventures around the world. http://merksadventure.blogspot.com
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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