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!
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