In May 2024, I needed to overhaul my engine. It wasn’t entirely unexpected and I even purchased Lycon prepared cylinders to have them on-hand. I was still hoping I will get a few hundred more hours out of it.

Yesterday, I took my in-annual 1947 Cessna 140, with an overhauled Continental O-200A engine for a series of engine break-in flights. Everything went very well, engine makes great power and runs very smoothly. Temps were good and after three hours of flying, I still have another 22 to complete the break-in process :)

#aviation #c140

I did an EAA thing this week. I made a small contribution to help revive EAA¹ Chapter 241 in DeKalb, IL.

I was the web master of EAA241 chapter website from 2008 to 2012. The setup was a freebie wordpress site which our chapter secretary could easily edit and add content. It worked well and I can still remember editing the banner image from various photos of our events.

#aviation #eaa

Another pilot year and another great Christmas Party in the Aerodynamic Aviation hangar :) Food was great, beverages were adult and everybody was awesome! Here to another safe and merry aviation year :)

#aviation #masto2hugo

#diy #engine #dehumidifier . Even when hangared, aircraft engines will go through temperature cycles and ingest humid air which condenses on metal parts causing corrosion. A solution is a closed loop system pumping dry air through oil filler neck and collecting “exhaust” via the breather. Instead of paying hundreds $ I built my own for $50. The 6lb of dessicant will require reconditioning every few months - TBD.

#diy #aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Imagine Christmas 1989 and you got this high end desktop air-band scanner from Radio-Shack for $179 ($455 in 2024 money). Wood grain, digital keypad, back-lit lcd display and 20, I say TWENTY memories!! Receives your airport ATIS in your kitchen 10mi away and has excellent selectivity and sensitivity. Now move 35 years later. $20 on eBay and 20 min cleaning gets you the same excitement and performance and you even remember programming :)

#aviation #hamradio #masto2hugo

Watched this video and snapped one of these “hangar scanners” :) #pilot #aviation #flying #avgeek #pilotlife #hamradio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcFilSVrQ2A

#aviation #hamradio #masto2hugo

I miss my plane and youtube fed me this #cessna #c140 walk around #video - it is a really nice looking example. I also do like how fabric wings fly :) #pilot #aviation #flying #avgeek #pilotlife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=125mpy8ZCKY

#cessna140 #aviation #video #masto2hugo

Looks like Trent Palmer is selling his #Freedomfox . I don’t know about that - $230k is a bit steep, but the market will sort it out. I’m expecting a sponsorship from FreedomCarbonCrafters or alike :) Neat airplane, but the super lightweight 4s and lightweight 5/7s seem to fly better. Even Trent’s videos were more fun to watch when he was flying lighter souped-up 912 vs the heavy + nose-heavy 915. I hope his new plane is a fun side-up-grade!! :)

#aviation #masto2hugo

Discussion on landing fees program in FLorida. Europe is a fan and their GA is barely scraping by. US has system of aviation FAA fund from fuel sales with local governments providing and charging for hangars, tie downs and fuel sales revenue along with taxes from business on airport related to aviation. It works and promotes aviation. Now local governments are trying to tax on services and infrastructure already paid for. https://forum.avweb.com/t/florida-airports-lining-up-to-impose-new-fees/25534

#aviation #masto2hugo

“Amphibian Story” by William Wynne - on #homebuilding , #aviation , #Oshkosh and life :) #flying #avgeek #pilot #pilotlife https://flycorvair.net/2016/08/28/amphibian-story/amp/

#aviation #masto2hugo

#oshkosh #osh2024 #oshkosh2024 experiences a fatal accident on the first day of the fly in. :( #aviation #pilot #flying #flyin #avgeek #pilotlife https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2024/07/22/2-die-in-plane-crash-in-field-south-of-eaa-airventure-oshkosh-grounds/74501785007/

#aviation #flyin #masto2hugo

Flight to Grass Valley, CA for an Armed Forces Day last weekend. There were food trucks, lots of great airplanes, flour bombing and spot landing demonstrations. I toured a C-47 which flew from Paso Robles, CA and gawked at all airplanes :)

#aviation #c140 #flyin #masto2hugo

National Champtionship Air Races (formerly Reno Races) found a new home in New Mexico! https://airrace.org/news/national-championship-air-races-take-off-for-roswell-nm-in-2025/

#aviation #masto2hugo

On Fri I sneaked out of VIP TFR and flew to New Cuyama, CA (L88) #flyin . Enjoyed fancy group dinner at Cuyama Buckhorn (excellent food) while Blue Sky Center hosted on-airport camping and movie night (“Only Angles Have Wings”). Next day I flew via Cajon Pass into Riverside, CA Flabob Airport (RIR) to Low&Slow flyin. Camped and ate well. On Sun marine layer lingered until 11 and short five hours later I was home. Fun was over, back to work.

#aviation #c140 #flyin #masto2hugo

3.3h on the Hobbs during a post frontal day. Windy, gusty, thermals, bases at 3500 and fun! :) Got cheap fuel at Gustine, CA (3O1) where time stoppped. Pilot lounge was clean, fuel was cheap but ~all hangars were vacant and falling apart :( Runway is in good shape. Wanted to stop at E45 but ceilings were too low, so I swung by O22 where I crossed paths with “Youtube Pilots”.

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

#PSA : if you use a personal locator beacon ( #PLB ) and wish NOT to spend a small fortune on a replacement battery every five years, here is a source of quality replacement batteries: https://beaconbatteryreplacement.com/ beaconbatteryreplacement.com/

followup:

All it took is two screws to open the #plb and take out a shrink wrapped 3-cell battery. It is composed of three CR123 Lithium Manganese Dioxide non-rechargeable cells wired in series. Popped in the new battery and good for another 5 years!!

#aviation #masto2hugo

Innovative #EAB #autopilot (SuperEco) based on aerodynamic trim-tab actuation from Aircraft Automation. Conceptually, it is very elegant. Not sure about RC servo reliability when used continuously, but for <0.5AMU one could replace all three servos every few years. Watch installation and flight demonstration video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UJoCmkDJFk

followup:

@h4890 hi, I don’t know regs in your country, but in US there is part91 for private owners operators which does not restrict flight over water. Part135 (air carrier) does. Aircraft age - no maximum from safety pov. I have a 77 year old airplane. All airplanes receive annual inspection to ensure continued operation. As long as a given aircraft type has parts availability, then age is not a safety issue. There is increased maintenance cost compared to new aircraft but at MUCH lower acquisition.

#eaa #aviation #masto2hugo

Finally weather improved and I could fly places. Today I checked out the town of New Cuyama, CA and their resurfaced runway at #L88 . Post frontal weather provided for postcard views, turbulence, updrafts and downdrafts. Lots of gliders spotted :) When departing L88, I caught a thermal and between the O-200 and nature, I was climbing in a steep turn at 1000fpm to quickly reach altitude to hop into the next valley.

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

#flowstate #fpv #documentary did an amazing job of showcasing the world of first-person-view #quad ( #drone ) #pilot s who #fly for fun, race and film. I used to fly FPV a lot and followed these pilots for years. The “out of the body experience” is amazing. I haven’t experienced it before or since #flying FPV. When you fly around yourself to “avoid that person” only to realize that it was you, while in #flowstate , is indescribable. Amazing & so familiar! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoMWFrqOmQo&t=5240s

#rc #aviation #masto2hugo

I started a long weekend today and went flying. Bumpy, thermals everywhere, cloud bases at 6k and the world is green again (bugs included). I took my #meshtastic Rak device and from 5k feet up I was “heard” 40 miles away in Fresno by a user who emailed me. My cabin is starting to look like a ham cave - antennas from left to right: #meshtastic , #ADSB -in, #APRS -out.

#meshtastic #aviation #c140 #adsb #aprs #masto2hugo

Belly paint touch up completed and with a break in the weather, I got some hobbs in the log book :) Dramatic clouds, Grumman F8F1 at Watsonville while I got coffee and bread pudding for all the sweat equity that went into the painting efforts.

#aviation #c140 #mechanic #masto2hugo

FAA 14 CFR Part 43: “Apply preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure …. where such coating is not prohibited or contrary to good practices.” I’m cleaning up areas where paint was compromised, then iso, alodyne, epoxy primer (the white layer) and will be able to feather and start applying color in a few days. Almost caught up with 40years of wear into my 6th year of ownership.

#aviation #c140 #mechanic #masto2hugo

Yesterday, during IFR evening, I completed ground BFR portion with a new-to-me instructor. I liked that he started by asking “what is your mission”? A: >50mi cross country in own aircraft; following which, he optimized our time to relevant topic areas. He stumped me with: “why idle power on the ground is NOT as much of a carb icing risk, as idle power in descent”? Q. what would you have said? (I tried a bunch of familiar to me explanations…)

#aviation #masto2hugo

Q. Can anybody confirm that they already got their aircraft registration 4-year renewal automatically from FAA? I tried renewing today and all I could find is this note:

#aviation #mechanic #masto2hugo

Caught up on 500hr Magneto inspection by upgrading to an electronic ignition (3.). The engine bay of this 1947 aero-craft is looking more and more modern every year :)

#aviation #c140 #mechanic #masto2hugo

Another Boeing whistleblower reveals detail of production issues of recent 737 Max which lost an emergency exit plug in-flight. https://leehamnews.com/2024/01/15/unplanned-removal-installation-inspection-procedure-at-boeing/#comment-509962

#aviation #masto2hugo

Whether you are a pilot or a civilian, here are some signs you should not fly as a passanger for the first time in a given small GA airplane: - you don’t know the pilot and his/er character personally - nighttime - instrument conditions - all seats are occupied if >2 seater - pilot is stressed (under pressure to make flight happen) - first flight after maintenance Following accident debrief highlights more than one of above: https://youtu.be/mKfM4PKPmvw?si=J1ewAPDI53z-s-lh

#aviation #masto2hugo

#FAA #MOSAIC #NPRM comment period ends in less than a week. Please voice support by leaving a comment!! MOSAIC in current form will allow Part 91 flights using Sport Pilot privileges and no-medical in airframes and conditions such as: - max 2 occupants - day/night - 54kt CAS stall - no speed/retract/weight limits - any powerplant (not just reciprocating) https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2023-1377-0001

#aviation #masto2hugo

GAMA and LAMA again stand in the way of progress - throwing roadblocks to MOSAIC rules. For once FAA has more initiative and thinking out of the box than those two special interest groups (ga and lsa manufacturers). The article comments are right on point!! https://www.avweb.com/uncategorized/gama-has-issues-with-mosaic-plans-to-issue-comments-to-faa

followup:

11th hour submission by GAMA to avoid public comment review: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/gama-raises-mosaic-safety-concerns/

#aviation #masto2hugo

Started 2024 with a new year flight and the first oil change. I closed 2023 with 114 hours :) Did 2.3 hours today, flew in the mountains and valleys, got fuel and checked out three nice Yak-50s. These always looked big in pictures but are much smaller in person. 1650lb empty and up to 450HP - not bad!

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Last flight of 2023. I did air work with slow flight, stalls and steep turns - intercepted my wake multiple times :) Got “cheap” fuel at KSNS where the tower closed between 9:45 and 10:30 and ATIS instructed traffic to use tower frequency as CTAF. I guess single controller operations… The video below is of a tight pattern, hard slip from 300ft, wheel landing and exit by taxiway closest to the fuel pumps :) https://rumble.com/v42um3q-c140-no-twr-ksns-for-fuel.html

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Had a day off at work and great weather, so I committed acts of aerial relaxation. Went to Half Moon Bay (KHAF) for brunch at Pilot Light Cafe and got fuel at Hollister on the way there. While getting fuel, I gawked at the Cobalt Co50 Valkyrie Experimental and talked to Coast Guard crew who landed for fuel and grub.

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Fun flight to log some of my last hours of 2023 - banked another 3.6 on the hobbs :) I wanted to land at Angwin-Parrett Field (2O3) for a while, but knew it is challenging. Today the conditions were right - cool day and light winds allowed for safe operations on this 1800MSL airport on a mountain top, with very high trees on approach and departure (and slight uphill takeoff).

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

#Christmas Party at the #Aerodynamic #Aviation #hangar at #RHV . Caught up with old and new friends, had great food and desserts.

#aviation #masto2hugo

Van’s files for Chapter 11 Reorganization protection. https://www.vansaircraft.com/2023/12/vans-aircraft-announces-chapter-11-reorganization/

#eaa #aviation #masto2hugo

Family trip to San Luis Obispo KSBP. My Son and I flew (1:45 each way) while my Wife and Daughter drove (3-5h depending on traffic).

#aviation #c140 #family #travel #masto2hugo

Takeoff and Land with me. 1947 Cessna C140 with O-200. video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYv5yIGPW0

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Flight to Paso Robles, CA (PRB) to visit on-airport Estrella Warbirds Museum and get brunch. Just taxi over to the museum, park your plane across from DC-3 and come-on-it!! Headwinds and tailwinds, 3.8h on the hobbs, and ~12 direct crosswind on landing upon return - no problem. This was my second time at the Estrella Warbirds Museum and first time checking out their automotive collection. One-Niner-Diner’s biscuits and gravy are A+ :)

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Short flight to pick up 100LL fuel at car gas prices :) Originally I was planning to fly on a cross country with a pilot friend, but last few days of forecasts were progressively worse (marginal vfr, rain, mtn obscuration). Decide to scrap the cross country but went up before noon. It was much better than forecast, but better to be wishing to be in the air, than wishing to be on the ground :)

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo