rockydoc

Thanks. Which oil should I use?

I've been using Phillips 20W-50W oil in my bird. Recently, changed one cylinder for a new one. The mechanic put in 100W. What is the best oil for me to use now with only one new cylinder?

Here's the sender's email address: SULLIVAN, DIANNA M (DIANNA.M.SULLIVAN@CBP.DHS.GOV)

Just received "Proof" that Big Brother is watching me since my encounter with HLS at KNEW. I received an email in my private email account which started off by saying, "Hi Rocky." It went on to say that it had come to the government's attention that when a particular airplane that I had previously been known to fly had left the USA without filing an eAPIS flight plan with manifest. It proceeded to outline the responsibilities of the PIC for submitting the form along with the penalties to the PIC for not having done that. It then said that, "If I wanted to discuss this" with the sender to contact them at that email address. Now, the reason I know they are watching me is because I was not the PIC on that flight nor was my name on the ATC exit flight plan that was filed nor was any email address of mine. Being an attorney, I fully understand that they were on a fishing expedition trying to get me to give them information. I have chosen to ignore this correspondence since it has nothing to do with me and I choose not to volunteer information. Rocky

Thanks for sharing that latest up-date on current position of CBP. Maybe this means I won't be experiencing retaliation for my cooperation with AOPA's Mark Baker in bringing my case to the attention of HLS. When the HLS agent, Louis Weaver, had the FAA come out and declare my airplane Unairworthy, I felt quite vulnerable for continued retaliation. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I might add one note, though, when i cleared CBP three days ago on a commercial flight, the immigration agent, after looking at her computer screen, said to me, "Are you a pilot?" Hmmmmm More personal info on me in a government data base. Also, Rick Gardner is a great guy. He has been very helpful to me over the years. Rocky

For the past 20 years, I have flown in and out of the USA from Mexico. Filing an eAPIS on-line is a non-issue and should not serve as a deterrent to your flight. What should serve as a deterrent to you is the treatment that you "might" experieince from CBP and HLS. If you read my experience in another thread about my treatment from HLS in KNEW you can understand why I have nothing but disdain for Agent Lous Weaver and the HLS. They are arrogant pricks who thrive on intimidation and bullying tactics--why...because they can. Try doing what I did, respectfully denying them entry to my airplane (although I knew they would find nothing because there was nothing to find) and, after excessive bullying, exercising my right to have an attorney present--only to be told that my wife and I could go, but we couldn't take our airplane or any of our belongings!!!! Who is their right mind would subject themselves and their family to this type of, lest I say, Gustapo treatment when you rent a car and drive 21 miles to your destination. No choice in my book!!!! Rocky

On cross country trips I always top off both tanks. Therefore, I had sufficient fuel to fly around until dawn or even make it to a lighted airport. However, as any of you know, bad accidents rarely occur when just one thing goes wrong--it takes several malfunctions at the same time to turn an "inconvenience" into a crash. Therefore, when the electrical system failed, it could have been a warning of a multi-system electrical problem. i.e magnetos filing next? Who knows, eh. To us, the best course of action was to land safely as soon as practical. A night landing at an unlighted small airport only makes you become more focused and careful about your "go, no go" decision making process. If you are a seasoned pilot, it is just a minor "speed bump" in your day. Rocky

Finally installed 8 Tempest fine wires. Am anxious to see if I can see an objective performance difference.

Absollutely the BEST idea. I have always purchased the premium legal plan from AOPA. Best aviation investment that I ever made. I have used in numerous times to educated myself on questions like this. i.e. Is this an accident or incident? AOPA legal plan pays for you to use a local aviation attorney (whom AOPA is happy to recommend) for up to six hours at no cost. That attorney is most times a GA pilot also. With my recent run in with Homeland Security, I consulted with the Chief Legal counsel of AOPA on numerous occassions. He even went straight to the head of HLS on my behalf. Can't over emphasize the value of spending the extra $100 for the preferred plan. Rocky

WOW! That looks great. I'm ready to order one. Any suggestions on which is best, the 50% dark bronze of the 50% dard green?

Class C & D airports have unlighted runways.. I personally agree your approach. i.e. " A GA airplane without electricity is probably not an emergency. Uncomfortable, yes. Emergency, no..." What did you mean, "Showing up at a class B airport without electricity and no back-up systems would be improper?" Are there back up, portable transponders available? Hand held radios with good antennae does seem to be the best option, but altitude encoding transponders????? Also, what is "the better option" to go with? Thanks for giving this some thought. I've been pondering it ever since it happened. And, lest we forget, what is the best way to appraise the ATC flight following so they don't send out the search team. We called them on a land line once we landed. Cheers, Rocky

Come on guys. Help me out here. Personally, I don't want to involve the FAA in anything that I can avoid. That's my personal preference. If you want to declare and emergency and/or involve the FAA in your life, that's your choice. But, again, help me out here. Give me some input to my two part question. 1) How to do it. 2) How to do it and not generate interest from the FAA by having to explain my actions or declare an emergency after the fact (since I can't do it over a dead radio). Thanks

So the question is in two parts: 1) how to do it correctly (in compliance with FARs); and 2) how to do it without it being catagorized by the FAA as an emergency?

Now that I purchased the lenses (I couldn't pass up $25 for the pair from LASAR), I need to figure out the best way to install them in my bird that has never had any (hence no existing hardware at all). Ideas anyone?

I would suspect foiled plugs do to, "...more time idling around on the ground at full rich." I would try aggressive leaning on the ground and during the run up. You could pull the plugs just to visually check them for fouling.

When night flying VFR with flight following and experience a total electrical failure (no transponder, no radios, no strobe, no marker lights), how could you enter and land at an airport in Class B airspace, without having to declare an emergency afterwards and thus avoid interaction with the FAA?

A logical solution for an important problem. Thanks for sharing. Rocky

Included with the portable radio was a small antennae with a suction cup that mounted on the inside of the windscreen and connected to the antennae jack on the radio. Totally useless when attempting to contact ATC.

That explains the hair!!!!!!!!

Yes, we considered KABQ, but the decision was made after a few passes and with the aid of the iPad that the landing would be made safely--which it was. Previously, I have had two electrical failures in different aircraft and tried to use the Sporty's top line Com/Nav portable. Never could get reception good enough to establish communication with ATC even though I had the external antennae mounted on the windscreen. Ever since, I haven't had one. Do you have any recommendations that could solve that problem? Rocky

Don, I just purchased to lenses from LASAR. Did you come up with a way to mount them effectively and easily? Rocky

Recently left Denver on a moonless night at 3:00 AM. Flew 2.5 hours South into barren country of NM. Our radio lights started flickering and then all electrical power went out. After trouble shooting determined that there was nothing we could do about it so we started looking for emergency airfields on our iPads. Not a problem. KLVS was close by. But, it has no runway lights and i had no power for landing lights. It was the DARKEST of the DARKEST nights. We circled the airport numerous times, lower and lower trying to distinguish the runway from the farm roads (?with telephone poles?) from the runway. Exercising maximum caution, we finally set the old bird down on the runway without incident. Certainly got our pulse rates up there for a few minutes. But cool head on part of the PIC kept the situation containable with favorable outcome. i.e. we walked away!

You are one of the lucky few!

Plan on the parts required for the 500 hour on the Slick being almost as much a new Bendix. Bendix is a long term investment. Slick repair is a band aid.

Do you have a 77C POH you can share? Rocky