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Hangar Flying / Replacement tube
« on: April 01, 2005, 04:27:19 AM »
Well, once again I sort of answered my own question. Wal-Mart is out of the question. Especially at 2 o-clock in the morning.
I suppose a little more detail of my story might be required. You see, I have recently became a new owner of a quality built Long (Herb Sanders does great work!). A pioneer Long you might say. You see it's one of the first ones completed. It's a proven performer that's as smooth as baby's milk. I have been studying these aircraft for about a year now and have been reading everything I can get my hands on. But like many before me could not appreciate the fine details of lessons learned. Well here's another I told ya so.
Wanting to prove to my girlfriend that this flying machine could significantly cut down on travel time and increase our time together, I could not wait to fly to Shreveport for a visit. Off to the airport I go to un-hangar my new plane of two days. Pre-flight was completed by the checklist. Cockpit arranged for ergonomic placement of charts, gps, pencils etc...Strapped in the cockpit I ran the run-up checklist and taxied for departure. Pre-takeoff checks complete and I'm rollin'. The day was perfect. Early morning air and a scattered to broken layer at 030 made for a smooth climb and beatiful scenery as I climbed on top. 170 knots and 25 minutes of smooth air had me touching down at my destination. (2.0 hours by car)
So far so good. She picked me up out front and off we went for a bite to eat and then home for the required 'haven't been home in a week or so' festivities. Three hours later the yard was cut, weed-eated, flowerbeds cleaned out, new flowerbeds made, leafs raked, and a trip to the local nursery to buy more plants. What did you think I was talking about? :lol:
Well the time hade come for me to return home. You see, I have to be at work by midnight and a few hours of sleep back at home station would be
nice. When we got to the airport I asked, "Would you like to come and see the plane?" Not knowing what to expect as she is not aviation oriented, she strolled out to take a peek. As you might have guessed her idea of an airplane does not look like this one! These words followed "What in the He!? is this thing?" and then the dreaded "Death Trap" statement. Oh no! Things are going south and I mean fast! What do I do?
? Hey I know, relax. Let that 18 years of military Top-Gun, pick'em up at the O-club, smooth pilot talk cool the situation. And so I started with the safest airplane ever designed, ramp comparison, economical, dependable, Space-ship One thing. (She's still not happy with it)
Proud of myself and eager to get home I loaded up, ran it up and called for taxi. Cleared for taxi I throttled up went three feet and then Boom! The airplane settled a little on the nose and basically stopped. What? Systems checked ok. A peek through the nose door window and there sat my little nose wheel on the RIM! A few choice words later and a feeling of being literally stranded the "I told ya so's" set in.
I have read over and over again about the mis-fortunes of others and the necessity of putting together an emergency kit for times just like this one. If I would have taken the time to get my airplane outfitted with the required items instead of being in a hurry to show its capabilities this problem could have been easily solved. As soon as my plane is back home, my "kit" will be the first item of business.
Fortunately for me there was a Med-Evac bird from my unit there and was able to give me a ride home at which time I found out I didn't have to go to work after all. :?
Kilo42
Long-Ez N81HM
I suppose a little more detail of my story might be required. You see, I have recently became a new owner of a quality built Long (Herb Sanders does great work!). A pioneer Long you might say. You see it's one of the first ones completed. It's a proven performer that's as smooth as baby's milk. I have been studying these aircraft for about a year now and have been reading everything I can get my hands on. But like many before me could not appreciate the fine details of lessons learned. Well here's another I told ya so.
Wanting to prove to my girlfriend that this flying machine could significantly cut down on travel time and increase our time together, I could not wait to fly to Shreveport for a visit. Off to the airport I go to un-hangar my new plane of two days. Pre-flight was completed by the checklist. Cockpit arranged for ergonomic placement of charts, gps, pencils etc...Strapped in the cockpit I ran the run-up checklist and taxied for departure. Pre-takeoff checks complete and I'm rollin'. The day was perfect. Early morning air and a scattered to broken layer at 030 made for a smooth climb and beatiful scenery as I climbed on top. 170 knots and 25 minutes of smooth air had me touching down at my destination. (2.0 hours by car)
So far so good. She picked me up out front and off we went for a bite to eat and then home for the required 'haven't been home in a week or so' festivities. Three hours later the yard was cut, weed-eated, flowerbeds cleaned out, new flowerbeds made, leafs raked, and a trip to the local nursery to buy more plants. What did you think I was talking about? :lol:
Well the time hade come for me to return home. You see, I have to be at work by midnight and a few hours of sleep back at home station would be
nice. When we got to the airport I asked, "Would you like to come and see the plane?" Not knowing what to expect as she is not aviation oriented, she strolled out to take a peek. As you might have guessed her idea of an airplane does not look like this one! These words followed "What in the He!? is this thing?" and then the dreaded "Death Trap" statement. Oh no! Things are going south and I mean fast! What do I do?
? Hey I know, relax. Let that 18 years of military Top-Gun, pick'em up at the O-club, smooth pilot talk cool the situation. And so I started with the safest airplane ever designed, ramp comparison, economical, dependable, Space-ship One thing. (She's still not happy with it)Proud of myself and eager to get home I loaded up, ran it up and called for taxi. Cleared for taxi I throttled up went three feet and then Boom! The airplane settled a little on the nose and basically stopped. What? Systems checked ok. A peek through the nose door window and there sat my little nose wheel on the RIM! A few choice words later and a feeling of being literally stranded the "I told ya so's" set in.
I have read over and over again about the mis-fortunes of others and the necessity of putting together an emergency kit for times just like this one. If I would have taken the time to get my airplane outfitted with the required items instead of being in a hurry to show its capabilities this problem could have been easily solved. As soon as my plane is back home, my "kit" will be the first item of business.
Fortunately for me there was a Med-Evac bird from my unit there and was able to give me a ride home at which time I found out I didn't have to go to work after all. :?
Kilo42
Long-Ez N81HM