My serial number is 243. Probably only a few weeks between their "birthdays"...

I went out yesterday to try out a DIY GoPro mount that isolated vibration.


which for some reason is giving me a playback error. link below:

https://youtu.be/z9vpsnvYbS8
The mount seems to work okay. Imagine using a tie down ring, a couple of fender washers and six neoprene fender washers sandwiched 3 per side over the tie down ring.

I'm not super proud of the air work but flying the 7ECA with 150hp is always fun. The tail wheel shimmy that I was warned would appear at some point showed up during these landings.

I've managed to put in about 12 hours since buying the plane recently. I take full advantage of what keeping your own plane in a hangar brings with it: 100% plane availability, head set right where I left it, etc.

Best airplane there is, is the one you are sitting in, second best is the one you own!! If they are the same one, you are golden!!

Got to fly one like it (no flaps) not long ago. Cool plane!!
Nice pictures of it too

Is it the camera, or are you really flying a "flat" approach on final? It looks like you're on about a 1-2º glide path.

GravityKnight wrote:Got to fly one like it (no flaps) not long ago. Cool plane!!
Nice pictures of it too

Flat approaches. It probably looks like I'm dragging it in, but I was basically power out from the key position (idle to 1500 rpm), all the flaps I have (zero) and looking to touch down softly on the numbers.

I typically prefer to stay high and slip it off but I'm just messing around getting comfortable with the plane.

I thought I would update my own thread while my first annual is underway.

I'm currently pacing back and forth (at least mentally) while I get various bits of news from my IA.

My first reality check occurred when he had me bring my logs in a couple of weeks ago. I had boasted that my logs were clean and organized. Some aspiring mechanic had created a large binder with the small logbooks we're all familiar with. It also has sections for all ADs and service bulletins, with one time ADs in a different section than recurring ones, all the 337s are there. I was certain he would be impressed.

Well it didn't take him a full minute to uncover that I was missing about 10 years of logs. It was obvious he wasn't really comfortable with those missing years either because the plane had a prop strike with engine teardown in 2004 and that was part of the missing data.

I had been through the logs and the shop manuals in great detail during the previous weeks. I thought I knew my plane's dirty secrets.

He had questions about the total time on the engine which had been installed new in 1996, but he was right - I was missing both airframe and engine logs. The prop was new after the prop strike so it came with a new log. He handed it to me and said "at least this one is clean".

He told me that not having the logs wasn't necessarily a deal breaker but the details of the engine overhaul were non-existent other than an invoice. That would make it difficult to sign the plane off as compliant without extra research.

At least the invoice showed the new crankshaft that was installed, not because it was bent but because it was the subject of a corrosion AD. The logs have pictures of the old crank and it looks like it was discovered laying in a barnyard.

I have known the guy I bought the plane from for 20 years. He's as straight up a guy as I have ever known and the last several annuals have been signed by people I have known (either directly or at least by reputation) for most of that same 20 years.

If those logs had been available they would have given them to me. I called the shop that did the last annual and he was sure he had given me everything, and the previous owner rooted around his home office and didn't find anything. I was bummed and didn't know exactly how to proceed but I knew it was going to cost me some time and money before I would leave the earth in my own plane soon.

A few days later my phone rang, and it reinforced my opinion stated above. The previous mechanic said he looked around and didn't find anything but it bugged him so he kept at it. He recalled a logbook that didn't fit in the binder and was even able to describe it for me. Later he would tell me he picked the book up a few times and moved it because he was sure it was light blue (it's dark).

I was pumped when he called me to tell me he had found it. It was one of those all in one logbooks with sections for airframe, power plant and prop. My missing 10 years was now in my hands. I had looked through the log a couple of weeks before buying the plane but didn't recall it being separate, so that is why I thought I had a continuous stream from 1965.

Crisis resolved
Now onto the hard part. Originally I was pursuing an owner assisted annual, and in preparing for it I did my wheel bearings and oil change. My new mechanic and I drove to my hangar where my plane sat with the cowling off. I was legally allowed to do the tasks above and I'm quite comfortable I did them correctly (other than this plane, no one touches my vehicles with a wrench but me). But I also know that my mechanic doesn't know me or what my level of competence is. So I conceded that he can look it over or do it over, I care not.

I also told him I want to install Desser Aero Classic 8.50 x 6 smooth tires. I provided a copy of the STC and proof that the tires match the description (it specifies 4 ply and that they be of "type III" design).

And so far...
Lowest compression was 74/80. He's got the carb off and has found that the mixture control lever is corroded/pitted and feels that it won't clean up. I've approved ordering a new one. He's suggesting (not requiring) that I replace the float with the latest type. Mine is metal but not the subject of an AD, but Marv Schebler insists that all floats be replaced with some new composite piece. I'll make the final decision after the sticker shock subsides.

I'm dropping off the tires this afternoon and I'll get to see it with all the access covers off. He's hoping to have the rest of the inspection done in the next day or so.

Besides the fat* tires I've got the new style main landing gear hardware that gets rid of the U-bolt arrangement, and all new hardware for my tail wheel. If I'm going to bend up my plane I would prefer to do it the old fashioned way (bad stick and rudder skills) as opposed to deferring a known maintenance issue.

*Fatter that is. Still on the small side for this crowd I'm sure.