HopePilot

Interesting, looks like it would drip right down onto the lower bar of the bird cage. I'm going to spray some Corrosion X and cover with blue tape. Thanks!

The windy rain lately has me thinking. Everyone always talks about water getting into the small pilot side window, but what about the outside airvent that leads into the cargo area. Does that leak onto the steel cage and lead to corrosion? I'm wondering if I should cover those things when it rains?

It's back! My life is complete!

Mitch looks perplexed in the second photo (which is perfectly normal for early instrument training) Maybe he's wondering why the plane/Cessna he's flying is so slow. He's asking himself, "Did I forget to retract the flaps? Is the gear still down?"

I am going to special order the 24" floor boom (longer than the standard size commonly offered) and mount it from the floor. I haven't seen anyone else try this configuration, so I'm curious to see if it will work. I have the yoke mount, but don't like it (mostly because I have an Anywhere Map on the other yoke).

You are a nut...but my hat's off to you. Great stuff.

I wish I was young, but it's really the Botox.

Brilliant!

We were thinking of going to Sedona, but it didn't work out. Bet we run into you soon anyway.

Jesus was born in the springtime, but Dec. 25th is as good a time to celebrate as any. Merry Christmas everyone! The difference between God and a pilot...God doesn't think he's a pilot (even though he can fly).

Flew over to The Waypoint Cafe for lunch. It's always nice to hear the Merry Christmas calls on the radio. Ran into FlyDave (Picture Attached). On the way back, I decided to show the wife how to use the autopilot to fly her back to the runway via the KAP 150 capturing the ILS, in case I am ever incapacitated. A beautiful day to fly.

Thanks Jose and Scott!

Due to the proximity to the engine, do you use regular or heat resistant paint when touching up the area inside the nose wheel area? Just checking.

Add me to the list boycotting Flightprep. I used NavMonster on a daily basis. Are there any other sights that translate TAFs using regular/not zulu time?

My Christmas present is a Sunspot 36HX. It is more powerful than the LX was and delivers 3,600 lumens at 45W. The real reason I want it is the built in Wig/Wag feature. It is on back order so I can't provide any PIREP yet.

Well, I've never tried to do a hard slip at 160 knots (to slow down for turbulence, etc.) so I'm not sure how it would compare. Do people actually do that? In terms of slow speed altitude reduction, I find the speed brakes give you a much more stable approach than a slip. Also, if you slip the wrong direction with less than 6 gallons of fuel in a wing, your engine could quit. Passengers dislike that even more than the feeling of uncoordinated flight.

It's a commonly known fact that Santa makes unannounced straight-in approaches and takes the active for takeoff without making any calls whatsoever. If you try and confront him, he just pulls out a big book and starts reading junk you've done...

I didn't feel so lucky when my plane was in the shop for nearly three weeks...

People have read about the problem I had with my new speed brakes (the motor of my left brake kept running after it was retracted and had to be replaced), but that said, they are magical and have given me near super powers. On one recent flight a controller forgot to remove my altitude restriction until I was right next to the airport. No problemo. Then on the way back, Burbank asked me to fly at slowest practical airspace for a 737 (the J is fast enough to cause separation problems as the jets slow down on final if I'm hurling towards the runway). I extended the speed brakes and slowed from 160 to 100 in seconds. I actually feel that I am distorting controllers, many who are not pilots, understanding of what instructions planes are capable of following. They have already kept me safe when I needed to remain high over an obstacle too close to final. Also, they really do work for slowing down (I know people have said they aren't technically brakes, but they actually serve that function very well, if you hold your altitude) or to lose crazy amounts of altitude (great for ducking under inconveniently placed clouds). I think they're one of the finest speed mods you can buy as they allow you to rocket towards the airport without worrying about overshooting it.

4k is too much, but 1002-801 for $2900 looks more doable. What's the difference? Are there any speed advantages? Many people say there isn't with the fiberglass. I wonder what the weight advantage over the original aluminum pieces would be?

Re: "Screw police." Now you've done it Scott. Comment from Capt. CrashNBurn in 3...2...1...

Thanks, I'll look into all this info. Lots to think about. What should I replace the combo flash tube/position light with?

The only problem I have had with my wife is that she wanted me to buy a Mooney Rocket..

Update: One pilot at Chino is saying that they retracted the gear too soon and were caught in wake turbulence that slammed them back to the ground. This is all speculation at this point.