Hangar Flying

Been there done that.

If someone finds a good way, I would like to know.

By the time the air got up front it was not warm enough to make a difference.

I read the post about the Doc whose plane was immersed in the floods form Katrina. This is his direct comments.

Hello Drew
I hate to tell you this but I finally got to see the airplane last week.
The little plane looked reasonably well from a distance but when I got closer I saw the water lines. What had happened was that the
water in the hanger[same one that we worked on the plane] had risen to
approximately 8-10 feet . The plane had possible floated but when the water receded the plane came to a rest with the tail and
engine in the water and the nose up.
The A&P went over the plane with me and told me that to repair it would
be a major project including rebuilding the engine and replacing all of the control surface hinges and cables . Also all of the wheels and lower metal structures would have to be replaced and he said that would just be a start.
I called the insurance adjuster and he came to see the plane and
immediately totaled the plane. He said that the cost of repair would be much greater than the policy and the insurance companies were not interested in paying for plane that had been submerged in salt water. So there the saga has ended. Sorry that I am reporting this bad news
because I know that you hated to get rid off it and had put a lot of
work into it. Hope Joellyn is doing well and the cozy project is coming along.
Chuck

Yes the salt water can start a chemical reaction that will begin the corrosion process  but after only a week or two, just how far can that process have gotten.

Remove the wings, canard, control tubing and cables and flush them several times with  fresh water After the final rinse collect a sample of the rinse water and test it for pH. The doctor will have access to instruments that do this. Maybe even use a neutralizing agent with the rinse.

Flush the inside with fresh water as well. As for the engine, drain the oil, pull the plugs and turn it over several times. Remove the valve covers when doing this. If you can get condensation out, why not water. Maybe somebody can take the mags apart and flush them as well.

Lets think on the positive side and think about the things he can do instead of the negative side on what he can't do.

Lets not let this become a complete write off because of one A & P


When in doubt get a second opinion or 50

Rick

Jurys are not dumb people. Things are changing on these suits for everything.

I sat on a case where a woman after five years still wore a neck brace from an auto accident. She was not looking for megabucks but somewhere near 100k.

Her case was totally unconvincing and she just kept mouthing off. A member of the jury pointed out that giving nothing may lead to further action so we asked the judge if we could award an amount lesser than asked. The judge told us we could. We gave her $5.00.

A buyer has to understand risk assement. First to fly and then to fly in an amatuer airplane and then to fly in an amatuer plane not even built by the buyer.

This seller is trying to protect himself as much as he can but I don't think he can accomplish this by removing the wings and canard.

Heres to tort reform.

Hi Gilbert

Just for comparrison purposes, I have an O 235 L2C with the original Prestolite starter. I have been using a utility battery off of a lawn tractor ( Lawn Mower) for may years now.  It is slightly smaller than the sealed batteries for standard aircraft. I don't known what exactly what the current draw is while cranking, but the rating on the battery it not that great.

On a regular day it will crank the engine over for quite some time before running down.

I don't know what kind of battery you have but I would use even something smaller like a motorcycle battery in mine whithout worrying about it.

Rick

Actually this happened when I first started flying mine. Sometime in 87 to 89. I,m sure it will still be in the Data base at the FAA

The Long was on a long final for Clow airport in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, when it finally ran dry. No Time to switch tanks and finre up again. Clow has a N-S runway and on the south end was a large bean field. My firend set it down  about 100 yards short in the bean field and the plants wrapped up the front wheel real good before it flipped.

Broke the canard off and the outer 1/3 of the right wing. It did not go straight over.

Fortunately, he was able to radio for help and they came and lifted it up.
While upside down and waiting he realized that if he had a punch to break the plastic, he could have crawled out himself. Since then, he has carried a punch. So have I in little bag. I don't know if this will work but it makes me warm and fuzzy.

So Mr. Doom and Gloom, there are a lot of "what if's". There are a lot of flip-over type canopy homebuilts with  low wing out there and not just the Long EZ, Vari EZ or Cozy series.

If you plan for every posibility, you might wind up with a plane so heavy
it will not fly.

I am so sorry to hear this news.
I did not know Dan but looked forward to his postings and replies.
24 years in a Vari Ez. What more can you say

I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you what I did. I made up my own using the raw hose and fittings. It wasn't all that hard.
The advantage to this is you can measure twice and cut once and then if it is still wrong and you ordered more hose than you need, you just go ahead and make it again.

I think I used Aeroquip

Rick

I agree with you Waiter

It looks like this uninformed individual also posted some very negative comments on the Vari-Long EZ "Must have" thread". It's the last one down on page one.

The object here is to annoy people into responding to him. Oops, thats what I'm doing.

Anyhow, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens went down in a Beach, Payne Stewart in a private business jet and Ricky Nelson in a DC-3 so what is your point? These were all certified aircraft.

Are we risk takers? Of course, compared to you that is obvious. But "our thing" is not just about risk, it's about comradeship, enjoyment, creating something with your own hands, accomplishment that only a few thousand people in the world can claim and self satisfaction.

You would not know how we feel. It would be like like trying to explain sex to a virgin.

Your comments were out of line and you know it. Sign up to the forums, use your full name, don't be afraid and give us some constructive advice.

Join us and share the fun we have.

Risk ? 20 years and counting.