Tales from the Log of the Ruptured Duck

[Kayak Jack]

Adult Eagles

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is one of the best organizations I've ever been associated with. They have initiatives in many directions; all of them are helping people to improve and expand themselves. For years, their Young Eagle program has given kids from 8-17 years old their first airplane ride. About a year ago, they started Adult Eagle. This is for people over 18 (some are wayyyy over 18) , who are seriously interested in learning to fly.

Greg, our Adult Eagle coordinator, handed off a referral to me. Raychell is interested in fixing/flying aircraft. This young lady is currently working her way through college (a large plus in my book!), and is intelligently seeking pathways to follow. I called and talked with her. When I invited her to the hangar, I suggested that she bring along her Mom or Dad. "Yeah! Mom is kind of interested too." Turns out, her Mom's Mom used to fly! BINGO, two for one.

A couple of weeks ago, we met at the Bestsellers Coffeeshop, had a long conversation over coffee, and then went to the hangar. Today, we met again. I'd asked Julie to go along too, to help put them at ease. She did a very smooth job of it. Our flight yesterday, where Julie met the lady wearing a "CHICKS FLY" tee shirt picturing three, baby chickens fluttering their wings, was mentioned. Raychell and her Mom both are enthusiastic about that, and learning more.

We all three went through a detailed preflight inspection of the Duck. I showed and explained stuff as we walked around the plane. I had them pull fuel samples from the wing sumps. They learned to check for correct color and smell to confirm that it really is 100 octane low-lead fuel. Then, I added some water to the fuel sample so they could see what that contaminant looks like. Then, some dirt so they could see an example of dirty fuel. I also had them dip the tanks, read the dipstick, and convert that reading into gsllons of usable fuel.

I explained how these tanks each hold 19.5 gallons total, but have only 18 gallons of usable fuel. This leaves 1.5 gallons below the top of the stand pipe, to buffer against contaminated fuel entering the fuel line and getting to the carburetor.

While I called for a weather briefing, Julie ushered the guests down the row of hangars to our EAA Chapter hangar for icecream and a restroom break. Their conversations were contributing to the Adult Eagles joining into the aviation community while I merely furnished technical details about airplanes. IE: Julie is the one who is really accomplishing the end goal here.

Raychell joined me for a short flight. We went W'ly, toward low ceilings preceding a weather front coming in off of Lake Michigan. As we encountered those low clouds, we turned tail and returned home. As she watched the landscape going by, her excitement showed all over. She caught fire! Now, I had accomplished my part of the job. One down, one to go. We landed, taxied back, and loaded up Mom. Like daughter - like mother! BINGO! Wow, it worked as advertised.

Back at the hangar, I let them wash bugs off the leading edge of the wings. They have to learn to respect the plane, and how to care for her. Then - off to the Bestsellers Coffeeshop and Vault Deli for a well earned lunch and postbrief of the day. They couldn't be more satisfied or enthusiastic. We invited them to join us Friday morning at the pilots' breakfast. Also, at the pancake breakfast on the 8th, where Julie will be one of the breakfast team doing the cooking. With smiles spreading from ear to ear, they said, "Yes!"

Cheated death again.

 

[Kayak Jack]

A Solo Round Robin

With Julie gone this week - spending time with daughter and granddaughter, in a cottage near Lake Michigan - it's just the Ruptured Duck and me. This morning we went in search of a cuppa coffee. Three airfields later, we were back at Mason Jewett. In between, we flew over some typical Great Lakes territory.

Our first target was Dobie Lake, about 6 miles NNE'ly of Mason Jewett. I've written about this bottomless, mucky pond before. It is a couple miles from the corner of Dobie and Stillman Roads. As a kid, I knew both Don Dobie and Ralph Stillman, farmer families after whom the roads were named.

That corner is where my granddad was born in the mid-late 1800's. In those days, a few houses were gathered there, and these German farmers nicknamed that settlement as "Snickerville". Grandpa was born in the horse and buggy age, and lived into the space age. He passed away about 4 miles E'ly of where he was born, and now lies nearby in Leek Cemetary.

The Duck and I flew on. We neared, and landed at Linden Field 9G2. There are lakes around 2 1/2 sides of the runway, and uneven heating gave a few bumps in the pattern. As I lined up on final, there's a 40' tree right in line with the runway! Funny, I didn't recall that tree. To compensate, there is an offset threshhold about 800' down the runway where we're supposed to land after staying high over the offending tree.

A fellow in a Piper Cherokee was already practicing landings at Linden. We easily integrated in the traffic pattern and on the runway. And, I took off for the next leg of the trip.

I'd originally planned to land at Howell KOZW for a cup of their good coffee, but changed my mind. Visibility was at least 20 miles today, maybe 25. When I was still about 12-13 miles out from Howell, a Cessna took off and was flying westerly across my flight path from left to right. I called out my position and intentions, and turned on the landing lights. He radioed that he had me in sight, and then did something strange. He entered a left turn, kept coming around, headed in my direction, and then continued the turn to complete a 360, and continued on westerly! A well executed - but pretty indecisive - turn. Strange.

I asked the Duck whether or not we should continue on to land at Howell, or head on home. She shrugged her shoulders, said she didn't care, so we turned right and headed home. There, it made sense to do a simple straight in rather than go around the pattern. I tucked the Duck into bed and headed off to get that cup of coffee. I'd cheated death twice, and sought a reward.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Threading The Needle
Yesterday, Julie and I flew to Owosso Community Field KRNP for coffee. Well, actually to get away, go palaver with some interesting folks, and also to have coffee. But, the really interesting part of the trip was on the way home.

Flying SW'ly from Owosso back towards Mason, our flight track meandered past the town of Williamston. It's an interesting community in and of itself, but that isn't the story either. Clouds were only broken and scattered on our way north, but were pretty solid on the way back south. And worst of all, the ceiling was only about 15-1,600 feet above the ground. That put me at 900-1,000 feet above ground level.

The Wing-X that is on my iPad guides me well. Up ahead of that little blue airplane creeping along there on the moving map - were some red triangles, towers. Normally they are a non-issue; we're flying way higher than the top of towers. But today, at low altitude, towers were sticking up above the horizon. That meant they were higher iup in the air than we were. Now, they're an issue, damn!

We both kept our eyes on the towers out there, and on the iPad for both confirmation that we weren't overlooking anything, and looking out ahead for more obstacles. In fact it was easy, but there is still some pucker factor. I'd not followed my normal pattern of flying way out around latge patches of antenna farms, and instead went through them. Other pilots on here will confirm that it wasn't the best idea. sigh

Cheated death again.

 

[Wannabe]

If you Push the envelope, it may Rupture. Keep on a cheating Death.
Bob

 

[Kayak Jack]

I actually try to not push the edge of the envelope. I usually try to fly in that worn crease, the one right down the middle.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Mason Aviation Day

I've mentioned before that a big part of flying is the aviation community. In America, there are three, major categories of aviation. They are military (self explanatory), commercial (where a customer or client pays for a service), and general aviation (GA ). GA is everything else that is neither of the first two categories. Mostly, GA is recreational - read "fun".

These aircraft range across a broad spectrum. In the bucket of "certified" aircraft are those designed and manufactured by a real aircraft company. Familiar names like Cessna, Piper, Beach, Aeronca, etc., plus new ones that are newer on the scene. All of these planes have FAA certification all over every bit and piece. That mixed blessing has a tendency towards predictability that is both reassuring and stultifying (read, "innovation and change will be reliable, but painfully slow and expensive").

In the other bucket are experimental aircraft. These still have to be approved by FAA prior to flight, but on a looser leash. Designers come up with features not yet found on certified airplanes, or the same features at a fraction of the cost. These aircraft a normally built by the owner/pilots from kits. This process takes, say, from 2 to 40 years. Some. Of course, are abandoned and never completed. Experimental aircraft are alive with innovation. Designers like Burt Rutan made a plane that flew non-stop around the world - without air-to-air refueling.

Today, at Mason Jewett Field KTEW, we had the last, grand event of the summer. Twenty-five to fifty aircraft fly in from all over. Three hundred to a thousand people come to visit the soirée, eat breakfast (pancakes, sausage, eggs), have lunch (pulled pork, charcoaled steaks, brats), purchase a ride in a Stearman (open cockpit, bi-winger, round engine), purchase a ride in a helicopter (one like on M*A*S*H), walk around all sorts of aircraft, talk with aviators from all over, and get acquainted With pilots and families who fly for fun.

Kids are often a big part of this. Over the last few years, members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) have given rides to over one and a half million kids. For some, that's the end of it. For others, it's only a beginning. Some enter career fields in aviation - pilot, mechanic, administrator, manager, etc. today, we weren't giving rides. Today was to let theM visit, see, listen, and learn.

Julie and I worked setting up shelters for shade or rain protection, cooking breakfasts, and escorting friends around. I started at 06:30, and by noon I was done in. We pulled out and retreated to the "old reliable" Bestsellers Coffeeshop. Friends there were warm, frozen drinks were cooling, and we relaxed a while. Rollie Dart even got to talking a bit about going into Iwo Jima over 70 years ago.

We had a good time, feel good about being involved in this, and are glad we're back home again.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Renaud The Fox! Tally Ho!

Today, Bud Hart and I flew (nearly) to Hell. I'm not sure it's really a real town - but, it IS on the Michigan roadmap. It was hazy, with visibility at 4-5 miles at 3,000 feet. Air Traffic Control (ATC) cautioned us about a Cirrus coming in on a pretty near collision course, overtaking us as it quartered in on our left. I climbed to 3,500' and watched him cross below and in front of us. Then, he disappeared into the mist out there. Thanks, ATC.

We did a right turn to SW'ly, And doglegged the next 40 miles over pretty lakes, fields of soybeans and corn, an interstate or two, and into Hillsdale KJMY for a cuppa. A fellow from coldwater KOEB landed behind us. The three of us, and the field manager kicked around recent doings at Oshkosh Air Venture, reforestation, and other stuff. Then, we took off for Charlotte KFPK so Todd could check out a couple little things on the Duck. Here - is where we saw a pleasant surprise.

"Bud - look over there! A FOX!" By god, right there not 40 yards to our left, was a resplendant red fox. My god, what a beautiful animal. We were still decellerating down to taxiing speed. We startled him, he flattened, and then ran into a thick patch of cattails in between the runway and the taxiway. In just three seconds, we'd had a very rare opportunity - a haealthy fox, in open sight, in open daylight. It was 55 years ago the last time I had such a sighting.

Frankly, the rest of the flight home was pretty anticlimactic. We landed back at Mason, tucked in the Duck, and went to lunch. Ho hum.

 

[Wannabe]

Jack,
As far as I know we do not have Red Fox here. Never remember anyone ever mention seeing a fox. When I was younger wolfs were everywhere down here, not so much now. I think they are endangered. Now coyotes and buzzards kill newborn calves. What a neat sighting you had.
Bob

 

[Kayak Jack]

It was a neat sighting. I think my eye just caught his movement off to the left. The last time I saw a fox in the open like that, I was in college. The night before had been a full moon and a light snow. Perfect prescription for rabbits to be out and a cavorting. So, I was dutifully hunting.

I quit when I got to an open, 40 acre field. Fox tracks were there in the fresh snow. Renaud had worked the field in a longitudinal grid, his lines of track about 20 yards apart straight across that field. Once in a while, his track would vary off to right or left. Each time, there would be a smsll bunch of fur in bloody snow. It didn't take me long to recognize that I was wasting my time here - this field had already been hunted by a real expert.

As I turned to go hunt squirrels in the woods, the fox broke cover and ran across the field from my right to left, about 90 yards out. After he disappeared, I walked over to see his tracks. I never cut a track! I couldn't find any disturbance in the fresh snow at all.

 

[Wannabe]

Renaud the Ghost.

 

[tx river rat]

We have reds and greys in this part of the state and a bunch of yoteys
Ron

 

[oldsparkey]

We have Foxes all over the place. Back before they put in the subdivision back of my place the guys trained there hounds running Foxes in the pasture that use to be there. Now the Foxes are using the homes and yards as a good hunting place since no hounds are running them at night.
Plus they still have the Little Big Econ State Property to hunt and a lot of private land that's still woods.

When one gets hit with a car and becomes road kill it's a good way to get some nice hair ( tail ) for tying fly's to fish with.

I was told that one definition of the term Chuluota is Indian for Foxes Den and if you are with the other tribe it is Island of Pines. Either one describes the area pretty good.

Chuck..........

 

[Kayak Jack]

A Fly In Taco

I toyed with the Idea of using the title "A Flying Taco", but decided on honesty. (Chuck once told me that honesty is the best policy. Then, he assured me that his was next best). ;-)

Julie and I flew up to Gratiot County Community Airport KAMN near Alma. Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter# 154 was putting on a fly in taco lunch. And, you know me - "when temptation comes, I jump right in!" Tacos are the world's second best thing to eat.

Yesterday, we were practicing slow flight, just poking along. Then, we refueled. Today, the Duck was pawing the ground to get out of sight of the home patch. Both yesterday and today, we had westher dominated by high pressure. Yesterday, the humidity was low (for the Great Lakes) at 40%, and we had over 25 miles of visibility. Today, humidity was a bit higher. A few more clouds, and a bit less viz. And when we arrived at the Alma field - we NEEDED that viz.

From 10 miles out, after we were released from flight following, and switched over to the local traffic frequency. These frequency assignments are not unique. And traffic from other Michigan airfields who are also assigned 122.8 was all over the band. Traffic from over 100 miles in all directions were stepping on other transmissions. It was hard to separate and understand what the local traffic was saying from what pilots 25-100 miles away were saying. And, there had been snother aircrsft catching up to us from behind. Where was he now?

As we approached the field, there were 3 and 4 other aircrsft cycling into and through the traffic pattern. "See and avoid" gets a bit dicey when it's that busy, and I really appreciated Julie's eyes on the sky around us. As it turned out, we slud into a hole big enough for us. Another bird was coming in right behind us, so there was no dilly-dallying. We exited the active runway at the first turnoff, and were marshalled to a parking spot.

As we strolled up to the hangar thst smelled just like a taco, we found several friends who had already arrived. More friends were inside the hangar. This is part of the enjoyment of the aviation community. One couple had flown out last night to celebrate an anniversary. Then, this morning, extended their trip to include the tacos.

Inside, Rosy wad serving us tacos for lunch. Fitting, because last week Julie was cooking Rosy's breakfast. Have I mentioned that aviators enjoy good food?

As we walked back out to the Duck, two fellows taxied a T-28 in. The guy in the back seat had a brace on a game leg, and requested assistance climbing off the wing , and down to the ground. "Yes sir!" Two of us lent a helping hand, and he got down uneventfully. I then asked one of the guys who was marshalling traffic to provide guidance for the Duck as we taxied out in between rows of parked planes and Gagglrs of wandering people. They did a stirling job, and we took off on runway 18 and headed for home.

Back home at Mason Jewett Field, we made an ubeventful landing, taxied in, and tucked the Duck into bed. Having cheated death twice already, we headed out to a biryhday party for a friend. She's now 10 years old (in dog years, that is).

 

[oldsparkey]

Chuck once told me that honesty is the best policy.

I see you still have not mastered that. :lol:

Chuck.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Well . . . . . . . ;-)

 

[oldsparkey]

Well . . . . . . . ;-)

Deep Subject :roll:

 

[Kayak Jack]

Yep. And three of them are, "Well, well, well!"

 

[Kayak Jack]

Couldn't Get It Up Today

Something you learn when you get involved in flying - is weather (WX). Soon thereafter, you learn that today's forecast for tomorrow's WX will be a different forecast by the time tomorrow morning rolls around. And finally, both of those forecasts will be at least a little bit wrong. Sometimes REALLY wrong.

I'd planned a 251 mile round robin in the local area. By flying a circle around my home field (even one with crooked doglegs in it) I'm never over 30 minutes from home. Last night, the forecast was for some cloudiness and reduced visibility, but flyable under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). This morning's forecast promised clearing along the flight path between 10:00 and noon local time.

We got up early, drank no coffee to prevent too many stops, preflighted the Duck, refueled her, and checked weather. The entire route was socked in! We went to the coffeeshop and met friends, had coffee, had lunch, and the route hadn't cleared yet. By 1:30pm I pulled the plug.

To put it succinctly - I couldn't get it up this morning. sigh

 

[Kayak Jack]

Keeping It Started

WX today was a lot more normal than it was yesterday. All the fog (low visibility) and low ceilings were pretty well cleared, or well on the way, by 10:00. And, the Duck's new battery had arrived.

For the past couple of weeks, there have been signs of a low, or weak battery. It's still the same battery that was in there six years ago when I bought her. Winter weather will be here in a couple of months. Cold weather is not kind to weak batteries, or to the thick oil in air cooled engines. So, rather than wait a month or two and get caught with my knickers around my knees, I chose to stay prepared. We flew to Charlotte KFPK to have the new battery installed.

While they were doing that, we borrowed the courtesy car and went for lunch. Now, airport courtesy cars can be a whole, other story. The general setting is that, like all small businesses, airport Fixed Base Operations (FBOs - the operation that manages the field, keeps up the passenger terminal, fixes aircraft, sells fuel, runs flight training schools, etc.) always have to be well managed. Cash flow is always on the mind of the honcho.

So, buying and maintaining a car is sometimes simply not done. Where cars are kept, they are road worthy, but not something in which you want to set off cross-country. Todd has been buying used police cars once in a while. They have usually had good maintenance, but had often been run for long mileage. Well, this one runs quite nicely, and a trip of a couple miles is fine. But, goodness, I'm glad that I don't have to ride in that rundown seat from here to the Pacific Ocean!

Now the Duck has a reliable battery, and shouldn't present problems for 4-7 years. I expect it to last a long time, and serve me well. Particularly since I teplaced the 15 amp generator with a 30 amp alternator. That eliminated all of the pesky, little, electrical problems that had bothered the Duck before I bought her. Fr'instance, a previous owner removed the battery and took it home with him to keep it warm! That sounded like what farmers used to have to do with Ford tractors in the winter.

When he mentioned removing the battery, I somehow was able to hold my tongue. I smiled. Later, when my car doors were closed, I said to myself, "Not only no - HELL NO!" The alternator is a welcome, integral part of the Duck.

The flights to and from Charlotte were just as they should be, uneventful. We flew low because the radar in Lansing KLAN was down for maintenance, so flight following wasn't available. Most planes were high, so I stayed low. Winds at both fields were between 30-50 degrees off to the side, but pretty steady. So, correcting for the crosswind component wasn't difficult. Both landings were tolerable, We cheated death again.

 

[Kayak Jack]

A Round Robin

Whereas a week ago - the foggy, foggy dew didn't clear off until after lunchtime, today it cooperated. This morning, it burned off, WX cleared up, and we had a good day to fly. We lifted off and proceeded NE'ly to Owosso KRNP.

As we entered the traffic pattern at Owosso, a lady was taking off. We landed and went into the familiar terminal. The forecast said that by late afternoon, it would be about 81. Well, at 10:00 it was already 80, and humid. We cooled off inside and it felt good. We really appreciate the nice facilities at air fields.

As we were taking off, another bird was dropping in, and one was taking off behind us. We flew NW'ly towards Alma KAMN. A couple of little, farm towns - Ashley and Bannister - slid past. We neared Alma field and did a half left to fly WSW'ly to Greenville Community Field 6D6. About 5-6 miles to the south of Greenville lies the town of Belding. 6D6 lies in between the towns. We circled, flew the traffic pattern, and landed. Nobody arround.

All entry doors to the terminal buildings in Michigan have the same combination. Almost all of them have one of two styles of a mechanical lock on the door. Well, Greenviille has an electronic lock, and it's a bit different. We had to Go back to the directory of Michigan airports and read the directions on the page labeled "Greenfield".

Kinda reminded me of the time we were working to rig B-52 bomb bay doors. The team chief had started on page 2 of the procedure. He had omitted step #1, where they were first supposed to relax all tension on the cross cables, and let the door assume its natural shape. After a week of frustrating failures, He convinced me that I should convince our colonel to ask for a depot team for assistance.

Well, the team arrived, readily discovered my team chief's oversight, and coached our own guys on proper rigging procedures. I now have a nice plaque with two bronzed latches for B-52 bomb bay doors. On it is the reminder That applied to me getting in the door today: "When all else fails - read the directions." OUCH!

After we gained access, we relaxed for a bit. Greenville has a very nice terminal building. Only a year or two old, and very well kept. Also, they have a very active Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter here. Lots of pictures of kids and airplanes. We like that. But, it was already past lunchtime, so we headed home.

Our flight home had a few bumps as we overflew ponds and lakes. And, of all things, we encountered more traffic in our own, home pattern than anywhere else. To aggravate things, one of them was a hotdog. He cut into the pattern and disrupted it. We adjusted and made a pretty decent landing.

We'd cheated death at least three times. Off to the Los Tres Amigos restaurant for a margarita, chips and salsa, and lunch. Life is good!