eaglebkh

I have the manual retractable step (no vacuum). I wonder if it's possible or feasable to convert the vacuum retract to a manual retract. It's just a cable and a crank in the cockpit.

Quote: rbridges took a few fridays b/c of weather, but finally got the sign off.

Yeah, adding ethanol is a total scam. When driving my vehicles (accord and land cruiser) on 10% ethanol, I see at least a 10% drop in mileage. Luckily, there is a 100% gasoline station on my way to work where I typically fill up. The whole argument about stretching our supply of oil doesn't make sense. Adding ethanol does not change an engine's need for real gasoline. It just dilutes the fuel, thus requiring more to achieve the same amount of work out of the engine.

Steve (GXPD), You are suffering from TMDS (Too Many Displays Syndrome). I know a good way to help you with this...

Carusoam, No problem pumping flaps when fluid was topped off, so I guess it is a hose problem, then? I am half-way from annual, so I might just pick a rainy day and take the belly off to see what it going on and make repairs. I have noticed red pools of hydraulic fluid under the belly.

I believe I need to replace my O-rings as well. A month ago I noticed the flaps had no pressure, but breaks were working fine. So mechanic added fluid to flap reservior. After a month, the flaps seem to be limp again - no pressure at the pump. Have I just developed a leak? Advice please...

Quote: fantom IMO, a single Aspen has enough on it, and traffic and weather should be viewed elsewhere. BTW, what are you guys seeing as an installed price for an Aspen 1000 Pro? Down here it seems to run about $10.5K, less trade-ins and rebates. The trade in for my HSI is about $1.5K, and the current Aspen rebate is $1K, I believe. Flush mounting costs another $700.

Why stop at floats??? What about a Texas tailwheel conversion, or Tundra tires, or a banner towing cable, or a STOL wing conversion? Oh, wait... There are already planes for these things Might be offensive to the factory workers who labored intensively on getting those rivets to come out flush...

For IFR work at 90 kts with the gear up, I use 16"-17" and 2500 rpm for level flight. Once I start making decents, the gear goes down and that yields 500fpm without any changes in power setting or effect on airspeed. For any level flight in between approach fixes, I just leave the gear down and set MP to 20"-21" with RPM still at 2500, which again yields 90 kts. Don't typically use flaps until short final or runway is in sight. Since I'm already at 90 kts with no help from flaps, it's not very hard to slow down to landing speed in a very short amoung of time with flaps. This is mainly for VOR/LOC approaches where timing is important. For GPS or precision approaches, I'm usually a bit faster, depeding on situation and/or controller needs. Hope this helps...

I wish a had a good answer, but I chalk it up to simply having 2 different instruments measuring the same quantity. I saw the install myself, both instruments are tied into the exact same static line. I figure the Aspen has a pressure transducer, while the round gauge uses antiquated aneroid wafers, so I typically side with the Aspen. My usual altimeter setting procedure is to set the baro on the Aspen, and then move the hands on the round gauge to match the Aspen. Anyone else with an Aspen experience this?

Quote: KLRDMD I haven't flown with the new setup that much yet*. What's the cause of the differential if both are set to the same pressure ? * I found a broken oil cooler mount this weekend so I'm grounded until I can arrange to get that fixed.

Ken, How are you liking that 100' difference in altitude between the Aspen and the round gauge? That's the most annoying thing for me with my Aspen, but the benefits more than make up for it...

Sounds like we need a symbol for whether or not a person is inebriated...

13.3 hours in the friendly and loyal Cessna 150

Jolie, I'll have to be 100% transparent - I've never really looked into the Mooney Ambassadors much. Probably because I'm not much into the fly-in scene. But either way, thanks for all the work you and Mitch do!

Jolie, Thanks for sharing your story with us. But I must ask, you had a chance to share GA with the public and you chose to write about your crash?

Your avionics shop is correct in that there is extra monkey work in getting the aileron servos into the wings. But my avionics shop in Huntsville did the Stec-30 w/Alt for $12k and the Aspen for MSRP 1.5 years ago. The resulting package is very nice, though...

Good ideas, Dave. I like the rocker switches as well. Also, it's good that you are putting the vacuum gauge beside the AI, as you can sort of view the vacuum gauge when scanning the AI. Powder coat with silkscreen lettering is down-right gorgous...

Quote: KLRDMD In my post of August 13, in this very thread I outlined the differences. The F model has 150 lb more useful load than the E model.

I have an 'E' and have carried 4 adults (averaging 180 lbs) a few times before and it was crowded. But think about this... After 720 lbs of people and 40 lbs of luggage, that leaves 160 lbs for fuel (920 lbs useful). With my 1hr IFR reserve, that leaves a range of about 1.6 hours. Is it reasonable to travel for 1.6 hours with knees against the backrest? For my passengers, yes. For yours??? Is it worth the extra cost and speed reduction of the F to make that 1.6 hr trip more comfortable? For me, no. For you??? This is of course a thought exersice between an E and F that have the same useful load, for whatever reason. For 3 people, I basically gain back the full range of my E and the back seat occupant has plenty of room. No advantage to the F in this situation, in my opinion.

I have the Sporty's 200 as well and really like it.

Ah - I see. I'm afriad I left my old panel overlays at the avionics shop - they probably threw them away. But I'll see if they still have them.

Theo, I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. Do you want to keep the "shotgun" arrangement and just overlay the gauges with a different color/material?

I might can make it - is there going to be any activites or food (like an EAA breakfast)? Also, on the sectional chart, 14J is not depicted as having fuel. Is this a new feature for the airport? Thanks for the memo!!!

I don't know either, but I delivered an Arrow for a friend a few weeks ago and cut the mixture back to lean out of habit after priming and it would not start. Then I caught myself doing it on the second attempt and left it full rich and it started right up.