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In fairness, the leak was small and I didn't tightly grab the O2 lines, which are relatively small, maybe 1/8th inch. But you point is taken, a large leak could be dangerous at 2000 psi. --But you could probably find a large leak easily by sound alone.

Maybe its just me, but I would not touch this plane, and certainly not at $100k.

My previous annual had the O2 bottle removed for a hydro test. Some time after, a leak showed up. To find the leak, I filled the O2 bottle in the plane, then ran my hand along the lines. I could feel the air leak. It was the fitting on the back side of the O2 fill port. It must have been disturbed when the bottle was removed.

You just mentioned my favorite tool for helping me remove and install the lower cowling by myself. One of those $20 harbor freight stools. And an old main tire.

I know I am better then some pilots. One in particular in a hangar next to mine. Horrible ADM, and he does not have the skills to back it up. The last time I saw him he was putting the plane in the hangar and some part of it (maybe wing tip) hit the hangar. He's generally worth watching when he is around. That said, I've met plenty of better pilots than me.

All joking aside, file a complaint with the Justice Department for a violation of your civil rights. Unless we get a Governor arrested for violating the federal law, we will all loose our rights. "Emergencies" can't go on forever, and it seems to me they must have some element of immediacy. For example, in California, part of the emergency is "in a short period of time, COVID-19 has rapidly spread throughout California, necessitating updated and more stringent guidance from federal, state, and local public health officials". Excuse me, that is not a 2 month emergency.

The analogy I use is a big heard on the African planes. I feel like one of the antelope. A lion is going to take one. I hope I don't stumble, or I'm not in the wrong place. But I also know for certain that the heard will go on. More related to Aviation, I get in a small plane and fly it. There is some chance the engine may fail and I may crash and die. Statistically more chance than flying on a commercial aircraft, yet I do it. Its the same argument. The issues are larger than a simple counting of lives. We avoid death with reasonable caution, but take the risk for a variety of reasons.

And being drafted is some how different than " being impressed into service aboard British warships in the 17-1800’" ? My point was: the "involuntary service" wording was included as a consequence of the first American draft that occurred during the civil war. Something that courts in the 1900's seemed to ignore

Absent a cure or vaccine, how do we think this thing ends? Basically enough of the population gains immunity by catching COVID-19, so that the number of cases doesn't grow. Flattening the curve makes that take longer, and only makes sense because it reduces the load on hospitals. I don't think it changes the percentage of folks who get COVID-19. It just changes the number of folks who could have been saved by the medical system, but weren't due to over capacity. I don't have the data to estimate that number, but assuming that' it is the set that makes it to ICU, its not huge. And its fair to ask if the societal cost is worth the lives saved. --And yes it is a moral issue, and one our country has long lived with. For example, the decision to install a guardrail on a highway is evaluated based on the cost to install vs the estimated lives saved (or conversely lost). A component of the FAA issuing an AD is the fleet cost vs the safety benefit. It will be interesting to see the impact on places that didn't enforce social distancing vs those that did. In particular, it will be interesting to see how Mexico fairs.

This is a very valid discussion for society to have, and its been missing in public at least. How about we look at the long term, say 25 years, and ask what is best for society. Should we do nothing and let the virus burn through, or shut down society as we know it. Imagine if nothing was done and 5% of the population was lost in one year, consisting of mostly of . those with pre-existing conditions and the elderly. What would things look like in two or three years. Sounds horrible, but understand we loose something like 1.2% of the population every year due to old age. Contrast this with the current scheme of shutting down businesses and forced social distancing. This will certainly impact this years death rate. But the economic impact will also have a long term increase on the death rate, as well as the quality of life. It also impacts a much wider portion of the population. Look at Argentina a few years back and the impact of their economic failure or Venezuela today. I'm reasonably convinced either decision will have no appreciable impact in 25 years, but I also believe the riskier choice is shutting down the economy, as the impact to society is longer term.

The 13th amendment states "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." One really should understand the civil war was the first time the draft was used in the US and there were significant riots in places like NYC. And the 13th amendment was passed shortly after the civil war. Kind of makes you wonder why "involuntary servitude" was added in addition to slavery. Unsurprisingly courts have found the 13th amendment doesn't apply to the draft. This does not mean the courts are correct. When courts make such rulings, they are hardly impartial. To me the language is plain and simple. If someone has not been convicted of a crime, they can not be forced to provide labor against their will. The draft clearly fits that category. Of course with any such thing, there are limits. For example a surgeon deciding to walk off the job in the middle of a surgery, which is substantively different than not starting a surgery. As to the "orders" forcing businesses to close and social distancing. The age old argument of necessity will be trotted out and wrapped in words like "compelling interest" and "necessary to save lives". You can bet a good number of courts will uphold these orders, and let the next level sort it out later in time. --So, yes there is a real danger of setting a precedent.

My local airport just sent the following Dear Airport Users, Effective immediately…. If any air travelers arrive from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or the City of New Orleans, and plan to stay in Texas, please have them report directly to the Airport Offices in the Terminal building to complete a mandatory self-quarantine form per Governor Abbott. Thanks everyone and stay well! Sincerely, Debbie

I'll try to keep this semi aviation related. Those of us who fly high know we need to use O2 because of the partial pressure of O2 at higher elevations. Those of us who dive also know the partial pressure of O2 a depth can be too much of a good thing. Given the reported shortage of ventilators, I was just wondering abut the potential for large hyperbaric chambers instead of ventilators. Seems like a human sized PVC pipe with 30 to 60 psi of O2 might be easy to build. and potentially effective for increasing lung efficiency. Maybe some of our Mooney space doctors can comment?

Well, there's an insurance claim for AA.

Until the FAA waives Class 2 medicals and flight reviews, I expect flight schools are considered critical infrastructure. On the other hand, as a flight instructor, I choose my clients very carefully at this time. The only places with less social distancing are strip clubs and whore houses. I also find the whole social distancing thing very bizarre. Here in Texas, the liquor stores are closed on Sunday so the religious folks are not offended, but open the rest of the week as a critical enterprise. And for some reason the golf course near my house is doing a booming business, but the automated car wash is shut down due to social distancing orders. Strange times

Well, I got an email today indicating the MAPA Safety Foundation Santa Fe program would be moved out to August. I'm disappointed, because I love going to these. On the other hand, I am 55 and one of the younger guys there, so it certainly seems prudent. And I can't imagine any of the instructors would want to get onto an commercial plane at this time.

I completely agree. The mortality rate will certainly look higher if you ignore all the folks with mild symptoms. As to intentionally under counting, it seems a possibility. --And I'd like to see real reporting on this issue. As far as the number of confirmed cases vs unconfirmed: When some one asks me if the corona virus is in my town (Austin Tx), I just laugh and say "You would be naive to believe it is not here. With the volume of travel its here. It just hasn't been detected yet. Give it a few weeks." Today the public health department in Austin Tx just announced the first two cases. Lots of urging folks to trust in the health department, but they failed to provide any real useful information. --Like places where the people with the corona virus might have visited, so potentially exposed folks might practice social distancing. The failure to present simple facts leads to a general distrust of that organization. Open and honest communications are so important in times like this.

Maybe it means fewer sporting event TFRs. --Just to look at the bright side and keep it aviation related.

Here is the problem, and the reason not to take a chill pill. The rate of infection is not saturated. It's growing rapidly. You can see it is not under control in Italy. Their health care system is already taxed to the limit and will only be taxed more in the days to come as the number of folks with active infections increases. For me, caution (not panic) is in order. It seems wise to slightly modify my behavior to avoid large crowds and public/mass transportation. That said, I really don't understand the run on toilet paper. Maybe its a millennials idea of a critical survival item. --An item that didn't exist 200 years ago.

I had a partner who was a 2000 hour AH64 pilot. He got his fixed wing instrument and private at a flight school, then jumped into a Mooney. He did well. Insurance was higher then it should have been, since they seemed focused on time in type, and time in airplanes.

Just curious what would make it rust like that? The only thing I can think of is when the engine cools down the air cools and contracts, sucking in what ever is in your hangar environment? And I'm not sure what one would do about that.

I doubt the pilot "stalled the helicopter", with anything similar to what a fixed wing pilot would consider a stall. Things like a retreating blade stall happen with relatively high speed. The advancing blade has a high speed relative wind. The retreating blade has low relative wind speed, and can stall if the relative wind is to slow. Given the helicopter was flying slowly at the time of the crash, this is not likely. Blades can stall if the rotor RPM is to low. I can't imagine that happening. I can picture disorientation and accompanying low or negative "Gs" with the helicopter. Stability is essentially lost when operating in low/negative Gs. If "hovering to a descent" I could picture a vortex ring. That might be tough to recognize and exit in IMC.

I went and looked up the GI275 and found the following ADAHRS The integral ADAHRS, included in the GI 275 -10/-30 variant, senses aircraft attitude and air data for GI 275 display of primary flight data and can provide attitude and air data for use by other installed systems. The ADAHRS requires GPS and airspeed inputs for aiding the system. GI 275 includes an optional GMU 11 or GMU 44B magnetometer interface to determine magnetic heading and an OAT probe for measuring outside air temperature.

I'm looking at replacing my KI-256 attitude indicator. Its the last vacuum instrument that I have. That said, I find the requirements difficult to come by. For example, I have an ASPEN pro. Can I use the GI-275 as a primary or backup AI? I think so, but I still need to double check. Does the GI-275 require GPS to work as an AI? I think so, and I am not real happy about that, but again I need to double check. It might seem silly, but if the FAA wants to keep a MON for VORs in case GPS doesn't work, maybe I want a plane that doesn't need GPS to fly IFR. Are there any other digital AIs certified as primary, that don't need GPS? Maybe RCA2610?

I'm thinking of getting a 275. Are they available now?