Paul Thomas

What makes helicopter so different that the blanket STC doesn't apply to them?

Stacey Heaton is one of the people at AOPA that does good work. Interestingly, the company that uses ADSB data to help airports collect user fees is in FL, right here in Fort Myers.

With those results, you'd think we are on an experimental forum. Wow!

What year on the spruce catalogs?

Those are the kind of things that are discussed before someone takes a CEO job...

EAA has been getting this done. Mosaic is an example of their work.

Do we know that Mooney owe Soaring America or is that an educated guess?

Thank you for everything you've done to enhance safety by teaching us weather. I hope you get to enjoy a wonderful retirement.

What is that surcharge for? How many other states impose surcharges?

Thank you for the update. I hope you'll share details of the work, timelines, and cost associated to remedy the situation. Hopefully you get back in the air quickly.

Just new leather, my foam was still in good shape and he recommended just recovering. He's just off the field in Fort Myers, the name of the business is Gotcha Covered. He does a lot of work for the Lexus dealership. I picked one of their leathers that he had sent to be treated so that we could get the burn certificates.

I paid $3,000 to have mine recovered with leather; he provided burn certificates. He knows what is required since he does work for one of the shops on the field. A couple of my friends have since gone and he's delivered on time and on budget.

My airplane is an 84 but the tanks were sealed in 83. No leaks and I don't anticipate they'll leak anytime soon. Here is what I'm willing to do. You can borescope the tanks and you can give an opinion on whether they'll leak in the next 12 or 24 months. If you say they'll leak, I'll keep burning 100LL and we'll see whether they are the timebomb you claim. My prediction is my tanks will be just fine and I have zero risk with that. If my tanks/airplane are suitable for G100UL, I'll use G100UL. If I have any issues with tanks, the fuel system, the engine, or paint stripping off (I'm responsible for staining), GAMI/you are 100% responsible for fixing it. I'm still predicting my tanks will be fine, but my confidence level is down, down enough that I'm not willing to take the risk without a warranty. Either the product is suitable or it isn't. The only way to find out is more real world testing with real users. If George is willing to to that, I hope other owners to make the same offer so that we can have a more representative sample. Another way to word that statistic, is that after inspecting airplanes who had issues with G100UL, no fault could be find that is can be assessed to the aircraft or it's maintenance for 5 of the aircraft inspected. That would be an undisputed 3+% failure rate for unknown reason and one of about 10% for aircraft that have possible pre-existing conditions. It's a scary number to look from an owner perspective when 100LL is still readily available. It will be interesting to see how those numbers change over time.

The thread was revived on Beechtalk last week when the FAA published their going away from 100LL but it had otherwise been silence for months.

The FAA seems to be getting more serious about the end of 100LL. G100UL seems to have been really quiet. You'd think with as much product as they are sitting on, they would want to move it given the cost of storage and cost capital tied up. I'm surprised it hasn't been discounted to see if more people would adopt it. Getting people to adopt it is so important to having other believe in the product and getting first mover advantage. At some point, I'd imagine we are going to have to make choices that please none of us.

You can't justify your behavior, your actions, your thoughts by speaking poorly about the company whose policy you abuse. This is about you, not them. Trying to rationalize by "not needing it anymore" to fit their policy is B.S. The policy is meant for people who buy something with the intent to keep it and realize they don't need it. It's not meant for people to "rent" their tool; that's not the business they are in and you know it. While it wouldn't meet the common legal definition of theft, I think most people do view it as theft. We all know that some people with low morals violate the social contract to their advantage... advertising it to others/defending the behavior when called out on it take it to a whole other level. Just donate the tools to the airport, EAA chapter, etc if you don't want to take them home. Be a good person. Be an example.

How do you descend? I bring the RPM down to 2,200, pitch for -500fpm (about 160 KIAS). Typically, I'll only touch the blue knob again in the landing phase.

Amazing how stitching makes those inner panels looks so much better and finished.

I'm shocked at the cost of windlace; the guy that did my seats did it for free. I owe him something!

That's exactly how my replacement was done.

A state wasn't following the contract when it came to hangar rate increases and playing hardball knowing that the amounts are not worth the cost of the fight. In that state, the state manages the contracts, not the individual airports and the issue of the rate increase affected people throughout the state. Our Mooney owner decided to take on the fight and joined forced with others at his airport. He led the effort and has done a fantastic job. The group wanted help from AOPA but AOPA's position is that it didn't affect enough pilots for them to help. AOPA wouldn't even send an email to pilots in that state to help spread the word. I called AOPA to see if my contacts could do anything better; despite her effort, nothing was done. While I agree that resources have to be allocated efficiently and it's AOPA's prerogative whether to flex their legal/legislative muscles, a note to their member should have been done so that other members in the same position as this group could have been joined the class. It would also have made that group's argument stronger by having more people affecting and people affected throughout the state. The ask when AOPA didn't want to help was either something in the magazine about the on-going fight or an email blast to the pilots based in that state. AOPA wouldn't do anything; the only time AOPA showed any interest was after the supreme court win. I cancelled my membership because AOPA's value to me has been for these situations. I don't agree with the rationale given, that because they are in state without small pilot population, resources can't be given. AOPA exists so that to advocate for the small guy. I'd have agreed with AOPA if it looked at the issue and decided not to be involved based on the merits but I can't agree when the argument is that you won't get help because you're from a state that doesn't enough people... at that point why do you accept membership from pilots based there? While real assistance would have been appreciated, the refusal to do anything, even an email blast target to members in that state was enough for me to be done with AOPA and cancel my membership. AOPA hasn't done much of anything in the past 10/15 years; it is not the organization is used to be.

I rolled my own set because I wanted something that would be effective in various soil types. I'd use a shackle over a carabiner. The type of rope you buy matters; some rope intentionally stretch under tension.

I have a set of those made by Kennon who will stop making them at the end of the year. Those are very effective and I typically use them even if I park just for lunch. It makes a huge difference in comfort when you get back into the airplane.

People were buying NAFI subscription to get the FF discount; it was too good to continue on.