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

#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

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

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

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

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 #mechanic #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

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

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

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 #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

A former pilot and his teenage grandson stood by the fence at Tracy Municipal while I got fuel. The grandfather asked if I could give his grandson an intro flight, to which I said sure! We flew around Tracy, over the kid’s house, flew over Jerusalem airport and back to Tracy Muni. He got his first taste of holding pitch and heading. It took all of 40min. What did you do to solve the pilot shortage? :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf65l8XBnx8

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo

Airport Day at Lincoln Regional at Lincoln, CA - LHM. Good turnout and interesting planes.

#aviation #c140 #flyin #masto2hugo

Nice Piper J3 Cub at Hollister Municipal KCVH, CA this weekend. Snapped a photo of the J3, bizjet and a Stearman landing :)

#aviation #c140 #masto2hugo