The realization of a boyhood dream... Private Pilot July 17, 2006 - Instrument Rating August 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
No Breakfast Today, Just Fuel.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
New Rockwell Logos
Shout out to fellow Commander owner Rodney Crews for proving the new logos for 3 Tango Charlie.
Monday, November 11, 2024
Veterans Day
We all enjoy the freedoms our soldiers paid the price for. Let us all remember the families left behind, the lives left unfinished, the future left wanting, those bright minds, and loving hearts that answered the call.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Breakfast with the boys
Charles G included me in the text group to see who was interested in a morning flight for breakfast at Cape May, KWWD. Most had plans or meetings, Chris (YouTube Marauder92V)and I are retired and good to go.
The original plan was to meet at 8:30 but we pushed it back to 9:15 so we could preheat. I think we only dropped to 41 degrees here at OCMD but I think Charles said they were in the mid 30's. When I arrived at the hangar It was pretty comfortable inside so I didn't bother to preheat. I completed my preflight including a sump since I could not remember if I did it after fueling for the St. Simmons trip. I had 48 gallons on board and the sump was good on both tanks.
I tugged 3 Tango Charlie out and climbed aboard. It's been a minute as they younger folks say since I last flew. I got the fan turning then set up my video cameras, having forgot my tail tie down camera. I'm so out of practice for taking a small bag with the minimum for set up. 3 Tango Charlie purred along and built up temps as I completed my set up. The oil was now at 121 degrees so I was good for my taxi and run up. Winds were calm so I decided on runway three-two for departure.
Tango Charlie climbed away at 800 plus feet per minute, she was ready to work. I'm sure the cool temps helped but my girl made good power and I let her run. I settled in at 4.5 to cross the bay and ride just above the clouds. As I crossed the Delaware Bay I could see Cape May and let down through a really nice opening. According to the AWOS the winds were calm at Cape May so I set up for runway one and continued inbound. I pulled the power and had only set approach flaps but made a nice landing.
Chris and Charles were waiting, or were they judging my landing, not sure which. It wasn't to crowded this morning and we were quickly seated. I enjoyed my Creamed Chip Beef over home fries and passed on any meats. Chris had the B52 Bomber breakfast that had pancakes and eggs, it looked good. Charles had an omelette and bacon. We enjoyed a good chat about airplanes and just spent time catching up.
Once we sorted out the bill we headed back out to the ramp. Chris taxied out first, then me, then Charles. I climbed out to cross the Bay and rode over the layer below.
It was a smooth ride along the shore making ground contact along the way home. I eventually let down for Ocean City and announced that I would cross midfield and enter the left down wind for three-two. I called base and final keeping an eye on a Cessna that I watched taxi to the hold short. I never heard a call and as I turned final on a very tight pattern the Cessna rolled on the runway. I was not a happy pilot but made my call going around and that I would step to the right/north. The Cessna answered that would try and get out of my way.
I turned left/south and entered the downwind for three -two once again. After making a nice landing I taxied for the hangar. I guess I was a bit flustered but the event was good practice of my procedures. I shouldn't have let it get in my head and miss the second notch of flaps. A fun day of flying and I'm anxious to get back in the air again ASAP.
Sunday, October 06, 2024
St. Simons Island, GA
It's pretty crazy when you make friends with the Hertz car rental guy due to so many potential rentals and cancellations. Mary and I will give this destination another try, maybe in the spring. For now we'll make some plans for our November anniversary a bit farther south, maybe St. Augustine Florida. Maybe we should head south west and finally explore Galveston Texas. So many places we want to visit. Stay tuned!
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Return to Cambridge KCGE
We waited for the low clouds to lift then made our way to the airport. It's a longer process getting back into the preflight and getting things set up. My tail cam was dead, despite knowing I had recently charged it. I did a reset when I got home and it's once again working.
The flight west was fairly smooth, some bumps passing beneath the cloud layer. I made a nice landing into Cambridge and taxied for the ramp, the commander makes three.
The restaurant has changed, not much airplane memorabilia and now a bit more open seating. The register is gone and you now pay at your table, that works for me. The service is excellent the food was ok, scrapple was the best I've had since retiring to the eastern shore. Mary and I will return, its a half hour flight each way and I don't have to cross the Delaware Bay. Besides the eats it's worth the stop just for fuel. Here at Ocean City it's $6.50 a gallon, Cambridge is $5.88, I'll take the 68 cents a gallon savings anyday.Image by pngtree.com |
I'm glad to knock out some fly time and I'm excited for vacation in St. Simons Island very soon.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Great to be Left Seat Again
I decided that with Mary having a few scheduled Womens club events this morning I would dash out to the airport and get some left seat time with 3 Tango Charlie. No humidity again today and a clear blue sky, that works for me.
I took my time completing my pre-flight, wanting to be very detailed since it has been so long. I had taken on fuel last week sometime so I did restick the tanks and sump. I had 48 on board so I was good to go for any play time in the air.I did let the fuel pump run a tad longer then normal on prestart and then fired up 3 Tango Charlie. A few blades and she was purring along, obviously missing the fly time too. It was good to be sitting in the plane working through my checklists and pushing buttons.
It was a bit hazy today but overall a very nice day to fly with temps only hitting 70 at altitude. I followed the coast and made the loop around Cape Henlopen then pointed back for home. Just an hour round trip but it felt great to be back in the air.Saturday, June 29, 2024
Flight to the Valley
Saturday, June 22, 2024
What's the surprize inside?
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Manifold Pressure Gauge...FIXED!
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Annual 2024, The rest of the Story
Friday, June 07, 2024
Annual 2024
Day 1 Reposition
It’s that time of year, annual inspection for our Commander. I was up early and headed to the airport to sump my fuel and get in the air. I took off from runway three-two and pointed for New Garden Airport, N57.
It was a one hour flight from start up to shut down and the ride was super smooth. It was very relaxing just flying along with a quiet radio and cool air blowing through the cabin. Fellow Beech Aero Club member Anita, who also was my safety pilot, flew north to pick me up and fly and me home. We had to make a quick stop for fuel at Summit KEVY since New Garden was out of fuel. Once fueled we headed for Salisbury KSBY.
I helped hangar Anita and Dave’s Sierra then got a ride over to the Ocean City airport. Well, almost to the airport. I swapped text messages with Mary and we met for lunch, Anita declined my invitation to join us and instead went home to take Miss Daisy out.
3 Tango Charlie had just been pushed in the shop hangar a short time when I arrived. I managed to help Bruce with the compression checks as the other A&P Bill started on all the inspection panels. After the inspection panels were removed he opened up the inside of 3 Tango Charlie. Tasked with removing the seats he was baptized with the Commander right of passage. Bill struggled at first with the side carpet and console plastic making it hard to free the seat wheel bearings from the notch in the track. After showing him the removal video and giving my advice to keep the seat square in the track the pilot seat was finally free. Unfortunately there was still one more seat to remove. Bill removed the side carpet trim and positioned himself for best grab and slide contortion. The copilot seat was out in less then ten minutes start to finish. I think Bill would agree the seat removal is the hardest part of the annual inspection.
It was a long day and I was tired, hot, sweaty, and hungry. There was a Capriottis close by and the Bobbi (turkey, stuffing, and cranberry) was calling my name. Sadly they were closed. Instead I walked across the parking lot and hit another favorite, Two Stones Pub for dinner. With a full tummy I headed to the hotel. Once showered I enjoyed an ice tea then settled in for the Phillies game.
Day 2 Let’s dig in
Day two begins with a very detail inspection for oil leaks. The prop was dry, the dipstick showed some trace but that could be my poor skills when adding a quart. There was also a trace of residue on the oil pan but no drips. I’m satisfied with the inspection.
Next the plugs were removed, cleaned and gapped. There was 1110 hours on the bottom plugs which are fine wire and the center electrode was pretty worn. I decided to replace the four bottom fine wire plugs with the Tempest UREM38S. Prior to reinstalling we spent time with the borescope checking each cylinder.
Mag timing was checked and the left mag was retimed from its advanced state and the right was good to go. A five gallon bucket was positioned to receive my used oil and once the stream flowed the oil filter was next. Since it would take time to drain the filter I would return later to view its innards.
I took a break from airplane stuff and headed south to visit my sister and her husband in north Wilmington. The plan was to deliver old family 8mm movies to be saved on CD's and USB memory sticks. We are all looking forward to some good laughs. Since it was nearly lunch I picked up a large Bobbi at the Capriottis Delaware location. Never say quit. We sat and enjoyed our lunch while reading through all the ancestry work my sister has done. I finally headed back to the hotel around 5:30 a bit horsed from laughing. Good times!
Day 3 Inspection and waiting on parts
Let’s pick back up where we left off yesterday. The oil filter was cut and the screen removed, both were good. There was some carbon specs in the filter.
Filter inspection |
Screen inspection |