OOOH RAH folks. I'm back.... Flew 10M this morning at 11 AM and despite a few glitches made it a successful flight. After all that repair she flew straight and good hands off after trimming up. My takeoff wasn't the best cause I sort of forced the tail up before I should have and lifted off a little soon. About that time I noticed the airspeed indicator wasn't working. Great, Haven't flown since last july and no airspeed indicator... This is gonna be an adventure. Guage check after liftoff and climb showed no right fuel tank indicator.. Full tank showed E.... Oh well that's two.. Did some steep turns right and left and a approach to landing stall at altitude. As usual the damn thing won't really stall, it just mushes down. Wings stayed level and didn't drop left or right or off for that matter. Then the approach..... I probably was a little fast since I'm rusty and didn't know how fast my airspeed was. Steadily decended with power reductions and plopped on Brown's 26 right with a 12 knot 45 degree crosswind from the right.and swerved right a bit and caught it and got back straight. Instructor said I was on the brakes a bit. I didn't realize I was. Have to watch that and use only rudder till slow enough. Got out and saw fuel stains running down the fuselage from the left wing root to the tail. Damn!!!! That's three. First flight got right on it and had the wing root fairing off before the instructor had my log book done. Will be ready to fly again by the first of the week if not tomorrow. Hope the fuel leak isn't serious. They didn't think it would be. It's been a long wait but now the fun resumes.... Can't wait......

Get those stains off the fabric while its still fresh. If you dont get it you might have to use some paint reducer to get the stains out depending on the paint and fabric covering type.

While its fresh use a clean rag with fuel and it should wipe off easy. Turn the rag if it streaks.

Glad you are back burning some avgas again.

WW

I have had a couple flights where my airspeed didn't work. One time ice in the static air port, and the other leaf cutter bees in the pito tube. If you have gps and no or little wind it will get you by.

Left the GPS home... Didn't think i'd need it.....Figures

I'd open the window and feel the breeze before I ever looked at a GPS for indication of airspeed.

Glad you're back Butch.

Thanks Zane, felt good to finally get back in the left seat again. Been flying right seat to breakfast on Sundays too long.....Gonna go down there today and check on the fuel leak. and other stuff. We got a full blown Santa ana wind thing going on today so I wouldn't fly anyway.

Glad to see its getting back together Butch.

Mine should be flyable tomorrow and then its off to the paint shop next week to be stripped, all corrosion fixed, and then painted. But by the time it gets back, we'll be over the worst of the weather and I can fly to some camping areas.

Sigh - guess I'll have to break down and rent something.

Don

thank you Don. I debated renting too but I was always too busy or couldn't bring myself to spending the money on rentals. So I just squirreled away cash little by little and maybe soon I can get that 496 to go into the Air Gizmo slot in my panel. Checked on the plane today and cleaned and waxed it . Fuel guage was two wires hooked up backwards. fuel leak was a hose connection, and Airspeed indicator was a crimped hose under the panel. Wing root fairings were going on as I was waxing and it should be flyable by tomorrow although I won't fly again til Tues night as the instructor is booked. He's pretty current in Maules and taildraggers. He's retired Border patrol or Customs and flew super cubs for them. He had a Maule and gives biennials to a couple maule owners at Brown. Things are lookin up!!

wagonwrench wrote:Get those stains off the fabric while its still fresh. If you dont get it you might have to use some paint reducer to get the stains out depending on the paint and fabric covering type.

While its fresh use a clean rag with fuel and it should wipe off easy. Turn the rag if it streaks.

Glad you are back burning some avgas again.

WW

Thanks WW. WHen I got to first flight yesterday morning THey had washed the stains off after I left on Friday... Tom the owner is really on top of things and I can't say enough about his service.

Butch,

Fantastic !

Get some time with that instructor (sounds like a good one) and we'll meet someplace for lunch.

Your finishing up just in time for good flying weather. (except for the Santa Ana's of course)

Congrats on being back in the air...

Mark

Thanks Mark, Sounds like a plan. John also said he might like a meet for a meal. In addition Jean and I are planning another trip to Columbia for the same fly in as last year. This year the group is planning to raft the Tuolumne river. I forget which weekend it is but it is after the BCP fly in. I definitely will make all effort to land on the grass runway this time. We really like the campground at columbia as it is close to the aircraft parking and the bathrooms are clean, as well as it is within walking distance of town.. Not that Columbia is a great metropolis but I'm a real history, Gold rush buff. Looking forward to the BCP fly in at JC and finally meeting all these geezers and folks on the site. Maybe even meet Zane!!!!! I;ll be in touch. Right now I fly on tuesday and will be flying a lot to get back in the groove. Are you going to the BCP fly in.... I have some old scotch reserved for you and John......