Homeward Bound

June 25, 2010

   

 

Took off from Lock Haven this morning at 0630 and landed at Mifflintown, PA at 0700 for fuel, New Market, VA at 0915 for fuel, Twin Co.(Hillsville, Va) at 1205 for fuel and lunch, and arrived at Johnson, Co.(Mountain City, TN) as my final destination.  A total of 6.2 hours of flying time...quickest yet thanks to a new propeller and some light tailwinds. 

It took 6.8 hours going up which included a diversion for weather.  I camped under the wing for 10 days and it was great, I would have enjoyed being a barnstormer back in the day.  I flew 17.1 hours total for my Sentimental Journey of 11 days in our J3 Cub. I made it back to Mountain City at 1450, but it took me a lot longer to get home due to an 18 wheeler that fell off the road.

Here some neat stuff,,,If I drove to Lock Haven, PA it would have been 549 miles by the quickest route and 501 miles by the shortest route.  The quickest route was close to the flight path going up and I averaged 81 MPH and 19 MPG even though I had to divert for weather.  The shortest route was more like the return flight path and I averaged 81 MPH and 21 MPG.  Data was figured on flight time and gallons of fuel used.  Not bad for a little yellow sports car.

Griz

New Propeller Arrives

June 23, 2010

When we finished putting the propeller on Bob, the IA helping me, said you forgot one thing...As I went through a mental checklist of all the steps we accomplished, He said you haven't signed it off yet since you installed it.  I laughed thinking I forgot something more important.  But he is right, it ain’t done until the paperwork is done!

June 24, 2010

 

We flew to some grass field east of Lock Haven and had a wonderful evening defying gravity.  One last picture of Lock Haven and a J-3 Cub ready for its journey back home.

Griz

Airplane Crash

June 21, 2010

 

Emails sent today:

Well hopefully I have all the parts I need heading my way.  Should have her back together by Wednesday, but will only fly local since it will be too late to start home.  Might get out of here by Thursday, don't know where I'm heading since I'm solo, figure I'll take a different route home.  Weather is great here and perfect for flying home, just my luck that stationary front with all the storms out west of here might decide to move east and mess my plans up for getting home.  Have a couple good friends here, everyday has been a party thus far, even have use of a pool now.  Hoping to get pizza for lunch today...you all know how I like pizza!!!!

The other J-3 pilot I'm camping with has been coming to "Sentimental Journey" since the beginning, he lost 4 pints of blood when he got here.  He got out of the hospital when I moved across the runway.  He has been hanging with me till he feels well enough to fly back to Iowa.  We worked on his plane yesterday, he says he might leave early in the evening before dark, then I will be the last airplane left.  Been getting to know a lot of the locals, starting to feel like I live here.  Funny I'm still in the Appalachian Mountains just like back in TN.

Well got to go and play,

Griz

 

A plane just crashed within one block from me while I was eating my pizza about an hour ago in Lock Haven, PA.  Apparently a Cessna 210 had engine trouble and was trying to make it to the runway and didn't, crashing into a house and cars and a big fireball.  That's when me and some friends noticed the smoke a block away.  My friend went to investigate since we thought his neighbors house was on fire.  While we remained eating our pizza on his back porch he called shortly after telling me it was a plane crash.  He thought us as pilots would not want to come over, I said no it is because of the spectators that I did not want to come over to see.  The emergency folks were there and they can take care of that stuff.  All three on the plane are more than likely dead.  I'm back at the airport for now.

When you hang out with me it is never a dull moment...as my best friend says.

Griz

June 22, 2010

As you can tell by the picture, no one survived and the real reason my friend tells us not to come over becomes apparent.  I am practically standing at the fence to the airport property and the runway when I take this picture.  He was that close to making it, in fact he would have landed on the street was it not for the utility pole that caught his horizontal stabilizer and spun him.  My friend still wants to go flying after seeing this in person.

Another email sent:

Well I went walking for breakfast across the bridge and then went and visited the crash site.  Then I went back to the Piper Museum to see stuff I missed the first time.  Then the storm came and I got a ride back to the airport,  Think I'll watch one of the movies here at the airport until dinner time when my friend will pick me up to get some subs or Stromboli.  Should have my plane fixed by evening tomorrow, but may not leave until Friday so I can ride the tailwinds from the north that are expected on that day.  I'm planning to fly on the eastern side of the mountains coming back if the weather cooperates.

Griz

 

Awaiting Parts

June 19, 2010
 
Some Emails I sent:
Now waiting on a new prop...bet ya can't wait for this story to come out (prop strike)...oh well just part of life's experiences...really always wanted a new propeller anyhow, since I'm guessing that mine was installed in 1991, just didn't think I would be the last one leaving here.  Oh well, not a bad place to break, camping will be free now.  Believe it or not I'm not sad just keep laughing at myself...there is a reason for everything.  I'm learning a lot as I go through this adventure...still saving big bucks by doing it myself, even ordered my own propeller to be delivered here. $1270...no one else could beat my price.  I think the saddest part is Kathy is kinda stranded with me.  Oh well life goes on.
Griz
Subject: Just removed the bad prop
I believe I found a problem with the old prop...it did not have the six bushing in the back at the rear flange that I would expect to find.  So like I say probably a reason God let that happen to me.  Possibly a time bomb waiting to happen.  Tapered flange looks good so far.
Well Kathy should be picked up by her Father soon and I'll be on my own with the new friends I meet here.
I'll keep ya updated
Griz
 
Kathy’s Father did drive down from Erie, PA to pick her up for Fathers Day.  Shame he didn’t even go look at his Daughter's airplane.  They took the old prop with them and she would later rent a car and drive back to TN with the propeller, where it would later be sent off to Sensenich to be overhauled for $635 shipping included.  So we still have the 11 lamination wood prop.

June 20, 2010
With nothing to do but enjoy the beautiful weather here and watch the remaining planes leave I meet other friends that are stranded for various reasons...thankfully I did not have a jug come off my airplane during flight and have to make an off field landing, or have my gear collapse and ruin a $3300 new prop and engine.
Anyhow they tell me jokes at the camps and heard one I thought most of you would like.
"They stopped the oil leak in the gulf.............by putting a wedding ring on it."
Found the local Biker Bar, just outside the airport entrance.
Griz
 

Bomb Drop

June 18, 2010

  

An Email I sent out this morning:

I fixed my fuel leak and refueled with 10 gals, we are going to try our skills at the bomb drop.  $15 for three bombs...weather is great today, wish us luck...tomorrow will try to head to Erie for Fathers day before bad weather moves in, just think on that day last year we were crossing into Alaska.  One day if we live long enough we hope to fly this plane up there and back.  Gosh not enough time to do everything here.  It is getting crowded now, Kathy went and counted all the planes on our side of the runway, where most are camping.  She counted 139 and yes a lot are J3s, I really have a love for the L-4 (military J3) now...might have to trade or just start adding to my fleet.  Watched those "Those Magnificent Men and There Flying Machines" last night.

Griz

   

Beginning of the Bomb Drop Competition

   

When I returned home with a new propeller, I told folks that we won it at a Bomb Drop!  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it ;-)

Okay, so we found the only sign in the middle of the grass taxiway to both runways, why they insist upon putting that there is beyond me.  We didn’t even know we had hit it with the propeller, just thought I ran over a small board left in the field with the right wheel (For if I did, we would have never taken off).  So we took off and did our 3 flour bomb drops and returned to parking.  After I shut down the engine, I noticed from the back of the prop a very minute dimple on the leading edge.  My mind is reeling back to when we rolled over that sign.  As I hurriedly walk around to the front I see the damage and tell Kathy we are done…grounded!  After she see’s it, she asks, “Would a chocolate shake help?”  I said no as I was concerned more about how we were going to fix this.  So I had made friends with the local A&Ps there and went directly to them for ideas.

First we look to see if someone has a loaner prop to get us home with.  Meanwhile I look on the web to see if I can get a new propeller and how much.  Aircraft Spruce has one for $1270 in Georgia.  So after asking around and learning what a loaner prop is and getting some ridiculous quotes from a famous engine rebuilder there who also sells propellers (His famous last words were you’ll not find one cheaper).  So I call Aircraft Spruce and order the one they have in Georgia with free shipping, just $8 in freight for it being oversize.  It will arrive Wednesday and we’ll put it on using the Volunteer Mechanic, Bob Norton’s tools.

After the crowd had left, I had one question remaining.  What about that Prop Stoppage AD?  Even my own IA back home bit off on that one at first, and later recanted.  A local IA said to me, “You have a Continental, that AD only applies to Lycoming engines.”  A sigh of relief by me as I had only worked on Lycoming engines before.  There is a similar Service Bulletin by Continental, but it is not mandatory.  The other mechanics agree that since it is a wood prop and a tapered shaft that I will be okay, but we’ll check it for run out and cracks anyhow.

Griz

Museum Day

What a beautiful day, let the airplanes arrive!

 

Currently working a small fuel leak, but should have it fixed after I get a very small O-ring.  Sad, but I really don’t get this fixed properly until our later trip to the Triple Tree Fly-in where it started leaking again.

    

Off to the Piper Museum, well worth the admission price.  We rode in a golf cart there and would later walk back.  The following week I would walk back there and see what I missed the first time and get a ride back during a storm that came over after my visit.  Wow, did it get crowded with airplanes!

       

Back to the camping grounds and catch a few more forums.  Kathy won some valve cover gaskets for her airplane at one of them.  Then we have the famous ear of corn for 50 cents for dinner and off to the movies once again for the evening.

 

Griz