Monday, March 18, 2024

Vero Beach Vacation and gear issues

We are headed back to Vero Beach. Vero has become or favorite go to place over the last few years. We have searched for a condo for two of those visits but with Ziva nobody would take a large dog. 

This year we renew the hunt but we are also considering apartments. Mary and I have worked all the numbers and the easiest way to avoid an initial purchase cost with a possible land lease or HOA fees is to just rent an apartment. We even ran numbers to compare renting a pet friendly place for two or three months to the tune of 6-9k a month. For an additional 4k we would have our own place available all year round. As bad as my body feels when it gets cold I would be happy to head south in October and not come back until April. 

The Weather Watch

Some of my go to weather pages have changed or gone away but I have been working on some new to me weather tools for my cross country flight planning. I always use Foreflights Imagery and MOS on the weather selection along with Windy, Aviation Weather Center, Weather Underground.

Sunday 3.10 Pre-Flight 

It's the day before departure and I am going to complete my preflight and fuel sump. Total fuel on board for our flight south is 55 gallons. 3 Tango Charlie is ready to go and I'll turn on the preheats overnight for our planned departure of 8am.

Monday 3.11 Departure Day

Rise and shine we're on vacation! Well, almost. Bags were packed yesterday and the SUV is ready to go. Mary and I will make a breakfast stop at the local eatery, Abi's Diner. We have a few snacks and water packed for the flight.

Todays routing will be Ocean City (KOXB) to Mt. Pleasant SC (KLRO)for a fuel and go.There were no cameras today, I just didn’t feel up for it. 

We departed Ocean City in very strong gusty winds and pointed for Snow Hill VOR.  As we reached the mid peninsula we were rocked by strong wind gusts between 40 and 49 knots at six thousand five hundred. I believe the gust actually pulled the gear door open which triggered a gear warning light. I canceled flight following with Potomac approach and diverted to Accomack. 

I needed to loose altitude so I circled around and worked my way down to a safe altitude and activated the auto pilot for heading and altitude to perform the emergency gear dump just to be safe. I heard and felt all three gear drop with the nose gear needing a bit of a shake. Finally three green confirmed. 

I contacted Accomack (KMFV) operations to ask for a gear check as I made a low pass with a visual confirmation. The gear was down, now I hope it indeed was locked. Mary and I talked about what if situations when she asked if the gear isn’t locked then what. Awkward pause, then we’re done flying because it will belly in. I felt her anxiety with just her look. My bride said, trying to ease tension, I’m done flying if that happens, me too. 

It seemed like a long flight back to OCMD. I tried multiple times to have OC Ops give me one more confirmation but nobody answered. Did I mention the gusty winds? It was a serious ride em’ cowboy landing. I held off and somehow gently rolled the mains on followed by a nice wheelie, gently letting the nose gear touch. We were still rolling on three good gear.

I tucked 3 Tango Charlie in the hangar and we decided to drive to Vero Beach FL. I haven’t made this drive in forty years, but I was up for the challenge. After switching vehicles from my 2003 MB ML 320 to our 2017 MB GLC300 we were on our way, it was 10:30.

Two fuel stops with one fast food stop coupled with the second gas and go, and we were back at it. 15 hours later we arrived at our hotel, on the beach, in Vero at 2am.

Tuesday 3.12

Not exactly an early start but we did manage some sleep. A must stop at the Lemon Tree for breakfast and then a few errands. I needed to fill the tank on the GLC 300 and clean the hundreds of bugs off the windshield and grill. Really gross!

We made a stop to surprise Mary’s friend Jen at her new location. Her store is beautiful and she was surprised to see us. We’ll catch up later this week. Next we’re off to the super market for water and P&J Crustables for beach snacks. Mary also had to shop for a new bathing suit since her brand new one was still at home. We both forget the most simple things. The rest of the day will be relaxing on the balcony listening to the crashing waves while Mary reads her book and I work on this blog post. 

We decided on an early dinner at the Edgewood eatery. Wow, once again this place did not disappoint. I had the Bolognese that was awesome and Mary had the roasted chicken over polenta, spinach and chicken-Dijon jus which she said was tremendous. Sorry, the food looked too good not to dig in, so no pictures. 

Wednesday 3.13


The plan was to get up early, do breakfast, then some much needed beach time. Mary and I are going to meet my brother and his wife for lunch at 1pm in Fort Pierce. Instead, we slept in, I really needed the down time. My bride said I was out by 8pm and I woke up around 7:30.

We were both slow moving but did manage to make breakfast at 9am. Good eats and service at the lemon tree. 

With full tummies we headed west back across the Indian river Merrill Barber bridge to look at property. We liked the complex we checked out but they are not taking applications at this time because the waiting list is full. Why do I think this will be like the hangar wait list. 

The ride back to the hotel is twenty minutes. We freshened up and then headed south to Crabby’s Dockside to meet up with my brother. Lunch was excellent! Mary had scallops and I had the coconut shrimp. My bride also had two mojitos which made for a sooner then I hoped departure for the hotel. Lately it’s been a once a year visit with my brother so I was really looking forward to spending more time together. I plan on heading back down solo when Mary and our friend Susan, from Newport News, heads off to Rhode Island on a bus trip. We returned to the hotel and I worked on the blog while the princess slept. 

Thursday 3.14

Finally some beach time! It felt good getting some sun and just relaxing. Mary pulled her chaise out from under the umbrella to work on a tan, I turn brown just being outside.

We got a call from the hotel to switch rooms because we had a maintenance issue so we packed up and headed back to our room. We moved to the second floor ocean view where we should have been from day one, but that’s another story. 

It was nice to sit on the balcony and watch the waves and leave the sliding doors open for the sea breeze. 
We cleaned up for dinner and then made the short walk north to Bobby’s. Dinner was excellent, and so was the service.

Friday 3.15

Rise and shine! What a beautiful start to the day.

It was time to change things up for breakfast so we crossed the Indian river and headed over to Beach Bum Bagels. A busy little place that was very good as far as customer service and the food was also very good.

We headed to the beach and the umbrella/chair set ups were all reserved. The young man working this morning said we needed a special pass from the hotel. Hmmm, typically we pay cash or credit and we’re good to go. The new hotel policy requires a pass to rent the set up.

Mary walked over to the office to find out if we need the pass as guests, yep, we did, and there are none left. I kept chatting with the young man and eventually he rented us the set up since I convinced him we would be three hours max. He then could re-rent our set up for another full day charge, since we would not return once we left. Cha-Ching! He took my $30. 

Once showered and ready to find lunch we headed over to look at a few more properties. We found one apartment complex we really liked but would need to furnish. Mary and I also revisited some communities that are land lease, which seems to be the norm. We found one home, just a thousand SF, 2br/2bath

After meeting with the agent it was confirmed the roof and A/C are 17 years old. Most of the kitchen appliances will need to be replaced, and the big red flag is the bedrooms back up to a busy roadway. It was a super clean cute place that would be perfect for us, but I think it’s a pass. One good point was a new Wawa just up the street. One not so good was me twisting my already messed up right knee stepping out of the SUV on to the uneven yard. 

We’ll keep up the search but for now we are going to find a late lunch early dinner destination. 

Station 49 was our choice. We hit this place every year and we order the same thing. Mary gets the Carbonara and I ordered Paradelle with Bolognese. I also had a side of two Advil's, it helped eased the knee pain.

Saturday 3.16

We decided to try a new place for breakfast this morning. The Kountry Kitchen was really busy but service was excellent and the food just as good. Mary and I both were bums most of the day, her reading and me working on the blog. The balcony afforded us some sunshine without having to do the beach as we both just relaxed. 

Sunday 3.17


We decided to bug out one day early and head for home. Here we are crossing the Dames Point bridge in Jacksonville Florida. I made two fuel stops along the way and completed the 15.5 hour drive, arriving home at midnight.  

Now for the fun stuff. I scheduled gear service at Sussex aero for Thursday. I am taking today off to let the back get happy again then do some preliminary checks on the gear tomorrow. Update posts and pictures to follow. 

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Audio Panel Update

I have been searching for a slide in replacement audio panel for my PMA 8000B. The 800B has worked flawlessly, but I really want Bluetooth.  Currently I have been using a portable Bluetooth that I plug into the port pictured top right on the 8000B. The main problem is I have to charge it and sometimes I forget to bring it home with me. I could plug it into a battery brick while I'm at the hangar but that gets to be a pain. So, with all the above stated I began my search. I could not believe how hard it was to find an 8000BT unit. 
It was all about the right place at the right time. I had posted a wanted to buy ad on most of the forums and had one potential unit lined up. I was contacted by a friend and fellow pilot about a unit just listed on Beech Talk so I immediately responded to the BT post and although not the first in line, I was first with the money. Done deal!

FEATURES

  • IntelliVox® automatic VOX system with individually gated microphones

  • 6 - Place hi-fi stereo intercom with Soft Mute™

  • Monitor Mode allows automatic muting of non-primary radio 

  • 4 - music mute modes: Mute On, Mute Off, Radio Mute, Intercom Mute 

  • Dedicated front panel music volume control

  • Built-in Marker Beacon Receiver

  • Cellular telephone input with "DuTel™" telephone distribution

  • Easy front panel control for telephone side tone on/off

  • Digital aircraft radio recorder (IRS™)

  • Front panel utility jack for phone, iPod, or unswitched audio warnings

  • Split mode for dual audio panel capability

  • 2 - Differential, hi-fidelity stereo music source inputs (no ground loop noise)

  • 3 - Isolation modes - Pilot Isolate, All, and Crew

  • 5 - unswitched inputs, with front panel unswitched input

  • Selectable music distribution for passengers

  • Selectable intercom mode with special "Alternate Intercom Mode"

  • RAM (Radio Active Mute) eliminates constant back ground noise from radio static

  • PMA8000BT Audio Panel with Marker, Stereo Intercom, and Bluetooth connectivity

I should finally be able to Bluetooth music for our flights and use my iPhone to pick up an IFR clearance if needed. I hope to have the unit installed prior to our Florida trip.

Monday, February 26, 2024

IFR Currency in my Commander!

I found a willing participant, also a BAC member, that agreed to be my safety pilot. Anita had a lesson to fly first then as soon as she finished her Commercial lesson flying out of Salisbury she headed to Ocean City.  Anita and her husband Dave live in the same area as Mary and I. 

The plan for today was flying to Delaware Coastal(GED)and knocking out the RNAV GPS 22 and RNAV GPS 4 approaches with the Stec 60-2 autopilot. We would then head back to Ocean City (OXB)and I would fly the RNAV GPS 14, 32, 2 and the newish Localizer 32. I can't remember the last Localizer approach I shot.

I had activated the pre-heats when I got up this morning since we planed to fly at 1pm. 3 Tango Charlie was toasty as I completed my pre-flight and sumpped the tanks. I only hooked up the tail tie down camera and one inside the cockpit camera, I really wasn't feeling the need today. What a slacker.

Once in the air and headed towards HUVOX, the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) for the GPS 22, we transferred controls. I wanted Anita to become familiar with the Commander. 

Approach one would be with the autopilot. Buttonology is key and I know I had some rust to shed. Actually the work with the 480 sim helped and the button pushing was very good. My approach plate briefs flowed but I didn’t verify the CTAF frequency. I usually read the plate and verify on the GPS/Com. I did not. Instead I knew the setting and continued on. My bad. 

I let the autopilot fly the missed and did my typical cram, climb, clean, communicate. Forgot the cool. 

The hold for the missed is the same IAF waypoint for the GPS 4 approach. I did my lap at ZARVI and then flew the approach, autopilot still engaged. There was traffic landing on two-two so I broke off early and pointed south towards Ocean City. Two in the books and now for the rapid fire fun. 
Despite the winds on the ground it was pretty much smooth flying. I was now pointed direct to PFAIR for the RNAV GPS 14. I did not engage the autopilot but I did use heading mode. I made a nice procedure turn and proceeded inbound. This approach is LNAV, today I confirmed LNAV +V. Bizarre! LNAV is lateral navigation, the +V is vertical guidance. 

I went missed once reaching five hundred feet now pointing off shore for the GPS 32 approach, IAF GOBYO. I decide to save time and instead flew to intercept the GOBYO FEMOD leg. I made another nice approach then once again broke off early for pattern traffic. This time I cleared the area to the north to reposition for the Localizer 32 approach. 

Since I was tracking the VOR I decided to knock out a VOR check, flying the Waterloo 171 degree radial to the IAF FEMOD. Next I identified the localizer I-OXB and continued. I flowed through this approach feeling pretty good about my performance, at least so far. Once inbound I could descend to 1600’ but did not verify my altitude bug. Anita gave me the heads up on my call out of 1600 when I was bugged at 2600. Yikes, that was a bust. I pulled power and recovered, but again broke it off and headed south away from the airport. 

I reset the the Garmin 480 for the GPS 2 approach now pointing south over Assateague and dialed in for the IAF CIRAN. With the approach activated the autopilot helped finish out the day. I once again broke off early and joined the left downwind for runway 20 making an ok landing, dropping it on instead of rolling it on.

A big thanks to Anita for her safety pilot time, it was very much appreciated. I look forward to returning the favor.


Thursday, February 01, 2024

Breakfast with the Boys at Cape May

Dave and I swapped a few text messages and decided to once again meet at Cape May for breakfast. Dave's friend Steve had covid so he canceled and instead Bob rode along with Dave in the Dakota. Mary had passed on going, not into hearing the boys talk airplanes, besides, she had some sort of game day with the girls of the Women's Club. I sent a text to Chet, a hangar neighbor, and told him I had an empty seat and I was heading to breakfast in Cape May, he responded that he would meet me in one hour.  Perfect timing he would be there at 10:30 and I wanted to get in the air around 10:45ish. I did my preflight yesterday so I was good to go.

The flight was smooth and uneventful, that's always a good thing. Breakfast at the Flight Deck Diner was very good and I enjoyed my creamed chip beef over hash browns with a side of crispy bacon. Thanks for lunch Chet, my treat the next flight.
 Dave and Bob 
We took the traditional pictures of flight crews and airplanes then saddled up for home. The flight was once again smooth and full of good plane talk. I fell in line number two and made a nice landing back home at Ocean City. 

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Preflight for Cape May

I decide to preflight this afternoon in prep for my Thursday flight to Cape May, KWWD. 

Friday, January 12, 2024

First Flight 2024 - Service

This is not exactly the way I would like to start the new year with a first flight for service. I installed my new battery a few days ago and I'm ready to have the down lock switch installed on the left main gear. Sussex Aero had an opening today so I pre-heated over night and launched for Delaware Coastal (KGED) at 8:30am. This is a short ten minute hop and I'll fly it gear down.
The winds were calm and the sky was beautiful blue as I climbed away from runway three-two at ocean city. I picked up the weather at GED and joined the downwind for runway two-two. I was number two following a Cessna but extended for a jet holding short. I try and play nice, besides it was a great day to be in the air. 
Rob, Carl, and I pushed 3 Tango Charlie in the hangar and got her up on jack stands. Rob removed the existing switch along with the actuator lever/roller. The process moved right along adding three new stab connectors to the new wires on the switch. Each of the connections were wrapped in heat shrink, and then secured in  a spiral wrap to remain clear during a gear swings. 

We finished up with three gear swings to confirm the switch settings and the green down/locked illumination. We lowered 3 Tango Charlie back to mother earth and tugged her outside onto the ramp, service complete. 

I went inside to settle up the invoice and then climbed aboard and got the fan turning for home. I was thirsty and getting hungry since I only had a half of a bagel for breakfast. The flight home was bumpy but I really enjoyed getting back in the air. Once entering the downwind for three-two I dropped the gear and watched three green lights glow. It's good to be home and have all the systems working properly.