tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98236592024-03-07T20:03:47.817-05:00YellowbirdThe adventures of a boy and his airplaneYellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-79382746769341456352008-07-18T00:32:00.006-04:002008-08-12T23:23:59.026-04:00Art is Where You Find ItHere's an interesting corrosion pattern seen on a gauge on a piece of old fire fighting equipment at the small museum at Logan County (KAAA). It looks like some artsy-craftsy person painted a very intricate clinging vine motif on the face of the instrument, inside the glass.Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-36137271915190974212008-07-05T00:10:00.013-04:002009-10-17T22:30:27.903-04:00Independence DayA common discussion topic on the web boards around this time of year concerns the worthwhileness of watching fireworks displays from the air. The consensus seems to be that it's not worth the effort since the airbursts take place at low altitudes and tend to get lost amidst the lights on the ground. You also miss the sounds of the explosions since you are probably wearing a noise-canceling Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-71365031250376851302007-12-30T16:58:00.000-05:002008-10-12T13:32:16.261-04:00Yellowbird's Broken HeartDuring her 2007 annual airworthiness inspection, Yellowbird was diagnosed with a cracked engine crankcase. The treatment required removing the engine and shipping it to an engine shop in New York where it was rebuilt around a replacement crankcase. In the interim, Yellowbird sat in the corner of the FBO hangar while I treated her to a few upgrades and makeovers. There were delays and concerns Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-69128168611354206312007-12-29T15:07:00.000-05:002008-10-12T13:31:53.527-04:00Aloft at LastMETAR KBMI 292056Z 22006KT 10SM OVC016 M01/M04 A3007 RMK AO2 56013 T10111038 SLP203
Translation: Wind: blowing from 220° at 6 knots; Visibility: 10 statue miles; Sky condition: overcast at 1,600 feet above ground level; Temperature: -1°C; Dewpoint: -4°C
Not the best conditions, and they were barely VFR, but it was worth a try just to get in the air again for our first flight after Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-78517885147261899352007-12-23T19:21:00.000-05:002008-10-12T13:31:19.899-04:00LeftoversYellowbird is whole again. After five long months sitting in a corner of the FBO hangar due to a cracked engine crankcase, she's finally fixed, reassembled, and signed off. Yesterday I paid the bill and picked up her keys and maintenance logs from the shop - now I just need to find a day with flyable weather. Until then, I have a box of assorted airplane refuse to dig through. This initially Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-63977863578197225352007-12-22T19:36:00.000-05:002008-09-22T22:45:55.002-04:00The Annual Report - 2007
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This year's annul airworthiness inspection goes down in the books as the most expensive misadventure in my aviating life so far. Yellowbird was due for inspection by the end of July, so I dropped her off at the shop towards the end of the month and Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-68724137223709427302007-12-19T17:29:00.001-05:002008-09-22T22:47:21.317-04:00First RunToday's the day, almost. She's fully reassembled and the weather is conducive to bringing her out to ground run the engine. The engine was run in a test cell at Mattituck after it was rebuilt, but this is the first time that it's been run since being reinstalled. I managed to get away from work for an hour or so to watch
For the first time in five months, Yellowbird tastes sunlight. It was the Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-32222127766130173052007-12-10T23:24:00.000-05:002008-08-14T19:06:03.856-04:00BFRIt's due this month. My flight review, that is. Or for those who prefer the old acronym-friendly version, the Biennial Flight Review. The original plan when I started flying four years ago was to do an upgrade rating every year or so. Once I got settled into the routine of aircraft ownership, I foresaw getting my instrument rating in 2005, commercial in 2006, and CFI in 2007. I didn't have any Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-16819774019120221032007-12-09T23:51:00.002-05:002008-08-26T18:09:14.998-04:00Delay, AgainWe could have been airborne by now, but for one more snag. Yellowbird's IFR inspection was due last month. This inspection, which must be done every 24 months, is required for all aircraft certified for operations in instrument meteorological conditions and involves checking the altimeter and static system. Also due was the transponder inspection, which is required for all aircraft equipped with Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-36652969110294176262007-12-06T15:06:00.002-05:002008-08-26T20:50:17.633-04:00Hanging the Engine: Day 3We've reached the stage in the process where all the exciting jobs have been done. Yellowbird now has an engine, and that engine now has a carburetor, ignition system, exhaust system, and a propeller. Most of the wires and hoses have been connected and now it's just a matter of finishing up the smaller details. Of course, in an airplane every detail matters, but they don't always make for Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-24369141002704724602007-12-05T19:49:00.001-05:002008-08-26T20:49:38.596-04:00Hanging the Engine: Day 2The hazards of having a day job: by the time I got away from work, they had already installed the propeller and exhaust system and Ray was busily wiring the various sensors for the JPI EDM-700 engine monitor. The baffle seals (the orange strips atop the engine and visible on the stool opposite Ray) are also being installed.
A Ray's eye view of the proceedings. The exhaust risers can be seen Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-30990544131398955442007-12-04T00:29:00.002-05:002008-08-26T20:48:56.495-04:00Hanging the Engine: Day 1Today is the day. Yellowbird has found a place in the shop's schedule and it's time to start reinstalling her engine, which was removed back in August to have a cracked crankcase fixed. The engine arrived about a month ago, but the shop was booked solid with other aircraft until now. Shall we watch?
Aloft again, the engine is finally mated to its mount. We got new rubber shock mounts all around.Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-54686513404254367882007-11-28T22:08:00.000-05:002008-07-13T01:10:23.792-04:00It Flies! (sort of)Up on the hoist, she gets the Reiff preheater installed. One of the cylinder bands can be seen as a shiny metal strip at the base of the #1 cylinder barrel. The oil pan heater is out of sight under the engine, but you can see the black wiring harness and white plastic connectors underneath the crankcase. The light gray noodle hanging below is the grounding wire.
From behind, we see the Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-76655164613751998632007-11-16T23:56:00.002-05:002008-07-02T11:28:04.634-04:00UpgradesI'm still waiting for the shop to find time in their schedule to put Yellowbird back together. For the past three months, I've tried several tactics for dealing with flying withdrawal. I've painted what was paintable fixed what was fixable, and replaced what was replaceable, within the allowances for preventative maintenance spelled out the federal regulations. I've fondled various dismembered Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-41523744948098953662007-11-06T20:09:00.000-05:002008-06-17T14:11:03.099-04:00PartsIn case you were wondering, this is what it took to get Yellowbird's cracked engine back together:
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Qty
Part #
Description
Unit Price
Extension
1
CASE-1
Ovh Crankcase - Lyc 4 Cyl
1,420.00
1,420.00
1
Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-15702658682101555922007-11-03T22:02:00.002-04:002008-07-02T11:30:26.397-04:00It's Here!Over the last couple of weeks, I've been in contact with Mattituck to finalize the details for the repair of the cracked crankcase. I received the quote at the beginning of October and the work was finished around the middle of the month. Payment was arranged and my engine was in transit again. I got the call yesterday afternoon: It has arrived!
First we have this big box. We originally shippedYellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-90558639565626411822007-10-21T00:37:00.002-04:002008-08-26T20:52:06.199-04:00Painting the Engine Room - Part 2A few years ago, I repainted Yellowbird's upper engine cowling. The project began as an exercise in removing corrosion from the unpainted inner surface of the cowling, but scope creep took over when I realized that the newly cleaned and repainted insides looked noticeably better than the outside, on which a 15 year old repaint and a few subsequent touchups had left several different Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-3417085981200049292007-10-12T19:28:00.001-04:002008-07-02T11:33:07.515-04:00Bachelor LifeIt's Friday night, I don't have a date - I think I'll stay home and wash my cowl flaps.Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-22892943850996562732007-10-08T20:35:00.006-04:002008-08-26T20:52:36.714-04:00Painting the Engine Room - Part 1The engine has been delayed, thanks to some administrative confusion at the rebuild shop where it was sent. They have yet to start the repair, so I can't expect to be airborne again until November at the earliest. The shop has promised to expedite the process, and I won't pressure them beyond that. I'd rather have this done carefully and methodically, without rushing or cutting corners to meet anYellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-34078742105804260232007-09-22T00:53:00.005-04:002008-07-02T21:45:02.410-04:00SCATHere's a bucket of old SCAT. SCAT is a type of flexible ducting made from silicone impregnated fabric around a spiral wire core. It is used to conduct air from various intakes to sources such as cabin fresh air and heat and carburetor air and heat. It's lightweight and pretty durable, but it does tend to come apart after many years, particularly when exposed to things like engine oil. Most of Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-30354585729545539442007-09-16T17:46:00.004-04:002008-07-02T21:48:22.684-04:00HouseworkThe poor girl is in the shop and the prognosis is that she'll be there for at least a month, possibly two. Since I can't fly her, I might as well clean her up a bit while she's dissembled. A couple of years ago, I painted the top cowl during a long winter weekend. I now have access to the engine cooling baffles, prop spinner and bulkhead, and other assorted airplane parts that were removed when Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-89389991271101044802007-08-13T21:06:00.001-04:002008-06-18T15:16:41.055-04:00EnginectomyWell, the diagnosis is in and the prescription has been issued. After talking things over with Mattituck, we're going to ship the engine back to them for inspection and repair. They did the major overhaul in 2001, but the warranty period has expired, so I won't get any relief on the cost. They'll have to completely disassemble the engine, replacing or repairing as necessary. Estimated down time Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-13029227711371689692007-08-04T12:39:00.001-04:002008-07-02T11:45:20.329-04:00CrackedThis is what you don't want to find when you take your plane in for her annual inspection. Otherwise, she's a healthy bird, but this crack is going to have to be fixed and I fear it's going to be expensive. I'm checking into options, but the most likely resolution will be to remove the engine and ship it back to the shop that did the major overhaul in 2001.
Here's a view from last summer when IYellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-25225043506957073962007-07-30T00:02:00.002-04:002008-06-27T22:49:02.864-04:00Making Baby WindmillsI've commented a few times on the relative lack of scenery in my corner of the Midwest. The terrain is basically flat, and just about every square inch of undeveloped land has been cultivated with corn or soybeans. You can spend many enjoyable minutes admiring them from the air, but they do tend to get old. One unique crop that we do have is wind turbines. There is a large wind farm east of town Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9823659.post-59080800891462540212007-07-23T22:32:00.003-04:002008-09-10T12:13:42.984-04:00In the Wilderness of Western IowaWhile transiting Iowa by car on my way to Bloomington in May, I decided to take a detour to check out the Iowa Aviation Museum at Greenfield Municipal Airport (KGFZ). I had seen the signs on I-80 a few times but this was the first time I was driving by during the museum's hours of operation. I wasn't expecting much - maybe a dusty hangar on a rustic one strip airport, with displays of Billy Yellowbirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856524211773271544noreply@blogger.com1