Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk

Kim Sun Aug 26, 2018 2:02 pm

So, it happened as I knew it would: I woke up one morning last week and said, "It's time to do this."

I haven't flown much full scale in the past 6 years or so, and Ole Yeller, my GN-1 Air Camper (aka Piet) has been dejectedly gathering dust in it's hangar all that time. There was a time when I very nearly lived in the thing.
So, it's time to fly again.

Contacted my favorite flying doctor, who helped walk me through getting my "Basic Med" Certificate (finally giving up going after a standard third class medical). My one prescribed drug is on the acceptable list, so if I hang in there with good blood pressure, this should cover me 'till I head for the old folks home.

Part of the incentive was that the local charter business acquired a pretty Cessna 172 "Skyhawk", THE best knocking around plane ever...at least for me. One of their instructors bravely volunteered to conduct my Biennial Flight Review (BFR), though it was only right, since Mike is one of my buds who have relentlessly bugged me about getting Ole Yeller going.

The ground school review consisted mostly of me stumbling and guessing through assorted airspace designations, dimensions, and their acceptable use, and other stuff that will hopefully keep me out of trouble (good instructors ALWAYS know a pilot's typical weak areas of knowledge, and go right to them like a pit bull after hamburger).

A lot more was simple 'time shock' as the COOL pilots apparently now use their phones to do the flight planning AND file the flight plans on line. I don't care if I DO look like a knuckle-dragging neanderthal...I STILL love my paper charts and whiz wheel (E6-B Flight Computer), and will talk to a human when I file a flight plan.

The flying part was spent mostly with me unlearning in-grained bad habits:

Actually LOOK at the airspeed indicator to make sure you're at the right speed to rotate (try that in Ole Yeller and you'll be harvesting soybeans).
DON'T change flap settings in turns.
DON'T taxi with yoke full back in your stomach ("This is not a taildragger, Kim")
USE THE ELEVATOR TRIM !!!!!
Fly a wider pattern, your downwind should not track right beside the runway you're using...coupled with: "SHALLOW TURNS IN THE PATTERN !!!"

My strong points were coordination in roll during turns, general Paranoia (head on a swivel for traffic), and mostly smooth control inputs.

So, we survived, with a new sign off in my new logbook, and my name on the acceptable renter list for the Skyhawk...which is now down for inspection.

Ole Yeller is next...already got it new tires, tubes and wheel bearings, with mechanic bud John reworking it's engine's cylinders. Hopefully, some cooler temperatures will make it easy for us to poke around the the old airplane and get it all back on line.
I'll use this post as a start for a "Restoration Thread" as we go along.

And the beat goes on...

New log book (properly stickered up, of course), new charts, middle aged whiz wheel, and 33 year-old headset...ready to rock!

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk 1_311

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk 2_32

So me and this ole dog ought to be back in the air this Fall

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk 4_23

Maybe not exactly like our Glory Days, but something close

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk Piet_a10

fit90 Sun Aug 26, 2018 3:28 pm

OUTSTANDING!!! Now all you have to do is get your tail wheel currency and you are off to the races! I am jealous. I would love to get back into flying some time in the next year or so. It has probably been close to ten years since I have broken the law of gravity. Most of my log books disappeared with my ex-wife, oh well. I can still just get up and fly just for the fun of it. I hope you will keep us posted on your progress and the Piet's progress. I had a couple friends that owned a Piet. It had a Continental 65. It was fun but really struggled with our fat rear ends in it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Please take pics and share. It will be my old man, former pilot porn.

Bob

Marleysky Sun Aug 26, 2018 3:41 pm

ARGH RIGHTY THEN !! OFF into the WILD BLUE, with ol'Yeller. Glad to hear you passed the physical. You reminded me of my Math Professor in college" NO you may NOT use your calculator...this is a Slide-Rule class and you will use IT to obtain your answers!! " Hope to see some live action videos in the near future. Small Cox Logo

**Cribbs74** Sun Aug 26, 2018 4:07 pm

Happy for you Kim, probably feels really good!

Keep is posted. What has to be done to the Piet to get it fully airworthy?

Kim Sun Aug 26, 2018 4:13 pm

fit90 wrote:OUTSTANDING!!! Now all you have to do is get your tail wheel currency and you are off to the races! I am jealous. I would love to get back into flying some time in the next year or so. It has probably been close to ten years since I have broken the law of gravity. Most of my log books disappeared with my ex-wife, oh well. I can still just get up and fly just for the fun of it. I hope you will keep us posted on your progress and the Piet's progress. I had a couple friends that owned a Piet. It had a Continental 65. It was fun but really struggled with our fat rear ends in it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Please take pics and share. It will be my old man, former pilot porn.

Bob

Thanks Much Bob! Yeah, Ole Yeller has an A-65 that has been adequate, and I may call it a single seater for the foreseeable future. With any luck, I'll have it at the Pietenpol Reunion next year in Wisconsin, and also pull off some of the wandering cross-country flights like back in the day...though, in a post 9-11 world, I got to be a lot more aware of what's going on under and out in front of me as I cruise along.

Hope you get to doing some flying soon!

Kim Sun Aug 26, 2018 4:22 pm

Marleysky wrote:ARGH RIGHTY THEN !! OFF into the WILD BLUE, with ol'Yeller. Glad to hear you passed the physical. You reminded me of my Math Professor in college" NO you may NOT use your calculator...this is a Slide-Rule class and you will use IT to obtain your answers!! " Hope to see some live action videos in the near future.

Yeah...it ain't easy being a dinosaur...but I don't know how NOT to be....

And yes...the Go Pros WILL get a workout!

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk Brodhe10

Kim Sun Aug 26, 2018 4:43 pm

Cribbs74 wrote:Happy for you Kim, probably feels really good!

Keep is posted. What has to be done to the Piet to get it fully airworthy?

Will do!

Basically a DEEP inspection:
Engine and Accessories (the biggest part)
All pulley bearings and cables lubed
Control Surface Hinges
Throttle cable and end mounts need to be reworked/replaced
We may have to re-cable it with new cabane, flying, and drag wires, but not sure about that yet...it'll be a big deal if it has to be done.
Flush fuel tank and maybe change some line.
Probably gonna have to spring for a new ELT ($500+), but probably gonna use my newest old handheld radio.
And I'm sure some more stuff, but I'm gonna try to hit it an item at a time.

Dave P. Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:04 pm

Been a while since I've had a flight physical. Are they still doing the digital or have they finally gotten into the Twenty First century and rely on a PSA?

Glad to hear an old airplane and pilot are back in the air like they should be.

Kim Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:38 pm

Dave P. wrote:Been a while since I've had a flight physical. Are they still doing the digital or have they finally gotten into the Twenty First century and rely on a PSA?

Glad to hear an old airplane and pilot are back in the air like they should be.

I never had anything like that...but I was only going for a Third Class, and we used to joke that a local doctor would pretty much pass you if you could walk into the office! He has since stopped offering flight physicals.

I managed to give myself Type II Diabetes (helped along by family med history), and while my medicine, Metformin, is on the accepted list, I lived in fear of failing a physical and having to deal with the crap involved with that.

I went the Basic Med route, all info on the AOPA site, since I don't intend any upgrades, just trying to keep what I've got.

Also going try AGAIN to get more exercise and make some kind of attempt at a diet. High blood pressure will be what shoots me down if I let it, but I'm still OK...just got to live a little better.

Thanks a bunch for your comment and encouragement!

Mike1484 Sun Aug 26, 2018 7:07 pm

Kim ,

Good to see you back to flying . The one picture showed Pete's and Grega's , I knew a John Grega who was a fellow member of our Lake Erie Gas Model Club who was involved with Pete's . I also had a fellow member of our Northern Ohio Free Flight Ass. ( N.O.F.F.A ) who built a Pete , his name was Warren Weisenbach . Just thought you might know them .

Mike1484

fit90 Sun Aug 26, 2018 7:24 pm

Mike1484 wrote:Kim ,

Good to see you back to flying . The one picture showed Pete's and Grega's , I knew a John Grega who was a fellow member of our Lake Erie Gas Model Club who was involved with Pete's . I also had a fellow member of our Northern Ohio Free Flight Ass. ( N.O.F.F.A ) who built a Pete , his name was Warren Weisenbach . Just thought you might know them .

Mike1484

Hi Mike,

Are you from the Erie area? If so, have you heard of The Hallman Auto Group? I used to fly for them. The owner lived in Naples, FL. I would fly him to Erie and all over the place.

Bob

Kim Sun Aug 26, 2018 8:49 pm

Mike1484 wrote:Kim ,

Good to see you back to flying . The one picture showed Pete's and Grega's , I knew a John Grega who was a fellow member of our Lake Erie Gas Model Club who was involved with Pete's . I also had a fellow member of our Northern Ohio Free Flight Ass. ( N.O.F.F.A ) who built a Pete , his name was Warren Weisenbach . Just thought you might know them .

Mike1484

Thanks Mike,
I never met John Grega, but traded several notes with him after buying a set of GN-1 plans to help me understand my plane a little better. When I first bought mine from a friend who had owned it a decade or so, I knew nothing of the GN-1's vrs "real Piets" roil, but got a fast lesson in the difference when I attended my first Piet Reunion. There was a lot of bad blood with Bernie Pietenpol's little plane being copied, and I kept a low profile while absorbing many insults hurled at my plane.

That all died down eventually though, and i kept going to the reunions.

Warren's name is very familiar, but may be from the newsletter, or one of the guys who bought videos from me back in the day.

rsv1cox Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:29 am

I enjoyed your "Back in the saddle" narration Kim. Brought back memories of the E-6B, I always marveled at the things but never truly understood how to use them.

Loved this picture Kim, could be my MG sitting there - Concrete blocks, open tool box, vacuum cleaner, Windex, and oil spots under the engine.

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk Kpiet10

Bob

Kim Mon Aug 27, 2018 8:52 am

rsv1cox wrote:I enjoyed your "Back in the saddle" narration Kim. Brought back memories of the E-6B, I always marveled at the things but never truly understood how to use them.

Loved this picture Kim, could be my MG sitting there - Concrete blocks, open tool box, vacuum cleaner, Windex, and oil spots under the engine.

Bob

Thanks Bob...yeah "Boys and Their Toys".

Back in the day when my mind was a LOT more limber, I was given a fairly worn-out plastic version of the E6-B, and I loved that thing. It was what I considered "Real Pilot Equipment" at a time when I didn't know if I'd ever be able to afford getting my license. I "flew" many imaginary cross country trips with everything in the known universe being calculated and accounted for.

I can still get around one fairly well, but not with the ninja-like agility of the old days. I seldom had use for it (other than showing off) when I traveled in the Piet, trading it for a folding plotter and a chart strapped around my left leg (I pity the poor souls who have never known the beauty and fragrance of a fresh, unwrinkled sectional chart!).

The plotter and charts will figure prominently with most of my flying now, as I wander among my High Tech Buds and their various glass screens. But for the occasional rental, I intend to stay out in the boon docks with my old yellow buddy.

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk B_10

GallopingGhostler Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:14 am

Kim wrote:I never had anything like that...but I was only going for a Third Class, and we used to joke that a local doctor would pretty much pass you if you could walk into the office! He has since stopped offering flight physicals.

I managed to give myself Type II Diabetes (helped along by family med history), and while my medicine, Metformin, is on the accepted list, I lived in fear of failing a physical and having to deal with the crap involved with that.

I went the Basic Med route, all info on the AOPA site, since I don't intend any upgrades, just trying to keep what I've got. Also going try AGAIN to get more exercise and make some kind of attempt at a diet. High blood pressure will be what shoots me down if I let it, but I'm still OK...just got to live a little better.

Hang in there, Kim, Type 2 can be overcome. There's a number of authors out there, David Perlmutter, Neurologist (book Grain Brain), William Davis, Cardiologist (book Wheat Belly), Steven Grundy, Cardiologist (book Diet Evolution). They all agree more or less on diet. T2D can be reversed along with Dementia prevention, even blood vessel plaque reduced. Two years ago I was religiously following advice and got A1C down to normal. Lately I've slipped, its up again, time to go back to diet basics.

They all have been under attack by the media, but I find that what they say has validity. Also, Planet Fitness came to town 2 years ago. I've been doing recumbent bike cardio 35 minutes and weight training a couple times a week. Last doc's visit a week ago, my BP was 115/72.

I don't do certain exercises because of my bad back, but work around the problems with other exercises. You can make improvements to your health. It takes time, problems didn't occur overnight, but with persistent steady work, start where you are at, you compete only with yourself, you can definitely improve your body's health over time if patient.

Kim Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:00 pm

Man, I appreciate that. It is true that this is all on me to make a difference. My doctor has repeatedly told me that I could either totally dump the Metformin or get it down to a minimal dose with simple and dedicated lifestyle changes...which makes me VERY fortunate compared to those who have to struggle just to keep going.

This airplane deal is part of changes I want to make, and like you, I've got a membership in Planet Fitness (that goes largely unused). Just got to do it.

GallopingGhostler Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:28 pm

You're welcome, Kim. BTW, the diabetes association guidelines are way outdated, following those will prolong diabetes.

**RknRusty** Tue Aug 28, 2018 9:36 pm

Congratulations, Kim, on getting your wings restored.
I don't speak much esoteric Pilot lingo, but I'll be reading and enjoying your aero-adventures.
Rusty

GallopingGhostler Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:40 am

Regarding my comment on these doctor's non-pharma approaches being under attack, this was my review on Amazon of Dr. William Davis' book, "Wheat Belly". My comment has been obscured as "sensitive", which is non-sense. I needn't say anything more, this is no conspiracy theory. Photo includes Amazon's comment in my profile, and my actual comment.

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk 2018-028

Kim Thu Sep 20, 2018 3:16 pm

My schedule (and mood) finally lined up when this lovely little 1980 Cessna 172N was available to rent, so I took it out on a rocky, gusty afternoon to try and polish some of the rust that has gathered during my six year hiatus from flying big toys.

It irritates me that I have become a "mechanical flyer", with stiff inputs and corrections, where I used to just take the plane smoothly where I wanted it. So, the next several runs are gonna see me circling like a buzzard out in the practice area while I "learn to fly again".

Slow flight and stalls and such stuff are all good, but I'm pretty sloppy at holding altitude, bank angle, and attitude in steep turns and have trouble with rolling out on a given heading.

Next time out, I'm gonna wait for a nice early morning or evening time when the thermals aren't popping.

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk 2_42

Back in the Saddle...Me and my rental Skyhawk 4_29

NEW222 Thu Sep 20, 2018 3:44 pm

That's awesome Kim. I really like the touch of the selfie in flight! As long as you had a good time out up there, that's all that counts.

Ken Cook Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:21 pm

Kim, your the coolest. That's a great picture . Ken

getback Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:22 pm

Cool ur back up again , That bird can bee a pain being a floater : kinda like the one I was learning on way back when (got me sick a lot) . Anyway bee careful and have Fun!! Very Happy

crankbndr Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:26 pm

That is very cool Kim, In 1970 I was training in a Cessna 150. My toughest maneuver to master was turns around a point with a good wind blowing.
My favorite maneuver was stall, spins. Loved it and used to do em just for grins. The instructor had me do em with the hood on also very fun.
The 150 us a very forgiving aircraft. You are having a blast, congratulations for getting back at it.

PS that is a beautiful aircraft you got

fit90 Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:44 pm

Super cool! Plus, that is a clean looking bird. Have lots of fun and make sure that selfie stick is STC'ed.

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