rainman Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Wednesday after a very extensive and expensive annual on my 231, I finally got to take it from the shop. My first trip was for some BBQ at Cooper's in Llano TX (KAQO). On landing, my nose wheel tire blew. I called the manager (Roy was on duty) on the radio ( the city owns the airport) and he came out on the golf cart to take a look. Before long, he had three guys out there (fellow pilots) helping to get the nose wheel on a dolly, and tow it to a mechanic on the field. The mechanic didn't have the right size tube in stock, so one of the pilots on the field (Jimmy Gist) flew his plane to a neighboring airport to pick it up! The mechanic sent me off to lunch in the courtesy car while he fixed the flat. When I returned the flat was fixed and Roy helped pump some $4.20/gal fuel. Great airport experience passed on to me by some great guys. That's how you turn a flat tire into a good experience! 6 Quote
N33GG Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Roy, Jimmy Gist and Doug Connally are all great guys, and Llano is a GA pilot's dream airport. Wish I lived there. Paved runway, grass runway, and nothing but friendly fun! Quote
Steve65E-NC Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Sounds suspiciously like a Porpoise to me. Hold that thing off till its ready to land. Talk with an instructor about your approach speed. Quote
Andy95W Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 What a great experience, and a great story. What is it about airplane people that seems to make them, generally, so friendly? Renews my faith in America and aviation... Quote
ChrisH Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Until you land at a landmark base where they charge you $7+ a gallon, landing fees and sneer at you if you ask to use a quiet place for a call even though the conference rooms are empty. The other 90% of folk are great though. Quote
Mooneymite Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 That's how you turn a flat tire into a good experience! I love stories with happy endings! The "someone" had to ruin it by mentioning Landmark. Quote
mooniac15u Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Sounds suspiciously like a Porpoise to me. Hold that thing off till its ready to land. Talk with an instructor about your approach speed. Or maybe Rainman made a good landing and the flat had something to do with the recent maintenance. Quote
Nathan Peterson Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Wednesday after a very extensive and expensive annual on my 231, I finally got to take it from the shop. My first trip was for some BBQ at Cooper's in Llano TX (KAQO). On landing, my nose wheel tire blew. I called the manager (Roy was on duty) on the radio ( the city owns the airport) and he came out on the golf cart to take a look. Before long, he had three guys out there (fellow pilots) helping to get the nose wheel on a dolly, and tow it to a mechanic on the field. The mechanic didn't have the right size tube in stock, so one of the pilots on the field (Jimmy Gist) flew his plane to a neighboring airport to pick it up! The mechanic sent me off to lunch in the courtesy car while he fixed the flat. When I returned the flat was fixed and Roy helped pump some $4.20/gal fuel. Great airport experience passed on to me by some great guys. That's how you turn a flat tire into a good experience! Is the Jimmy Gist the retired FedEx captain? If you still fly into KAQO would you please say Hello from Nate Peterson ..... thank you. Quote
N33GG Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Is the Jimmy Gist the retired FedEx captain? If you still fly into KAQO would you please say Hello from Nate Peterson ..... thank you. Yep, that's him. 1 Quote
N33GG Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Until you land at a landmark base where they charge you $7+ a gallon, landing fees and sneer at you if you ask to use a quiet place for a call even though the conference rooms are empty. The other 90% of folk are great though. I have a list of those, and avoid them like the plague! Also, it is a shame when a great airport goes to the dark side. I just sigh, and add them to the list... Quote
DS1980 Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 Sounds suspiciously like a Porpoise to me. Hold that thing off till its ready to land. Talk with an instructor about your approach speed. I do not understand this. The only information given was that the front tire blew. Does every porpoise end with a flat tire? Does every good landing end with inflated tires? 1 Quote
Steve65E-NC Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 "Or maybe Rainman made a good landing and the flat had something to do with the recent maintenance." Yes, could also have been a pinched tube. I have had one of those also. Showed up with a flat tire on the next landing. Quote
rainman Posted December 13, 2014 Author Report Posted December 13, 2014 It was a pinched tube. The wheel and front strut were removed during the annual. Thanks, guys the crew at Llano was great. BBQ was pretty good too! Quote
ArtVandelay Posted December 13, 2014 Report Posted December 13, 2014 I have a list of those, and avoid them like the plague! Also, it is a shame when a great airport goes to the dark side. I just sigh, and add them to the list... What part of the country are you from? I like to see your list... Quote
Hector Posted December 14, 2014 Report Posted December 14, 2014 Until you land at a landmark base where they charge you $7+ a gallon, landing fees and sneer at you if you ask to use a quiet place for a call even though the conference rooms are empty. The other 90% of folk are great though. Amen! Interestingly enough I also had a flat tire a couple of weeks ago but it happened prior to takeoff. The County folks at KTMB called Landmark to tow me back to the ramp (I had parked at a different FBO but unfortunately not who the county folks called for whatever reason). $60 towing fee and because they towed me to their ramp also wanted a $30 ramp fee. They didn't even have a spare tire or a mechanic to replace it, another shop next door came and towed the money to their place where they replaced the tire. The Mooney spent less than 15 minutes with Landmark. Quote
chrisk Posted December 15, 2014 Report Posted December 15, 2014 I had a similar experience with a flight in Michigan one time. I was at Clare (48D) in a 172. We landed, ate dinner, and came back to the plane around 8:30 on a very cold December day. Back taxing on the runway, the tire went flat. We called the airport manager who was incredible. He stopped at a store and bought us a tire tube patch kit and opened up his hanger. It was a pinched tube. 2+ hours later, we were on our way. --The next day I found a replacement tube. To this day I have incredible appreciation for this man. All he asked was that we pay it forward. Quote
Andy95W Posted December 16, 2014 Report Posted December 16, 2014 I had a similar experience with a flight in Michigan one time. I was at Clare (48D) in a 172. We landed, ate dinner, and came back to the plane around 8:30 on a very cold December day. Back taxing on the runway, the tire went flat. We called the airport manager who was incredible. He stopped at a store and bought us a tire tube patch kit and opened up his hanger. It was a pinched tube. 2+ hours later, we were on our way. --The next day I found a replacement tube. To this day I have incredible appreciation for this man. All he asked was that we pay it forward. And that's not all. Airport Manager, CFI, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer and all around great guy. He also has ice cream and snacks in the FBO, just go in and grab what you want. Likes it if you buy gas, but no biggie. He also has some of the cheapest gas prices in the state. Perfect example of someone who loves aviation and people more than making a buck. Quote
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