Growing up in the Midwest and living there most of my adult life, I just learned to accept that this time of year was cold
When we moved to Texas, I had to reset my expectations, especially this time of year. This evening after the wind died down was one of those flights that reminds me why we fly.
It was almost 80° on the ground when I took off, and after climbing to 2400’ I just enjoyed the sights and how smooth the air was. Looking out at the wings, thinking about building them in a cold garage in Naperville, IL. Now I am flying them.
I even managed a nice wheel landing with witnesses!
I have said this before and it never gets old, because others said it to me. Keep building. It is so worth it!
Very nice Robbie! For some reason when I’m flying and look down the wings I always pause at the aileron bellcrank mount rivets and pause there. Then I think about the hidden parts we now take for granted.
Beware of heat stroke! I think I enjoy the 90+ days less than the 0F days. They are all good though.
Good deal Robbie! Thanks for the reminder and encouragement.
We had a mild spring like day here in Carolina with highs in the low seventies and winds 7 MPH or less right down runway 05 … not looking into the evening sun!
A friend & his younger helper was at the airport putting new wing covers on his Rans S-12. When they knew I was going flying my friend asked if I’d take his helper for a ride. Twist my arm.
That not only gave me a reason to go fly (as if I needed one) but also presented the opportunity to give aviation fever to an unsuspecting applicant. The young man absolutely loved the flight. As soon as we were up he mentioned how he should have done this earlier in life. I told him that he needed to get busy building.
As builders become flyers they bring forth proof that a long range project can be done, will be worth the effort, and will have a great impact on family, friends, & community.
All of the above said well! This time of the year does come with its virtues; good performance and great visibility. Hope you don’t mind me sharing these taken a few days ago.
Between the holidays and the weather I haven’t been able to get out to the hangar very much. After about 3 days away from my build I feel the pull to get back to a rational world. Your videos are just the thing when I’m away from the hangar.
When I started the build, I read an article about how make it easier to stay the course on an extended project. For me, the article boils down to 2 things; Always leave your build excited about what your are going to do next, and to stop when you reach a point where it is easy to restart.
You’ll be absolutely amazed at the Sonex with a Corvair for power. I know I’m a bit of a zealot but this combination has really proven to be a great fit. I appreciate your comments on my videos and realize that I should update the channel as I haven’t put anything up in over a year. Unlike a few others it was never my intention to gather clicks, likes, and subscribers, but rather just to show how good the plane turned out and the fun of flying solo but also the overwhelming joy of sharing the privilege of flight with others.
That’s one of the things that EAA Young Eagles allows me to do. It was very touching at one YE event when two sisters both wanted to ride in “the little plane” as all the others were larger GA planes. Parents are sometimes astonished when they realize that I, a regular kinda guy, built the airplane. It’s not an award winning build but it is decently constructed with a pretty good amateur paint job.
It’s nearing 14 years old and I’m still as fascinated now as I was on the first flight. As I’m getting older I sometimes wonder how many more years the Good Lord will allow me to fly airplanes. I don’t know the answer but it’s been a wonderful journey this far.
You’ll get there sooner than you think as one day you will realize that the next thing on the list is the first flight. You will miss building but then you will have flying to fill the void.
I would add that I screwed up parts consistently when I thought I would do just one more thing as opposed to being satisfied with the day’s progress. Knowing when to stop is as important as anything in my opinion.
100% agree with this entire thought. And stop to eat. I don’t know how many times I’ve kept going because I was “hangry” and not thinking clearly and that’s when things often go south.
Thanks for the motivation. Another summer went by and I didn’t get current and continue my Phase 1 testing. Stuck with the ebbs and flows of the standard life complications, but posts like this and meeting Bryan Cotton in person last summer, seeing his plane and all the mods he’s completed, (and who keeps sending me encouraging texts too!) helps keep my hopes alive that I’ll get back into it sooner than later this coming Spring…
I really miss views like this enhancing my life experience.
Everything said here is spot on, and does indeed keep us flying as often as we are able. As I age further than I ever thought I would, I do wonder when I must stop flying. But, being careful and observant to the three things that, for me, are pretty much decision makers to go or not, they are, weather, aircraft, and myself. These three things have made me aware of lifes restrictions. Happy New Year, fly safely, be safe, and as they told me many years, keep the greasey side down!!!
I realize this thread is three weeks old, but there is much motivation foder here. Now that I am retired I go out to the hangar often to work on the plane - average 5 days a week and spend 3-5 hours out there. Finally buttoning up the other wing, and have most of the aft fuselage sub-assembly pieces ready to go so I hope to make quick work of the aft fuse and get the empennage on it as well.
It’s been very foggy here for the last two weeks. Fog rolls in off the ocean before sunset and doesn’t lift until after lunch. Makes for a small fly window, but some really cool pictures. I took these yesterday.
Nice pictures - I also love the views that one can experience in aviation - one of the reasons I fly.
With less than 300 hours of experience I had back in the day when this happened I already was “lucky” enough to be “baptized by fire”. One of the streamers of main lightning bolt apparently hit my windshield bow. I did not even see that it was that quick - I was kind of glad - it would have probably scared the crap out of me if I did. I saw main bolt and figured I will watch my gopro video once I got home frame by frame. Few frames contained main lightning bolt and only 1 frame out of 60 per second contained this streamer hit. I thought I was famous - but then I found out that statistically a pilot is expected to be hit by the lightning once in 1000 flight hours.
- but then I found out that statistically a pilot is expected to be hit by the lightning once in 1000 flight hours.