Max Clark

Cool crates - not sure I want to spend $600-800/ea though...

There's a few threads on the forum, let's just say for multiple reasons I'm only transporting dogs in crates. So now the question - how many (and what size) will fit in the back of an Ovation with the rear seat backs removed? Petmate provides the crates, just need to figure how which and how many: 19" L x 12.5" W x 10" H (up to 10lbs) 24.6" L x 16.9" W x 15" H (10-20 lbs) 26" L x 18.5" W x 16" H (20-25 lbs) 28" L x 20" W x 19.2" H (25-30 lbs) 32" L x 22.5" W x 24" H (30-50 lbs) I'm sure with a few hours at the hangar I can figure out the crate Tetris, hoping someone here has already figured this out and can let me know.

There's a few threads on the forum, let's just say for multiple reasons I'm only transporting dogs in crates. So now the question - how many (and what size) will fit in the back of an Ovation with the rear seat backs removed? Petmate provides the crates, just need to figure how which and how many: 19" L x 12.5" W x 10" H (up to 10lbs) 24.6" L x 16.9" W x 15" H (10-20 lbs) 26" L x 18.5" W x 16" H (20-25 lbs) 28" L x 20" W x 19.2" H (25-30 lbs) 32" L x 22.5" W x 24" H (30-50 lbs) I'm sure with a few hours at the hangar I can figure out the crate Tetris, hoping someone here has already figured this out and can let me know.

Let me start by addressing the elephant. 1. Just because a company is purchased doesn't mean that it's now, or will be in the near future a pile of dung. The same is true for companies that stay independent, go public, etc... FF being sold/bought by Thoma Bravo doesn't guarantee that it's going to fail, just like when Boeing bout FF in 2019 didn't kill the business. Yes there's plenty of PE that exists to suck all of the cash out of the business and flush it, but similar to Berkshire Hathaway I haven't seen any evidence or history with TB to suggest this is guaranteed to happen. 2. The same can be said about layoffs. As uncomfortable as it is to accept: a) companies get bloated, and b) change future priorities. It sucks, but the alternative is actually worse. This is dirty secret in corporate America - that a double digit percentage of headcount optimization can be done at any time and it typically doesn't negatively impact the business. To the thread topic, and @dkkim73's question. Tool selection is a combination of features, price, and adoption. Is it annoying that FF prices have gone up - absolutely. But compared to what I'm paying Garmin annually for my avionics it's really not that bad. Also considering how often I'm in the app, checking weather, building/filing plans, etc... I can justify the price for the features I get. What people don't talk about is just how integrated FF is with most of the flying community. All of my CFIs use it and having a simple, digitally native way to get electronic signatures on training flights and endorsements has made my life so much better. I'm a huge fan of competition. GP's launch of dynamic procedures really captured my attention. It also seems to have caught FF off guard and they rushed out a quick response (which is getting better and more GP like). The few times I have used GP it didn't provide me with enough of the trifecta to move off of FF before my renewal this month. Well see where things are in 11 months. Maybe GP moves ahead, maybe their pricing bundle with my Avionics makes it worth it, maybe FF continues to get better. Time will tell. But whatever happens will be weighed against the effort of moving my life out of FF and GP - inertia is a real force. What I don't see doing is splitting my logbook out of my EFB. Why increase the work I have to do and add a second app & subscription into the mix? If I wasn't flying with an EFB then sure, I could see going to a logbook only system for cost. But the second you subscribe to an EFB you should probably go all in. Similar with switching - pick a date with an easy calendar boundary, export, import and don't look back.

@DonMuncy I'm intrigued - let me know if you have any plans to visit the hangar coming up.

Figures that I would just now find "Trip Assistant" after Foreflight has decided to discontinue it. Not a huge surprise, considering how little I use the web vs the phone or pad. But still frustrating given how cool of a feature this could have been. For people planning multi-leg XC what do you use? How do you pick your overall route? How do you pick your leg distances and fuel stops? Anything out there that makes your life easier?

I have my annual "have to go to a conference in Vegas but I hate going to these things, but if I have to go I'll fly myself and redeem the trip" trip coming up in April. For those in the know, do you prefer HND or VGT? Looking for a nice FBO with reasonable ramp fees (extra credit for short term hangar space). I'll be staying on the strip for 2-3 nights, so a 10-15 minute difference in the drive from the airport isn't a huge deciding factor. Assuming I'll be coming in from the South East via DRK, or maybe EED on the South. Looking at METARs right now VGT runways look like better winds, is that pretty typical? Thanks! Max

I was brutalized by the sun on a flight and triggered me to figure out a solution. Searching the forum I've found a slew of things from tint, to movable cling, fabric barriers, DIY tinting, etc... While I'm tempted to tint the rear windows, I feel like having something I can position for the sun but be able to move/remove when needed is a smarter play. What do you do? https://aero-shields.com/ https://jet-shades.com/shop/propeller/mooney-m20-ultrathins/ (surprisingly expensive) https://greenfilmusa.com/products/g-cling-70-static-cling-window-tint https://www.amazon.com/kinder-Fluff-Sunshade-Certified-Sunshades/dp/B084QHVL6S?th=1 https://intothesky.com/2020/06/02/window-tinting/ https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/sunguardbig.php

Anyone know an appropriately accommodating A&P in the Dallas area?

I heard a rumor about this - is anyone actually working on pulling this off?

If you're not Instrument Rated, and the person with you in the plane isn't a CFII, and you're in actual IMC, how are you PIC?

Correct, but you have to be solo not with CFI Correct, post PPL instrument training with CFII = PIC, but if flying with CFI or just an instrument rated pilot in right seat then not PIC

How it was explained to me, and what lines up with FF for me: Pre PPL = not PIC Post PPL w/ CFI = PIC Post PPL Instrument training w/ CFII = PIC Pre Instrument Rating flying Instrument w/ CFI = not PIC

I just signed up or ezwxbrief and cannot believe I never knew about it! Forecast conditions along your route with your minimums applied visually is incredible!

This was where I went. I had intermittent transponder gremlins after the install. In my case a connector wasn't made properly and ground was inconsistent. Replacing the line end to end solved the problem and haven't had an issue since.

Curious what you didn't like about the Ovations for sale online - or what you're looking for / hoping to find here?

I had a JPI EDM 830 and went with the integrated EIS on the G3x. It is nice having everything in one place, especially when you can just pop out the SD Card and upload all of your engine data to Savvy. Sometimes I miss the dedicated/larger display on the EDM - it was easy to glance at quickly and read. This is a good problem to have, either way you go you'll be happy.

Lol of course - that's probably the only oil that's ever been used in my engine.

Hockley - North West side of Houston

There's been this small weather thingy going on

I was trying to figure that out as well. Isn't the shock link connected to the same point that the jack is? Also can someone help me with what wear and tear/future expense these are saving us from?

Nighttime temps down to 29°F. What's the over/under on starting cold on the ramp without a heater?

We're scheduled to fly down to Houston this weekend (Sat 1/31 to Sun 2/1). Overnight temps are a low of 29°F. I called the FBO (Gill Aviation) and they said they don't offer transient hangar space. Does anyone know any other options for me? Thanks!

I had to think about this for a bit. I'm not aware of any non VOR DME navaids that aren't connected to a localizer.

It will display from a NAV but not built in.