ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Ok so I have been holding back on posting stories since I now fly the Tcart but still someone has to be flying.  The wind in Kansas finally dropped to nothing last monday so I was able to get the plane out of the hangar and do a couple hours of needed stress relief. Pretty much flew the MiniMax trip in reverse with my plane.  Got to see some wheat turning golden yellow down by the Oklahoma line and then as I flew back north got to watch it go back to light green.  The Tcraft was singing a happy song as it doesn't like being in the hangar anymore then I like it being there.  Light thermals were working the air and since I am pretty new to the plane was watching the gauges pretty close so it seemed funny to see me gaining altitude on one gauge while seeing the my wings were level and I was flying straight on the other guage.  Never had a rate of climb gauge before and took a while for my old gray matter to realise you could be flying level and still have a climb rate of a couple hundred feet a minute if you were riding a thermal.  Buzzed over to the bush field at alley's place and saw him out in the yard.... so thinking that I saw a couple huns sneaking up on him I did a straffing run and shot them out of his woods..... not so sure he knew they were there cause he sort of ducked and ran as I came down the field could be he was just protecting that new hangar of his.... he knows my history.  Then it was over to butler airpark to to give them the same thrill then across to rosehill and up to cook field for some runway checking.  The plane was running great but I did find that without a hat the sun was way in my eyes as I flew back to Selby.  Knowing the huns to be a tricky lot I was careful to avoid flying straight and at any certain level... well that is my story about why I was all over the air anyway.  In the Max I usually wore a hat and was just under the canopy, in the Craft I am more exposed to the sun.  Chris, Paul and I are headed to highpoint this weekend to a great flyin... if it doesn't rain and the cows come home.  I love the Taylorcraft... but I miss the Max

  I think you just told one That "Tcart?"sounds like fun.

Thanks for sharing.
Larry

It actually is a lot of fun just not as used to it as I was the MiniMax and takes a lot more work to keep it up.  I was at Eck field the other day and the old guys there and the guys on the Taylorcraft forum refer to Taylorcrafts as Tcarts.... not sure why but am getting used to calling it that as well.

Life is a tradeoff Avenger.  Glad  you got some air time and cleared the woods  of Huns  at Alley Bush  Field.   I  envy  your traveling, I haven't done any cross-country trips yet, all have been local "stress relievers".  A combination of high gas prices and spending time on  my Tiger Moth have kept me grounded even during the good weather. I will be going to Highpoint Saturday morning, I will clear the Big Ditch of Huns enroute

The Tiger moth continues to make progress.  Last night I finished rib lacing the last wing, the aileron is already done.  This weekend I will tape the laces, and everything else that needs it, install the inspection rings, drain  holes and start on  the aileron cable cover.  Primering will done in another week or so.  Next step is to begin reworking the upper middle fuel tank which also serves as the top wing joiner.  It is the center section.

The excitement is  building.

AirBike Ace

I am less than 3 hours away from flying off my test hours. Flying the Max is so ordinary in so many ways...hardly seems it would be worth talking about it. I mean, what's so interesting in describing a lovely summer morning, light breezes, the temperature rising fast and the density altitude with it...yet, even at 8500 feet the climb rate is surprising and the earth drops away rapidly. As I turn from the airport I cross one of the major interstates, heavy with truck traffic, and since I'm now only about 700 feet AGL I know they can see this little open cockpit putt-putt cruising along in the cool, carefree air above them and I'm certain they're watching. Some times I take guilty pleasure as I do a couple of rapid pivots...you can hardly call them turns in the Max...above them to stir their envy. Sometimes I continue on to 1000 ft. Sometimes 800 feels right. The earth drifts slowly by below. Cattle grazing. Farm machinery going about it's business in the crop circles below. The pungent smell of Alfalfa. Slight fabric ripples echo the physics of the wind rushing over the top of the Max's fat airfoil. I'm very self-satisfied to see they only appear aft of the rear spar...right where they're supposed to be. In the clear air of New Mexico I can see a hundred miles away in all directions. The entire planet beneath me is engaged in some obligatory task. Me? I'm just a privileged angel cruising the heavens above them all, peering into their secrets. I know I should be spending some of this time testing the limits of the Max, but I feel unrushed, as she already does everything I ask of her, effortlessly, except for her reluctance to grant me a bit more speed at 5800 rpm. Now the heat building on the land is starting to break loose send me rising currents of air. Sometimes they grab the Max and hurl her upwards, making me hold my breath. They are a reminder that angels weigh little and are susceptible. It's time to turn homeward and leave the cloud world for now. It's always a bit sad to feel the Max's toes touch the tarmac again, but a smile is pasted to my face as I make the long taxi run back to the nest. All this would be boring for most people to hear about though. Maybe someday I'll talk a little about it. It'll probably  be pointless though. You really have to be there.

stuck on the ground! tell my aircrafts done. i live next to a dirt strip in northen calif. for two years.....Still waiting to see an aircraft land on it!!!!!!if i did not live under the whitmore MOA i'd have no fun at all lately.
in the bush with out a plane!!!!
mike
CN42

Chris was in town last weekend to sell his beloved Max and it was planned to fly to Beaumont for breakfast.  Terry and Lawrence Alley were going as well as a few other friends so was looking like a wonderful day of flying, food and friends.  Friday night Chris calls and says his plane isn't running right and has either lost a cylinder or is having mag problems so wants to see if he can fly with me.  Now I have only had an instructor in my Tcraft with me so this would be a first for me.  Told him it would be fine but I was putting the freshly X-rayed struts back on but shouldn't take to long.  Got to Selby earlier then we had at first figured we would so that we would have time to get it fixed and tested.  Well we didn't know that Chris and AirBike Ace were related.  Last year everytime Paul set up a food run it rained, and rain was the name of the game early Sat morning.  Terry Alley got to within 8 miles of Beaumont before being turned back by winds and rain.  We got the struts on... and there to is a good luck story but will save it for later.... The skys cleared and the winds were perfect, so into the air... as I got to cruise speed I was having to hold half of all the ailerons I had to fly straight.  Brought the plane back to the hangar and adjusted the struts, took off and it was only marginally better, brought it back again and made another adjustment and it flew fine.  Pulled up to the hangar and motioned chris to come get in figureing we might as well get some time in.  Let Chris fly the Tcraft for a while and he thought it flew fine with lots of rudder authority but said they were stiffer then his 150's.  We were just floating around when we realised it was near 2:30 and we hadn't eaten yet... Chris thought it would be a good idea to fly to Beaumont and eat even without the guys... Now Beaumont as a lot of you guys know is a historical little city where you land just east of town... taxi up a street for airplanes only and park by the restaraunt to eat...when we left Selby it was a light wind out of the south, when we got to Beaumont it was a strong wind out of the West and the Tcraft complained on landing... Chris yelled and I just danced on the pedals while we sort of road out the landing I tried to explain to Chris that I was just checking out both sides of the runway in a relatively fast manner.  Now the streets, well I have done it a bunch of times in the Max you pretty much just put the plane in the middle of the streat and taxi.  With a 26 ft wingspread that is pretty easy.  So I am going up the street at a gentle pace right on the center line when Chris once again yelled.... such a baby... and I gently clipped a telephone pole with my left wingtip causing a small dent.  The waitress had a long screwdriver and some tape and in short order the dent was out and the hole from the screwdriver covered.  Food was good  Flight was fun... no serious damage to the plane.  I was later told that it is only 39 ft between the pole and the stop sign so will have to figure a better spot on the ground to use as a reference.  We almost hit it again on the way out.  I miss my short wings.

Now the waitresses at Beaumont are a hoot and for a man my age just plain attractive and always a good source on intel on hun movement in that area as even huns have to eat.  The only tape they had was masking tape but in this case it was fine and I was enjoying my meal when she said... you know this tape is kind of worthless don't know why anyone buys it.  Even Chris gave her a funny look and we asked how she came to this conclusion.  She said well it isn't really any good to use when boxing things up.  Can't see through it so not to good for scotch tape, made of paper and not to strong, so I explained the fine art of painting rooms and what masking tape was for to which she exclaimed well darn I have been using duct tape for that... no wonder it pull the paint off.  Women can't live with them... can't shoot them.


Now I do know a Hun fighter down in lower Texas that thinks duct tape is the only answer to any fix it project.... I am thinking match made in heaven for the two of them.... Pete... I have a woman for you.

Wonder how wide that gap in the trees at the south end of selby is.........it sure looks less than 39ft, I just look at it and shake my head. Thanks for lunch and an interesting day. We had a good time and a bit too much fun but I enjoyed it and look foward to another adventure when I make it back to ks sometime.

Have fun, fly safe, and keep the deviations from the centerline to a minimum.
Chris

It is 39ft from the stop sign to the pole in Beaumont... guess I will go measure the hole in the tree line over the weekend but we fit and that is all that matters.

Avenger: Where's the picture?

made chris distroy the evidence of the dent... could have the waitresses get me a picture.  Chris forgot his camera when we took off probably a good thing.

ATTENTION ALL!

The huns have a new secret weapon! They are using optical trickery to cause hangers, light poles and objects unknown to appear farther away than they really are! Thankfully one of our own has taken it uppon himself to discover these illusions and chart their locations! So far these optically displaced objects include a hanger at the benton ks airport and a street light along a taxiway leading to the beaumont hotel.

Below is the evidence of Avenger's dedicated service to the cause.



Chris

We also have reason to believe the huns are testing a sudden crosswind generator but no photo evedence of such a device has yet  been collected.

ok,with all the talk of the huns has lead me too beleave that your build
rooms should have more windows open! the 3m product is to help you go flying,not take you flying.
spilting a gut in gratatude!
Mike
CN42

I thought you said it was a "SMALL" dent

Quoted from Avenger made chris distroy the evidence of the dent... could have the waitresses get me a picture.  Chris forgot his camera when we took off probably a good thing.

Don´t you get it?
We want the waitresses picture!  

Don't sweat it. My gut began to take on that shape a few years back. Hasn't had much of an effect on me at all.

Quoted from superswamper I thought you said it was a "SMALL" dent

It is a small dent if you compare it to the grand canyon.  Actually the picture looks worse then the dent really was....objects in the camera lens may appear closer... bigger.... worse then they really are..... it is my disclaimer and I stand by it....

will work on the waitress pics

Nothing is safe when  Avenger takes  flight, I am  not so sure we want him  on our side!

Paul Fiebich

Nothing is safe when  Avenger takes  flight, I am  not so sure we want him  on our side!



I used to be a Hun but they kicked me out.......lol

that explains the red airplanes.........

Chris

guess he should have gotten a clipped wing version, but looks like he is trying to make that modification himself

I used to  raise chickens as a  4-H project, to keep  them from flying  out of the pen, I clipped  one wing making their flight unbalanced  and uncontrollable.  They kept crashing into  the wire fence.  If Bill is trying  to improve  his flight  characteristics  of the T-craft, he needs to bash in the ends  of both wings!

Paul Fiebich

well and in there is the rest of the story... I had put the new struts on and it was turning to the right... so I thought I would add some drag to the left wing to make it fly straight... seems a good idea at the time.....

The only problem is that avenger added to much drag to the left wing and as we slowed on the landing roll at selby the rudder was unable to compensate for it........ In the seconds following touchdown I learned how avenger became the only pilot to be credited as an allied ace while flying for the huns!


Chris

probably all for the best that I dont have a pic of that